With Sri Lanka continuing to be in the throes of economic crisis, the focus of popular attention, and governmental initiatives, is on economic matters. However, the issue of inclusion, which informs peace and makes peace possible, is also important to the economic restoration of the country and its people.
At the present time, we are seeing the burden of bearing the cost of debt restructuring being imposed on the masses of people, especially through the focus on the pension funds as the main target for restructuring. Those who contribute to the pension funds have had no place at the negotiating table where their pension funds were slashed.
The National Peace Council believes that an important feature of peace is inclusion, in which peace and justice is for all, and not for a majority or minority, or just for some. We have been steadfast on this journey which is to make peace meaningful to all. Peace which is meaningful comes from engagement that ensures that the rights of all are met.
At the present time the government appears bent on passing a plethora of laws. These include the Anti Terrorist Act, and news laws to regulate the Social Media and NGOs. It is also presenting a National Unity and Reconciliation Commission bill (truth commission). These are all important laws that have the potential to impact on peace. There is a need for greater inclusion of the political opposition and civil society in the development of these laws.
It is not enough to give a briefing or a hearing to other views, it is necessary to heed the other views. It is not enough to engage and have a superficial inclusion. Peace is where we have a joint commitment to strive to protect the rights of everyone and ensure justice. On International Peace Day, NPC affirms its commitment to work with multiple groups of opinion formers and activists, including the government, to make peace with justice a reality.