The second of the five two-day workshops to train coordinators for the National Conversation based on the Himalaya Declaration, was held in Kandy last Friday and Saturday with the participation of activists from five surrounding districts, namely, Mattale, Badulla, Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya and Kegalle.

The first two-day preparatory workshop was held in Kurunegala recently (Feb 09 and 10). In addition, participants from Kurunegala, Gampaha, Anuradhapura and Puttalam districts, too, were represented.

The UK-based GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran told The Island that in spite of some unsubstantiated opposition to the ongoing effort, they received public support for the initiative.

The second workshop attracted 34 religious leaders of all faiths and some civil society members. Ven. Kalupahana Piyarathana Thera, Ven. Wallathara Sobitha Thera, and Ven. Wadduwe Dhammawansa Thera led the discussions on behalf of Sangha for Better Sri Lanka (SBSL). The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) was represented by Dr. Elias Jeyarajah from the United States. Visaka Dharmadasa’s  Association for War Affected Women (AWAW)  facilitated the gathering. Ven. Kalupahana Thera explained the history of the Nagarkot Dialogue and dispelled many myths surrounding the Himalaya Declaration. Lively discussions ensued, and the statements in the Declaration found widespread acknowledgement among the participants. Dr. Dayani Panagoda and Nagaratnam Vijayskanthan moderated the event, Surendiran said.

These planned workshops are aimed at training approximately 150 interfaith clergy and civil society members, as co-ordinators. They will be the key resource persons who will facilitate the planned 25 districts conversations, in the coming months.The next workshop will be in Batticaloa, and then in Matara/Galle and Vavuniya.

Each district will be represented by five inter-religious persons and a civil society member in total six per district. Therefore, from the 25 districts there will be 150 coordinators. Once all five workshops are over, the national conversation will begin.

Surendiran said that they launched the ground level initiative after having met President Wickremesinghe, senior representatives of political parties, diplomatic community and civil society.