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The speech was delivered by me at the peace rally, which was organized by peace loving Sri Lankans of Toronto in December 2008 and was one of the speakers representing the expatriate Muslims of Sri Lanka. It is very appropriate even today as some mischief makers wants to create chaos in our loving motherland.
Hope all our friends , specially non-Muslims, whom I have copied too will give it a wide publicity, as we need to live in peace and not under 'Emergency Regulations'
Unless those who lived in harmony, promote peace, Sri Lanka will never get the golden days back, as the present generation, very unfortunately, have not tasted peaceful living.
Mr. Chairman, Organizers, Distinguished speakers,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Let me welcome you with the Universal Greeting of Islam
“Assalamu Alaikum”. It means . “Peace be upon you”.
You have to reply as Walikum Salaam , meaning .. “And peace be on you too”
We have gathered here today, to promote Peace in Sri Lanka, our war torn mother country, so it is nothing but very appropriate to greet you with the expression of peace as divinely directed by Allah the Almighty, which delivers my intention and the intention of all the Sri Lankan Muslims who are living in Canada. This greeting has no parameters such as time or position or gender. It is all accommodative and one greeting for all.
Islam means Peace. It is derived from the Arabic root word “Sala’am”. Muslim is one who follows the religion of Islam and who submits to the complete will of Peace, which is the Will of Allah, the Creator of the World and the Heavens. He created the human beings to worship Him and Him alone. This cannot be accomplished unless the Human beings live in peace. Hence the basic requirement to live and worship, is Peace.
Peace cannot be achieved in any place unless Justice prevails. Justice cannot prevail till people’s rights are preserved. None can preserve the rights unless they respect each other. Thus Human rights, Justice, and mutual respect are the basic ingredients for peace. We cannot have peace if any one of these ingredients is missing. Even in a family if these basic principles are lacking there will be no peace.
So what is missing in Sri Lanka, for lacking peace? What had happened to us who are considered to be very kind, tolerable, helpful, accommodating and generous, above all peace loving people? We need the peace back
The country was peaceful, when I migrated to Canada in late sixties, then called Ceylon, was known worldwide, for its natural beauty, splendid beaches, wonderful Ceylon tea and above all for peaceful and tranquil life style of the people. In fact it was known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ and ‘Paradise of the East’. The island was not only beautiful and scenic but the people were very hospitable, kind and caring. Those of you who have visited the Pearl of the East can vouch for it. I am sure Mr. Bob Rae, who has been in Sri Lanka many time can bear witness to it. This was mainly due to multi cultural and multi religious groups living together, that prevailed for last so many centuries. In Sri Lanka we, the Buddhists, the Christians, the Hindus and the Muslims were living in harmony from the inception. When any of the community get together for any function or pilgrimage there is always peace why? Because, the mind is set on one goal, that is ‘for the good of the mankind and peace’. Therefore we should always meet with the intention of peace in our mind, like we have gathered here today. When we met in Canada, thirty five years ago, in the seventies we were trying to help the country economically but today the priority have changed and we are meeting to promote peace. Where did the harmony go? Hence we need the peace to be restored in Sri Lanka, to live in harmony
As for me, being a Muslim, I had my early education at Zahira College, Colombo, which at that time, the prime Muslim Educational Institution. Its Principal was a Muslim, the Deputy was a Singhalese and Vice Principal was a Tamil. What more evidence you need to prove the harmony that existed not too long ago. It was just over fifty years. In addition to this, the teachers and the students were mixture of all communities. In fact last week I met an old school friend of mine after forty years, who is living in Canada. He is a Singhalese Buddhist and we were talking of the good old days and comparing it with the status of the country today. It is very disheartening and sad to see it deteriorating day by day. We need peace. We want the country to come back to its original form. We want people to feel safe. We need harmony in the golden Island. This is not difficult to achieve, if we the people of Sri Lanka change our attitude and work towards it. When Canada-Sri Lanka Association was first formed, in early seventies, the president was a Tamil and the vice president was Singhalese. I was to be Secretary but I declined due to pressure of work. Where did that feeling of Nationalism go? Where did that feeling of brotherhood go? Where did that feeling of understanding go? I have another personal example of peaceful coexistence. During the early part of seventies when we had to do a project in Niagara Falls, where I (AGA Barrie) was the project Engineer we had three other Sri Lankans in the team, a Buddhist(Ananada Jayasinghe commonly known as Mynah), a Christian (Brian Wright) and a Hindu(Balasinghem) working for the same company and we lived together with a fellow Canadian(George Craig). We were very happy and lived in best of harmony, right through the project forming a happy group sharing all the ups and downs of living. This was possible because of our unique way of upbringing in our country, where we always enjoyed tolerance and understanding, which enabled us to live peacefully in a foreign country of different culture. We need peace back in Sri Lanka.
No doubt in my mind today, there is sincere desire amongst all of us present here and those living in Sri Lanka to bring back peace and harmony, we had enjoyed in good old days, as soon as possible. As for Muslims, I can assure, we love peace and we need it to be restored back immediately in the golden island of Sri Lanka. Now the question is how to regain or restore the lost peace?
