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