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This e-newsletter is intended to provide a little space for Sri Lankan people to reflect on issues of importance to them in a non-partisan way. Currently there is a lack of opportunities for dialogue of this sort in the domestic Sri Lankan media. Most of the time it is polarized between political parties. As result there is a lack of consensus even on very obvious facts. Take for example the killing of detainees in the hands of legal authorities. Though such actions violate domestic law, international norms and standards, and moral and ethical principles, in the media somehow such cases become subject to debate. This is because media outlets are committed to defending this or that political party, even when the most basic human values are violated. Hence the Sri Lankan people are victims of their media. People lack avenues to express their deepest feelings on what is good and bad, beautiful and ugly. However people need room for such expressions. They have no obligation to remain victims.
This e-newsletter is devoted to that purpose: to discuss basic issues in a very straightforward way. Such discussion may help to build a consensus among the folk, the people. If the folk consensus is solid, no political party will be able to ignore it. People will cease to be victims of party propaganda and will be able to air their own views freely.
This is a small venture through which we hope to encourage others to try bigger ones. When political voices and ordinary people's voices talk of different things, it is inevitable that people will become more important than politicians. Readers are especially encouraged to write articles for distribution through the e-newsletter. You may also send copies of the e-newsletter to others.
Posted on 2008-12-19
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