On the natural and spontaneous act of reconciliation

Saturday, 19 October 2024 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Harmony page features below a piece of writing by one of Sri Lanka’s dedicated activists of promoting both human development and peacebuilding.

By Jekhan Arulliah

Back in 2020 a chain of friends was formed, forged at a New Year party in Colombo. Friends of friends became friends. Three were linked by Jaffna. Two were based there, one was shuttling up and down. The shuttler had her friend, whose friend’s friend was at the time ComNorth (Sri Lanka Navy Commander of the Northern Region). Suganthan and Jekhan the Northerners; Kula the shuttler; Kula’s good friend Asanga, his friends of decades Supem and the then ComNorth Priyantha. Three proud Tamils, and three proud Sinhalese. And six proud Sri Lankans.

Supem and Priyantha were senior in the Sri Lanka watersports fraternity. Together in the midst of the COVID-19 disruptions, this new group of friends decided to bring formal watersports to the north of Sri Lanka. Together they organised training at the Navy base SLNS Elara at Karainagar’s Fort Hammenhiel: Dragonboats, Lifesaving, Swimming. With unstinting support from the Northern Provincial Council’s then Education Secretary Illangovan (at the time of writing this post NPC Chief Secretary), and one of his officers Rajaseelan. And the excellent and patient Commander SLNS Elara Captain Weerasinghe (now Commodore). Squads of northern teachers, fishermen, and school children were trained.

In September 2024 Priyantha, who by then had risen to become Commander of the Navy, together with his colleagues in the National Association for Canoeing and Kayaking brought the National Championship to Jaffna for the first time, achieving a dream of that chain of friends. Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, when we knew him as ComNorth, had said there is no better place in Sri Lanka for these events. A 2 km straight stretch, wide enough for seven competition width lanes.

The Navy organised the show beautifully. The speaker’s microphone worked first time, none of the usual tapping and feedback loop that is usual in less disciplined public events; everything went smoothly, even in the strong wind.

Schools competing came from dusty Delft Island all the way to Colombo 7’s DS Senanayake. Also many other schools from across Sri Lanka competed. The children from Delft, often considered a hopeless place bereft of opportunity, carried away many prizes beating schools far more privileged. Proving the youth of even the most desolate places can be brought together into formidable units, if trained properly. I am told they, and the other Northern teams who carried away medals, were given only six days training.

And I must mention the Navy catering. I regard myself as an amateur expert on eating. The food at any event is on my scorecard. I have never been disappointed by the Navy cooks, the best sandwiches and wraps.

There is much talk of reconciliation in the corridors of power, often by insincere self-serving politicians and their acolytes.

If you want to know what reconciliation looks like, it looks a lot like this story.