1.‘’In December 2002, the Pool brought five senior members of the Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy to London, Belfast and Edinburgh to study devolved administrations. They met a wide range of politicians, senior officials, religious groups and community leaders. The delegates found the visit extremely valuable, and took back positive messages about the devolution process.’’ – *The Global Conflict Prevention Pool – A joint UK Government approach to reducing conflict

2. ”…………. These are themes that appear, again and again, throughout the Lord Buddha’s teachings. Exactly how such a context might take shape is not for me to say. This must be a task for Sri Lankans, not a foreigner. But I believe a very useful starting point could be the precepts and example of Asoka the Righteous. – **Prospects for Post Conflict Reconciliation and Development in Sri Lanka: Can Singapore be used as a model? Prof John Richardson( visiting Professor in Colombo University in the 80s and 90s and an enthusiast of Buddhism), **Prof John Richardson, Global Asia Institute Speaker Series, National University of Singapore, 27 April 2010

GV, for readers’ quick reference, pl allow:
* http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20080205132101/fco.gov.uk/files/kfile/43896_conflict%20broc.pdf

** http://groundviews.org/2010/11/05/prospects-for-post-conflict-reconciliation-and-development-in-sri-lanka-can-singapore-be-used-as-a-model/

Sangha and Mahanayakes should speak up on important issues. They should speak against I. rogue monks, ii.corruption and nepotism among parliamentarians and bureaucrats, iii. citizens breaking law and order, iv the govt on destructive policies but prodding it towards constructive ones, v. discrimination of ethnic/religious minorities, …………. instead of telling visiting UNHRC officials or resident ambassadors what to do.

They also have to magnify voices like those of Ven. Galkande Dhammananda Thero and National Peace Council on the context of the recent Jaffna University clash.

They should raise their voice on:
One category of activities of the armed forces stationed in the North is creating ”functions” in schools under the pretext of coordinating ”donations” from organisations in the South and wasting the learning time of the children and creating a virulent mindset among the children that they are obliged to the military for various essentials in their life. This was started by the last regime and continues on at a higher gear. Headteachers, teachers and parents will not dare speak up against the armed forces that are breathing down their necks 25 hrs a day.

Part of that necessitates addressing the nine points shown by Prof Uyangoda in:
http://groundviews.org/2016/07/15/post-war-reconciliation-in-sri-lanka-a-reality-check/

President Sirisena knows what should be crucially done but is unwilling to do it: he told the visiting IFRC Chief nearly 5 months ago:
”reconciliation should originate from the South and a mindset for it must be inculcated in them”