NEW DELHI: Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living, has offered to help with reconciliation between Sinhalas and Tamils in Sri Lanka. On a two-day goodwill visit to the island nation, Gurudev met President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
"For reconciliation, you need to drop the past and move ahead. For that, you need inner strength and spirituality can give you that strength. That's what we promise to do," Gurudev said when asked about repatriation of Tamils at a press conference in Colombo. "Bring the much-needed healing touch to the population, re-instil confidence among each other and among the community. I am ready to do whatever is necessary to achieve this goal," he added.
There was a discussion on the lessons learnt from his peace facilitation efforts between the Colombian government and FARC rebels. Emphasizing on the importance of harmony among people, Gurudev said, "Everybody must come together -- in all ethnic, religious backgrounds. People must see that in unity there is strength, progress and prosperity. No community can grow in isolation and be happy."
In a statement, Art of Living said during the conflict with the LTTE, Art of Living had conducted trauma relief workshops in Sri Lanka, including in Nallur, Manipay, Velanai, Point Pedro, Invunil and Chavakacheri. The foundation, it said "continued to deliver its life-supporting programmes to several hundred ex-LTTE combatants placed at the Boosa Prison and the rehabilitation centres in Omanthai and Maradamadu".
Courtesy: The Times of India