National Unity Charter created to Free Sri Lanka from Sectarianism & Discrimination

National Unity Charter 

For Freedom from Sectarianism and Discrimination

Whereas Sri Lanka gained independence from British domination in 1948,  established a parliamentary system of governance,  and had governed itself since independence as a vibrant democracy under the leadership of different political party groupings, and

Whereas  the ruling parties have changed national policies  to suit their short term advantages,  and such changes have led to degradation  of the  body  politic of the country by parochial and sectarian forces  inviting political instability and  destructive terrorism, and

Despite the eventual defeat of the last terrorist rampage lasting  three decades by the armed forces of the country under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the international diaspora of the terrorists and separatists, funded and nurtured by foreign forces and  a neo-conservative  mafia, acting under the guise of  human rights champions, continue to disrupt national development,

We,  the members of diverse political parties of different political views, join together to declare that  the scourge of sectarianism haunting the country should be eliminated, and call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to

A. Do away with sectarianism perpetuated  by segregation of students in  schools, and open the doors of all schools  for all children to be taught  Sinhala, Tamil and  English at primary level,  irrespective of ethnicity,  and to adopt English as the medium of secondary and higher education unifying all ethnic student groups, as advocated by Dr C. W. W. Kannangara when he set up the Central College System, by Anagarika Dharmapala through the BTS Schools, and by Denominational Schools, in order to guarantee Equality of Opportunity to all students in their future careers, and

B. Discourage ethnic, religious, and regional sectarianism in politics, as in violation of the fundamental rights of the people as a whole, and

C. Promote economic development on the basis of long term planning, good governance, social integration, and cultural harmony by setting up a National Planning Council  giving  priority to scientific investigation and adaptation of  technology, thereby  liberating the people of this nation from sectarianism.

The National Unity Charter was adopted on November 9,  2013 at the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) Professional Center in Colombo, as the symbolic declaration of the common interest and desire of all people of Sri Lanka to  BE FREE FROM SECTARIANISM and DISCRIMINATION.

Invitation to the Inaguration

The founders  invite all fellow citizens of Sri Lanka, community organizations, political parties, trade unions, and all other civic bodies, to unite to  press for equal rights in education,  to be free from discrimination in all respects  under the National Unity Charter,  and to  safeguard  the future of our nation from Sectarianism and Discrimination.

Those interested  in contributing to this effort should indicate their interest by November 30, 2013 to   be invited for the  Inauguration of the National Unity Movement scheduled to be held in December 2013  to  pursue the adoption of the National Unity Charter.

Inquiries should be mailed to The Convenor, National Unity Movement, Room 7, OPA Center , 275/75, Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka, or sent by email to NathAmarakone@gmail.com .
Please give your Name, Address, and  Age, Phone Number (optional), and Email Address (optional), and in case of students also the Name of the School/Educational Institution.

Founders of the National Unity Movement
             

Dr. Nath Amarakone (Convenor), Jayantha  Kulatunga, P.G. Dayananda. H.A.K.L.Peiris, Gerry Hidelarachchi, W.B.A. Jayasekera, R.D. Abeysekera   G.D.C. Weerasinghe, K.A.M.C Rodrigo, Sanjeewa  Kumara, Nicholas Hart, Ranjan Athukorale, and Kishani Jayawickrema,

(This announcement was published in the Daily News newspaper on November 15, 2013)