COLOMBO, Dec. 21 Reuter: President Junius Jayewardene joined hands in a human chain formed by thousands ‘of people today across Sri Lanka’s capital in a show of unity and peace,
The “Hands across Cities” ‘demonstration organized by Prime Minister Rana Singh Premadasa had people holding hands in Colombo and 41 towns for five minutes while they sang a peace song entitled “We are the Children of Sri Lanka”,
The song, composed by Premadasa and sung in the Island’s three main languages, was broadcast on all main streets through loudspeakers, Religious ceremonies were also held.
‘A spokesman for the organizers said, “We wanted to discount the ‘wrong impression abroad that people here were mostly involved in fighting”.
The once peaceful Island has been wracked by a three year Tamil rebellion which has killed more than 4,500 people. Guerrilla groups are demanding separate state in northern and eastern areas.
The organizers’ spokesman said a human chain across the Island was planned next year. The idea was drived from the “Hands Across America program in May.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 26, 1986
