Matale hopes to promote peace through Mahatma Gandhi Centre

The Mahatma Gandhi International Centre for Peace will be constructed in Matale in association with the Gandhi Sabha, says Mayor of Matale, Hilmy Mohamed. It has been decided to build this centre in Matale as Gandhi had associated very closely with the city and its citizens, stated the Mayor when The Kandy Times met him last week.

The first group of Indian labour was brought through Mannar to Matale and then despatched to the up-country plantations. This system continued for many years. Gandhi wished to make acquaintance with the Ceylon labourers and when he visited Matale expressed his concern for the Indian Tamil labourers. The Kandasamy family, owners of Wiltshire Estate donated a plot of land in the heart of the city of Matale to build a school and invited Gandhi to lay the foundation stone in November 1927. The school was named Pakiam Vidyalaya. At present it is known as the Pakiam National College.

The Municipality of Matale had given on long lease another plot of land near the present park to the Gandhi Sabha where at one time there was an 'Ashram' and a resident 'Swami' to look after it. Considering these and other innumerable connections, it is a fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi to have the Centre For Peace built in this historic city. The Mayor stated the Indian Government has expressed its willingness to sponsor the Gandhi International Centre For Peace in Matale and Mr. S. Chandrasekeran, President of the Gandhi Sabha said that the proposals and the plans have been submitted to the Indian Government.

The Mayor said former Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao had worked towards this project with the former Assistant High Commissioner in Kandy Rajan Pillai. Alok Prasad, present High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka is working with the Indian Government to make this project a reality.

The main objective of this Peace Centre is to promote 'Ahimsa' - non violence, the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. This, it is hoped will bring much needed peace and harmony amongst the various ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, which is the need of the hour. The United Nations has declared October 2nd, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as the International Non-Violence Day. The Peace Centre will consist of a museum, a library, cultural centre to link Indian and Sri Lankan cultures, information centre for education in India, education centre for children and adults, conference hall, meditation centre, reception hall and a peace park. It is also proposed to name the road near the Park as Mahatma Gandhi Mawatha.

It will be an international meeting place for scholars, conferences and seminars. The cultural centre will expand its activities and will be open to foreign students for training in dancing and music and of course the teaching of Mahatma's philosophy of 'Ahimsa' will be promoted, which it is believed will help in world peace. The land where the centre is to be built is at the McDowell fortress area which is near the park. The Mayor stated that they hope to start work on the project by December 2007.

The writer referred the books, Gandhi: A Life by Krishna Kripalaw, Mahatma Gandhi 125 years - edited by B.R. Nanda and many other books in the library of the Assistant Indian High Commission in Kandy to find facts regarding Gandhiji's life and his visit to Sri Lanka.

Mahatma Gandhi worked hard to achieve his 'Swaraj" and the independence of India through his many 'Satyagraha' - (non violent protests). In all these 'Satyagraha' he was successful in achieving what he desired in a peaceful manner.

When he was invited to visit Ceylon, he promised to do so on the condition that people would contribute to his 'Khadi Fund'. Gandhi arrived in Colombo, Ceylon for the first and the only time on 13th November 1927 by SS. "Chinkoa" to a rousing welcome. This indeed was a happy era when all ethnic groups lived in peace and harmony. It is hoped that this Centre for Peace will help us re-build the harmony which has been lost.