A World Anti-War Alliance has been launched under the leadership of former minister Rajitha Senaratne.
Several politicians including, MPs Duminda Dissanayake, Mano Ganeshan, and Rishad Bathiudeen, and former Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake participated in the launch of the new alliance held in Colombo last week.
Religious leaders and several representatives of civil organizations, including the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), also attended the launch.
Announcing the new World Anti-War Alliance, Rajitha Senaratne said that there is no visible opposition against several military conflicts raging across the world.
He stressed that despite several United Nations Security Council resolutions on conflicts being defeated, opposition is growing among civil society groups, especially at universities in countries such as the United States.
Senaratne noted that initially loud opposition against these wars were seen in Sri Lanka, which he believed was lessening.
Strong opposition was also raised against the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza in the ongoing conflict with Israel, at the forum.
Former minister Senaratne highlighted the anarchic situation that has arisen in several countries due to the wars spread all over the world, especially the Russian-Ukraine conflict, the civil war in Sudan, and the situation in Myanmar.
Outlining the objectives of the newly established World Anti-War Alliance, former minister Rajitha Senaratne said, “The Alliance has been formed to oppose all world wars caused by the power of world leaders, to stand up for the rights of the people who are dying, injured, disabled and oppressed by wars, to stand up for world peace, and to fight extremism around the world. Countering terrorism, lobbying for reparations from warring countries for people who die and are maimed by wars. Opposing the influences against the sovereignty of all the states of the world, opposing the socio-economic prejudice towards countries like Sri Lanka which do not support wars in any way, making people aware of the issues that are avoided due to world wars.” (Newswire)