In the year 1981 and at the request of Costa Rica,
United Nations passed a resolution to coincide with
the opening of the General Assembly and thereby
established the International Day of Peace. The
date set by the resolution was the third Tuesday
of September every year and accordingly, it was
inaugurated on the third Tuesday of September 1982.
In the year 2001, and at the request of Costa Rica
and the United Kingdom, the General Assembly decided
that the International Day of Peace should be a
day of global ceasefire and non-violence.
Beginning with the 20th Anniversary in 2002, the
UN General assembly set the date as September 21
to be the permanent date for the International Day
of Peace.
In accordance with the spirit of the UN resolution,
we Sri Lankans should devote this day, September
21, 2004, to commemorate and strengthen the ideals
of peace both within and among nations and peoples
and ensure that, this day will be upheld by us as
a day of non-violence and the presently existing
ceasefire will remain unbroken.
We, in Sri Lanka, can do a lot to promote the ideals
of the UN resolution. Among other activities, we
can join the world community to observe one minute
of silence or more on this day; ring a bell or light
a lamp for peace; plan local events using schools,
places of worship, libraries, parks and so forth;
organize meditation or prayer sessions; plant a
peace tree; organise youth events; promote media
attention; organise children’s programmes
in school; spread the message of goodwill, kindness
and compassion at the work places; organise shramadana
campaigns at public hospitals and homes of disabled
civilians; organise blood donation campaigns and
organise contests in art, drama, debating, singing,
sports etc.
Let us all dedicate ourselves to the cause of Peace
by making our individual contribution to spread
the message of peace, non-violence, compassion,
loving kindness and forgiveness.
To us in Sri Lanka who are the adherents to Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism or Islam, my request is nothing
unusual because such contributions are part and
parcel of our daily lives.
May those who have taken up arms lay them down and
enter into peaceful dialogue. May we have the patience
to give a hearing to our peaceful people and the
wisdom and courage to act according to their will.
May we have the strength to remove all causes of
human conflict. May there be everlasting peace on
earth for all living beings.
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Prime Minister