"SELF DETERMINATION IS KEY TO THE WORLD PEACE"
Srii Lanka tour a
delicate assignment
07-07-2011
Australia have not made a full tour of Sri Lanka since 2004 © Manoj Ridimahaliyadda
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Players/Officials: Kumar Sangakkara
Series/Tournaments: Australia tour of Sri Lanka
Teams: Australia | Sri Lanka
Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka is going ahead as scheduled, but the tourists are becoming acutely aware of the significance of their visit. Players and officials were equally moved by the footage shown in the Channel 4 documentary about the closing days of the Sri Lankan civil war and its aftermath, aired on Four Corners in Australia this week, but are resolved to carry on with their first Test series in the island nation since 2004.
The documentary showed graphic evidence of rape, torture and murder of civilians during the final months of the war. A United Nations investigation concluded last year that there was credible evidence for as many as 40,000 civilian deaths during the conflict.
The Australian department of Foreign Affairs and Trade raised no objection to Cricket Australia’s plans during their most recent briefing. Central to CA’s thinking are the ideas expressed by the former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara, who spoke of cricket’s capacity to unite communities and countries during his Cowdrey lecture to the MCC in London.
The Australian team has found itself in fraught political and moral territory before, most notably on the brief 2004 tour of Zimbabwe. Australia A’s current presence in Zimbabwe is an indication of CA’s desire to help encourage the regeneration of a county, and administrators view the Sri Lanka visit in much the same light.
"Our view on touring Sri Lanka is the same as it is on going to Zimbabwe [for the Australia A tour], using cricket as a way to bring people together and aid the community," a CA spokesman said. "Our travel advice [from DFAT] hasn’t changed and the advice is that safety and security for the tour is appropriate."
The pre-tour visit to Sri Lanka by a CA and Australian Cricketers’ Association delegation last month included discussions of opportunities for engagement with the local population, with school visits or clinics two possible options.
Paul Marsh, chief executive of the ACA, said the airing of the documentary had helped ensure the players would be acutely aware of their role as ambassadors for the game when they arrived in Sri Lanka at the end of July.
- Entries (RSS)
About us
Global Peace Support Group UK Ltd is a registered organisation based in London. The organisation dedicated to be involved in humanitarian and other related issues. We also work along with other similar organisations to promote peace and harmony among various societies..
GLOBAL PEACE SUPPORT GROUP - UK - TIRELESSLY WORK ON THE CONCEPT OF:
"SELF DETERMINATION IS KEY TO THE WORLD PEACE"
MOURNS ON THE CONTINUED TRAGEDY OF THE PEOPLE OF North & East of Tamil EELAM WITH THE HOPE OF ALL OF OUR ENDEAVOURS WOULD BRING AN END TO THOSE SUFFERING DURING THE YEAR AHEAD.
The International community has a duty towards the long suffering Sri Lankan Tamil population to restore their rights of SELF DETERMINATION.
Global Peace Support Group - believes that this is the ONLY way for a permanent PEACE in Sri Lanka.
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