In my humble opinion it has to start with us here. Learned speakers and experienced peace activists had proposed many sophisticated long term solutions, but I as a layman can only emphasize that peace is not something new for Sri lankans and it had been proved that we lived in peace for many years hence restoring of peace should not be difficult if we change our approach and attitude in life. Canada provides everything possible for peace loving people. “IT IS A COUTRY OF TWO MAIN LANGUAGES AND MANY ETHNIC GROUPS BUT HARMONY AND PEACE PREVAILS EVERY WHERE.” Canada is a golden example to follow.
COMMUNITY
We have to respect the country’s law and live respectfully. We as individuals have to like each other. Help each other. Live for the sake of each other. We must be involved in social activities for the community irrespective of ethnic groups, cast, creed or color. We should be involved in neighborhood activities as it consists of all groups. This is the beginning of peace.
LEADERS
We urge the leaders political and community, in Sri Lanka, to work toward peace at all time. They must keep the interest of the country at large, in their heart. They must feel for the people, irrespective of any ethnic group when decisions are made. There should be justice at all times in their approach. They should be fair and maintain rights of all the people, all the time to achieve peace.
SCHOOLS
The National schools in Sri Lanka should be open to all ethnic groups and not confined to one particular group. This results in segregation and children do not get the opportunity to learn about other culture and learn to live in harmony.
MEDIA
As for Media it should portray the truth and stand for justice. It should not give any importance to war or conflicts instead publicize any major events which lead to peace. Carry article promoting peace and its advantages to the country and people. They should refrain from reporting news, which could lead to any misunderstanding whereby creating disharmony among people. I propose to the Peace Convening Committee to declare the month of December as the ‘MONTH OF PEACE IN SRI LANKA AND THE MEDIA SHOULD REFRAIN FROM REPORTING ANY NEWS WITH RESPECT TO WAR BUT PROJECT THE IMAGE OF PEACE’
CONCLUSION
Finally I conclude my speech by thanking Allah to have given me opportunity to speak on spreading peace in Sri Lanka, I thank the organizers to have invited me to speak on behalf of Muslims on peace, I thank the organizers who worked very hard to make this event happen, Many thanks to the distinguished speakers who addressed us on the importance of peace in Sri Lanka, and finally I thank you all who took your precious time to attend this convention and making it a great success. I conclude with my humble prayers to Allah Almighty to grant ever lasting peace to our mother land Sri Lanka, this beautiful country of Canada and the world. Wasslamu Alaikukum
PEACE BE UPON ALL OF YOU
AGA Barrie, P.Eng.
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as-salaamu ‘alaykum !
I cannot imagine a more vibrant and eloquent plea for Peace than yours ! Felicitations on carrying the message so well. Wassalaam ! Jaffar.
Assalaamu alaikum Aga,
It is an excellent speech; you have encapsulated very eloquently how life used to be for all Sri Lankans. Your heartfelt desire for peace and harmony is very evident in the words you have used. I like the examples of co-existence and mutual respect that you have cited which used to be a hallmark of Sri Lankan.
It is sad how ethnic and religious differences have been magnified to the detriment of peaceful co-existence not only in Sri Lanka , but most parts of the developing world. Can’t we take a lesson from the developed world that has learnt to make compromises and find ways and means to co-exist peacefully?
I know the amount of work you have done for the betterment of Sri Lankans following the tsunami, and I hope and pray that you will be blessed with good health to continue your dedication for peace and harmony in Sri Lanka .
Thanks
Ashroff
dad I read your email on peace and it was really nice..
So beautifully said and when I read that, if people can just stop and ponder over this, and work on it i am sure we can achieve this peace and brotherhood..all it takes a mind to oversee the barriers and just see everyone as one..like Bob Marley’ s song called ” one love”.
One need to have empathy and that not many people have as they are so selfish and do whatever it takes to cut another..
From the time I came to Lanka, I learn t a lot and I always tell Ahsan nana that Lankans are mastermind in the work of getting to the top..if u know what i mean..people will just do anything to cut one another to climb to the top and it is really sad as they really wait to see one’s downfall…
Dear Aga Barrie,
Thanks for the note.Also I want to thank you
again for being at the meeting and for your great contribution you
offered.In our future attempts also I hope you will help us.
Thanks.
Ratnam Ganesh.
barrie:
it is a very thoughtful piece capturing the political essence of our ethnic problem. the two examples you cite — the ethnic harmony in the hierarchy at zahira and the religious mix on the niagara project– should go down well with any audience. a reflection of the good old days of harmonious living.
i notice you assign a more responsible role for the media. i believe malaysia succeeded in doing it by suspending the constitution and gagging the media preventing it from sensationalizing the country’s ethnic problem which was much worse than ours. i am sure you are more familiar with this than i do since you lived in malaysia. sri lanka and malaysia are now poles apart: one thriving and the other sinking.
best of luck.
Dear Aga,
It’s a marvelous piece of work! Superb!! Masha Allah.
I remember what Dr.Colvin R.de Silva said when the language bill was debated in the parliament, he said ‘ One language two nations, two languages one nation’
Lankan media is hailing this as a ‘prophecy’ from late Colvin, now. All our problems originated from this language issue.
Best regards.
Hamid.
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Regards
AGA Barrie, P. Eng.