ONUR Student Leadership Conference on National Unity pledges reconciliation

Over 300 Students from across all Districts in Sri Lanka, pledged to work towards reconciliation, at the Student Leadership Conference on National Unity ( SLCNU), organised by the Office for National Unity & Reconciliation (ONUR) at the BMICH recently.

The closing ceremony was attended by President Maithripala Sirisena on the invitation of former President and ONUR Chairperson, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who was also in attendance.

This SLCNU was held to coincide with the National Integration & Reconciliation Week decl a red by the Government, and under ONUR's Education for Reconciliation programme, which brought together student leaders from all parts of the island, to help them develop Leadership Skills, introduce them to Confl i c t Transformation Skills and to help create Yo u t h Reconciliation Ambassadors.

President Maithripala Sirisena stated it was very sad that children understand the concept of reconciliation, while adults are blind to it, due to their jealousy, anger and hatred. He further said that this programme was a great way for children to understand the true meaning of reconciliation, and implored them to spread this message to others on their return homes.

Throughout the day, students, through facilitated ses- sions, learned about each other’s cultures, practices and tools which they could use to take the message of reconciliation forward in their own communities, including how to use social media to promote reconciliation, how to transform themselves to promote national unity and practical activities they can carry out at a school level. ONUR expects to continue this initiative as a long term programme across the country.

The conference took place parallel to ONUR’s Sahodara Pasal – Sahodara Padasalai initiative launched in 2016, where students from the provinces are paired and taken through a 5- day residential student camp on conflict transformation, sports and arts for reconciliation, with the objective of instilling the values of living together with mutual understanding and respect in a diverse society.

Selected officials from provincial education departments, teachers and other dignitaries including Southern Province Governor Hemakumara Nanayakkara, State Minister for National Integration & Reconciliation, A. H. M. Fowzie, National Integration Ministry Secretary, V. Sivagansoothy, State Minister, Mohamed Zuhair, ONUR DG, M. S. Jayasinghe, ONUR Board of Governors, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Provincial Directors of Departments of Education were also present at the closing ceremony.