Human conflicts and its myriad consequences of death, injury, displacement of the individual and the wanton loss and destruction of painstakingly built up material assets are as old as the history of man.
This is what former civil servant Bradman Weerakoon aptly states in the Foreword to An Odyssey of Human Conflict by L.B. Dissanayake.
Ever since humans derived the capacity to reason and the ability to communicate, religious savants, philosophers, thinkers and just men of goodwill have pondered deep and long on why human beings with the power to love, create, protect, build and nurture also indulge, oft times with manifest justification, to do just the opposite, says Mr. Weerakoon.
An Odyssey of Human Conflict is one such reflection by a man of outstanding goodwill in our present times on how we might, as individuals and nations, deal with this perennial dilemma of the human condition. In his own words the book seeks to convey his views on conflict, its causes and their adverse effects on life on earth and create a greater awareness of the threat, conflict poses to humanity in this new millennium, Mr. Weerakoon states.
He adds: “Dissanayake’s thoughts and deep concern for his fellow beings will be, particularly at the present time, an important contribution to the continuing search of all men and women of goodwill to the prevention and ending of conflict in our land and beyond.”
An Odyssey of Human Conflict published by Stamford Lake is available at Vijitha Yapa, Lake House and Charles Subasinghe Bookshops. The book is priced at Rs. 500. |
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