Mangala Samaraweera’s brand new blog “Dare to Dream” (www.daretodreamsrilanka.com) featuring his vision for a ‘new Sri Lankan order’ is an interesting and innovative cause-related website which seeks to sensitize the citizen, including corporate citizens, on a range of country governance and business-related issues and provoke discussion and mobilization of civil society and the business community to effect change for a better Sri Lanka.
A statement issued on his behalf says the new website is a new, interactive version of work that Mr Samaraweera, a former minister published a couple of years ago, now updated to focus on what has happened in the country since then and in the post-war situation.
He brings into focus several critical issues that will interest the business community ranging from Winning the Peace to Economy and Business, Accountability and Good Governance, International Relations, and Environment and Sustainability in addition to general civil society issues such as Democratic Governance, Law and Order, Human Rights, Freedom of Expression, Education, and Healthcare, plus those relating to Women, Children and Youth.
On each of these topics, he outlines succinctly “What’s gone wrong” in recent years and provides his “Vision for Change” and a host of “Solutions and Ideas” - which he admits are not comprehensive but merely thought provokers to elicit more views and suggestions from all those interested in taking the country forward. The blog gives the ability for browsers to post their comments on any of these topics or respond to his “What’s your Dream?” request, the statement said.
Under the theme “Restore, Revive, Rebuild”, he acknowledges that the blog is essentially a work-in-progress and asks citizens to respond with their own thoughts, comments, and ideas so that nation rebuilding can grow from the grassroots and with inputs from all relevant quarters.
The blog was launched this week in the midst of several civil society, business, diplomatic, and media invitees and political personalities at the Park Street Mews and featured former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva as the keynote speaker. |
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