German Hamlet of Asia!

The silent waves of Gulf of Mannar towards theGender issues at the restaurant of the Aquarius
sandy shores of Marawila, a western coastal townSports Resort Hotel, the "Night of a Thousand
of Sri Lanka was creating a symphony ofDinners", an initiative of Adopt-A-Minefield, a
ecstasy, made by mind often in a state ofprogram of the United Nations Association of the
standstill.Watching the horizon of the shiny blueUSA and the Canadian Landmine Foundation that
sky, above the Indian Ocean, while sipping blendedbegan as an opportunity for people and institutions
coffee is always an unforgettable experience atglobally to come together on a single night, enjoy
the beach-end restaurant of Aquarius Sportsa meal and help solve the global landmine crisis
Resort Hotel, which is surrounded by greenerieswith discussions on world affairs.The event was
of scenic view, which is unique only to thisobserved a couple of years ago first time in Sri
Island-paradise.More than enjoying the taste ofLanka by the PDIP with the participation of its
the nature's gifts around there, conversing on thePatron Dr. James W. Spain, a former US
issues of world affairs focusing Germany and restAmbassador for Sri Lanka and the UN with a
of the Europe will become always a hot topic inglobal participation of the US State Department
the restaurant and will make at times, theand its embassies, the Canadian Foreign Ministry
environment into a German hamlet of Asia.Theand its consulates, the American Chambers of
Aquarius Sports Resort Hotel, which hosts theCommerce and Rotary International.The event
Asian-German Sports Exchange Programhas given me an opportunity to address and
(AGSEP), a Non-Governmental Organisation,share various international issues with German
operating in the development political sector withstudents and others and has taken me back to
a partner office is in Essen, Germany.the Second World Era of Germany.Even in
The Resort also accommodates the Sri LankaGermany there had been acts of resistance
division of the International Institute for Ratingsagainst the Nazis by individuals or resistance
and Consultancy (IIRC), a German basedgroups throughout the years. They came from all
Think-Tank, which facilitates surveys andwalks of life. A bomb attack initiated by Graf
consultancy and currently carrying out a surveyStauffenberg and other resistance fighters on July
on the tsunami devastations for presenting20, 1944 failed: Hitler survived and had more than
donors around the world.My association with these4,000 people executed in retaliation. The war
institutions after the tsunami disaster has madecontinued, claiming huge casualties on both sides,
me to visit often there and gave me a chance tountil the Allies occupied the entire German Reich.
know more about the German history, economyHilter committed suicide on April 30, 1945 and a
and cultural issues through my conversation withweek later the darkest chapter in the history of
students of leading German universities who are inGermany was brought to an end with the
their exchange programs and doing theircountry's unconditional capitulation.The hardship,
undergraduate and postgraduate studies in thewhich German people suffered and underwent
fields of economics, political science, social science,thereafter, has left them into a lasting trauma,
engineering and other disciplines.Dietmar Doring,which is so difficult to overcome even in the next
the founder/director of the AGSEP and thecenturies.When I was quoting in my brief speech
country director of the IIRC was an amateurat the dinner that the tragedy where by March,
national coach for the table tennis team of Sri1945 as the advancing Soviets under the slogan,
Lanka and could be proud of his decision to use"There will be no pity. They have sown the wind
the sports events as a medium for encouragingand now they are harvesting the whirlwind"
peace in this island, has gone a long way.He hastortured at east two million German women in an
salvaged his personal trauma of the war-tornundisciplined advance that is now acknowledged as
experience by the decades-long civil war in Srithe largest case of mass violation against women
Lanka and beyond that by the lasting traumain history, I too experienced the horror of many
caused by the destructions in Germany in thedecades back in Germany through the eyes of
major world - wars.The dedication of Dietmarthose young female German students who were
Doring and his AGSEP students who have done aparticipating in the event.Now the search for
memorable service to this Island in the tsunamiinner-peace by finding peace in other countries
period and thereafter, by importing goods andand helping others who are affected by the war
medicines directly from Germany which is worthand natural disaster, is the only objective for
more than US$ 5 Million cannot be forgotten bythese young Germans.Consequently achieving a
Sri Lankans forever.Their kind and caring naturepositive contribution to the re-establishment of
has prompted me to associate with AGSEP inpeace in the war-ravaged country with the help
number of ways and it is an unforgettableof sporting events the AGSEP aims to help the
experience in associating with them.Recently wedivided ethnic groups to become closer together
had a joint event of the AGSEP and the PDIP: Aand to give an impulse towards peace and spread
Think-Tank on Post Conflict, Economic andthe message beyond the shores of this Island.