COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, December 13, 2002: British reggae group, UB40, say the world should learn from Sri Lanka’s peace process. The group is in Colombo and recently gave a concert for peace in Sri Lanka. The organizers say the idea is to reintegrate Sri Lanka into the rest of the world after two decades of civil war and show that the island is now safe to visit. Minister of Commerce Ravi Karunanayake says this is the biggest band to visit Sri Lanka for more than a decade. The concert is being simultaneously broadcast on screens in provincial towns in the conflict areas, including Jaffna. The minister says he hopes UB40 will fall in love with Sri Lanka and write a peace song for the island. Some might ask why Sri Lankans in the north and east need a foreign reggae band when many still do not have enough to eat or proper shelter. But after decades of bombardment, curfew and fear, the organizers would argue they’re ready for some entertainment, too.
A daily summary of world news for Hindus and non-Hindus alike