Open Letter To Former President Kumaratunga On Teaching Human Rights In Schools

December 23, 2015

Daya Hettiarachchi, a prominent Sri Lankan Canadian, has written an open letter to former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the Chairperson of the Committee on National Unity and Reconciliation, proposing that the government should introduce Human Rights to the school curriculum.

The letter is produced below in full:

OPEN LETTER TO MADAM CHANDRIKA B. KUMARATUNGA.

CHAIRPERSON, COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATUONS.

Dec 21/2015

National Unity and Re conciliations

RE your recent statement on the above topic  I  am sure the entire country would welcome your proposal ,the way I do, to teach “National Unity and Reconciliation” as a classroom subject. Any effective effort to eradicate mutual distrust among the communities and thus “national building” is highly commendable.

Please be courteous to consider the following observations. 

The proposed classroom teaching is only for the conflict resolution caused by the after effects of the war. Source materials for research will be in short supply being limited to the history of Sri Lanka and some of it may not help the reconciliation efforts.  Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic, multi -religious   and multi -cultural society, and the national policy of education must reflect this reality.

THEREFORE A BETTER ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS (HR) AS A PART OF THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM WITH DUE PRIORITY AND EMPHASIZE ON NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATIONS CONCERNS. This can be achieved through the practice of principles of HR, as conflicts do stem from disregarding rights of other(s). 

Kindergarten children may be introduced to civic mindedness, social values and tolerant behavior and progressively upgraded by inclusion of positive examples of peaceful coexistence of other countries, culminating in university graduate studies on principles of all major religions and UN declaration on Human Rights.

This effort will no doubt be   globally and universally acknowledged and praised.

Daya Hettiarachchi

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