A public apology from Lasantha Mendis
On behalf of the Love Jaffna team and the Avanka Lanka Foundation, I wish to make a public apology to our Tamil and Muslim brothers and sisters who faced immense injustice and hardship during and after the 30 year old civil war in Sri Lanka.
Special mention should be made with deep regret and much remorse about Balck July, attacks carried out at Mullivaikkal, Digana, Aluthgama etc which were among many other isolated incidents where many, many were affected and scarred for life for which we are truly sorry.
I would like to place on record that we truly regret, for our blindness, ignorance, and failure to speak up on your behalf and stand with you all in your distress.
We wish to make special mention of Dr Shafi Shihabdeen and Attorney-at-Law Mr Hejaaz Hizbullah and apologize to them both for our passivity when grave acts of injustice were committed against them.
We cannot change the past, but we are hopeful that our present actions can create a better future.
Therefore we pledge to stand with our Tamil and Muslim brothers and sisters and do our part to ensure that you do not have to go through such grave injustice and hardships ever again.
On our part we make a pledge;
To stand with those Parents and Spouses whose loved ones are still missing on account of the 30 year old civil war and grant them acceptable relief.
Help the 60,000 plus women headed households in the Northern province.
Assist the 14,000 plus rehabilitated ex-cardres to live lives of dignity.
To help and guide marginalized Youth in the North who currently have no dreams and ambition about their future, to live productive lives.
To provide demand driven assitance to Young Entrepreneurs in the North to function to their full potential.
We strongly believe that until the Northern and Eastern provinces are developed that Sri Lanka will not prosper to its full potential.
Similarly we believe that the Northern province nor the Eastern province cannot develop in isolation but needs to link up with the South and the rest of the country for greater market penetration.
Please do connect with us and let us know as to how we could be of help to you and stand with you. Let us make this country, where all citizens will truly feel that, they are all children of Mother Lanka; truly Sri Lankan at their core.
Together we can!
Sri Lanka can!
Lasantha Mendis
Founder
Avanka Lanka Foundation
Sri Lanka