UAE | General
Sri Lankans mark independence day with call to end war
Sri Lankan expatriates have said the country will blossom again if peace is given a chance.
- Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
- Sri Lankan Ambassador Mohammad Nobari Junaid lighting a traditional lamp at the country's 60th Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Abu Dhabi: Sri Lankan expatriates have said the country will blossom again if peace is given a chance.
Speaking to Gulf News during Independence Day celebrations at the embassy in Abu Dhabi, Rohini Seneviratne, a teacher said: "A peaceful Sri Lanka will pave the way for the realisation of its potential in several fields like tourism".
Mariam Wickramasekara, 41, a secretary, said although she hopes for peace, she was not fully confident on the political moves to end the "stupid" civil war.
Jude Kamalanathan, 30, who works in the hospitality sector, said internal differences were for "rubbish" reasons. He trusts the initiatives of the president but does not expect terrorism can be solved overnight.
Lal Renjith Delpechitre, 52, an engineer, said the violence will end soon thanks to the initiatives by the present regime. Mohammad Rafeeq, 40, an engineer said peace could be restored if the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) was disarmed. Milan Goonetilleke, 34, a bank official, said peace could be achieved if the warring factions realised that their own people were the victims of the violence.
Success: Iliteracy tackled
Success in ensuring free education and healthcare for all amidst the civil war is the biggest achievement of Sri Lanka, said the Ambassador to the UAE.
Mohammad Nabavi Junaid told Gulf News the country has achieved a 92 per cent literacy rate which is the highest in South Asia thanks to free education.
"The life expectancy of people has also improved from an average of 60 years to 70 to 74 years," he said.
Latest news
- Competition for aspiring photographers
- Dubai porter found dead inside container
- Dubai Municipality plans new zoo in emirate
- Strong winds and haze expected in the UAE
- Dubai Police deny reports of Burj Khalifa fire
- New road eases traffic problems in Dubai
- Abu Dhabi hosts strong man contest
- Farmers to be taught techniques to improve yield
- Keep recycling bins open
- President of Wollongong varsity about his plans
- Challenging role in Libya
- Parachuting event promises rich fare
- UAE ministry backs efficacy of Tas'heel system
- UAE students on research trip to Antarctica
- Brothers held in Sharjah for possessing heroin
Community Reports
-
Keep recycling bins open
People should be allowed to do their part as the world moves towards a greener future
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk






