The main meditation event under the Sarvodaya initiated “Meditation for a Peaceful Election†programme was held at the Open Air Theatre of Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo this evening with the participation of over 2000 people from all walks of life and from many parts of Sri Lanka. Simultaneously, peace meditations were held in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka and in the Sarvodaya villages. Many friends of Sri Lanka and of Sarvodaya and well wishers from around the world were also requested to join the meditation at the same time.
After witnessing the increasing trend of violence leading to the polls, Sarvodaya declared a 12-day meditation campaign starting from 18th of January with the aim of “harnessing the spiritual energy of individuals through out the country to ensure a peaceful presidential election 2010 and to contribute to creating a peaceful societyâ€.
The meditation started with prayers and blessings from the venerable maha Sangha and religious dignitaries representing Hindu, Islam and Christian faiths. This was followed by Dr.A.T.Ariyaratne leading the one hour meditation
Regular daily meditations will continue to be held through out the country and the programme will end on 29th of January.
I will support this meditation for a peaceful election, and wish good luck for all Sri Lanka, which is a beautiful country with a beautiful people. I visited you as a Norwegian teacher for peace and human rights many years ago. I then stayed in Sarvodaya senter for one week. The work there impressed me so much, so I do hope I’ll come back some day. I feel very sorry for the war in your country, going on for so many yars now. You are the most beautiful and friendly people I’ve ever met, and you do deserve something better. You deserve peace.