On August 16, 2007, the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) moved into new premises at the BMICH. The building was formally declared open in a simple, traditional ceremony by Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Religious dignitaries representing all four major faiths in the country who invoked blessing on SCOPP, its staff and the pursuit of peace in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary General of SCOPP said that it was felt by all that a grand ceremony was not appropriate considering that it is a time of sorrow, the date falling close to the first anniversary of the murder of former Deputy Secretary General of SCOPP, Ketheswaran Loganathan.

“The original plan was to open the new Secretariat on August 12, the day on which Mr. Loganathan was martyred in the cause of peace with dignity for all communities, a cause he had made so distinctively his own. However, the construction was not complete and furthermore, Mrs Bhavani Loganathan was otherwise engaged on that day,” he said. 

He observed the need to respond to various attempts to disrupt the peace process and positive relations between communities and stakeholders and said that SCOPP believes it is necessary to move forward with positive initiatives that help rebuild trust whilst empowering those who have felt neglected in the process of development. He also called for support at this stage for one such initiative which will serve to preserve the memory and vision of a courageous colleague, the late Ketheswaran Loganathan.

In memory of Kethesh, SCOPP has initiated a scholarship scheme whereby Tamil speaking students of the Northern and Eastern Provinces will be able to finish their schooling at S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, Loganathan’s alma mater.  Prof. Wijesinha said that it was perhaps the friendships he made at S. Thomas’ that enabled him, while firmly upholding the rights of his community and drawing attention to their reasons for seeking greater autonomy, to approach the problem from a pluralistic perspective. “In the short time he spent at the Secretariat he made clear his inclusive vision and the need to empower all segments of Sri Lankan society equitably if the country is to remain united,” Prof. Wijesinha said.

Since the Secretariat is not a fund raising body, it has simply initiated a scheme whereby those who wish to further Kethesh’s work as well as his approach may contribute direct to his old school. Funds will be earmarked for this purpose as agreed by the Warden of S. Thomas’.  At the same time, in memory of another great patriot, SCOPP has asked Trinity College, Kandy to run a similar scheme in memory of Lakshman Kadirgamar, and the Principal has kindly agreed.

Since both these inclusive thinkers would also have registered the need for gender equality and the empowerment of women, SCOPP hopes to institute a similar scheme at Ladies College, Colombo.  The Peace Secretariat has no doubt that as happened in past eras of greater communication between our different communities, “the best minds of the regions will benefit from interaction with some of their urban counterparts,” Prof. Wijesinha said. “SCOPP believes that this will contribute to the enhancement of the mindset that enabled Kethesh and Lakshman Kadirgamar to uphold pluralistic values so courageously,” he added.

SCOPP therefore invites individuals and the business community to contribute to scholarship funds at these three schools and any others that may be willing to provide facilities to students from the North and East to obtain high quality education. SCOPP requests Chambers of Commerce and social service organizations to work with their counterparts in the regions to promote such interchanges.

The main feature of the opening ceremony was the unveiling of a photograph of the late Mr. Loganathan by his wife. This was followed by an appreciation delivered by former Secretary General of SCOPP and current Secretary to the Foreign Ministry, Dr. Palitha Kohona.

The Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero chanted pirith and invoked the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem.  S. Sathyaseela Sharma Swami, Moulavi AL Haj Niyas Mohammed and Rev. Fr. Sarath Hettiarachchi also offered their blessings and expressed the hope that the work done by SCOPP would contribute to and hasten the bringing about of peace to the island.