President on the way to Nobel Peace Prize

29 September 2017 02:00 am - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Whatever the Joint Opposition or extremist critics may say President Maithripala Sirisena from January 8, 2015 has lead Sri Lanka to a new chapter in its history with the two major parties working together in a National Government mainly to bring about dialogue and reconciliation among the different communities in Sri Lanka. The other major goal, in the plan, outlined in Vision 2025, is sustainable economic development that will be eco-friendly and all inclusive with the aim of building a just, peaceful and an all inclusive society.

For these and other values or virtues—including the President’s skill for peaceful conflict resolution by accommodation on the middle path, the Oslo Peace Research Institute has shortlisted President Sirisena for the Noble Peace Prize, 2017.

No other Sri Lankan has been shortlisted for the world’s most prestigious peace prize and it is a great honour to the country.

We hope all parties and people of all races and religions will appreciate and applaud this honour without allowing vices like jealousy or envy to provoke criticism.
As the President himself told the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, he could claim to be the world’s only Executive President who voluntarily and willingly agreed to slash his powers in April, 2015.

According to reports from Oslo, PRIO Director Henrik Urdal will publish an updated shortlist before the official announcement of this year’s winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
The PRIO in its website says it conducts research on the conditions for peaceful relations between States, groups and people. Based on independent assessments, PRIO Directors have offered their personal shortlists for the Nobel Peace Prize each year since 2002.

Anyone can be nominated, but only a number of people have the right to nomination, including members of national assemblies and Governments, current and former members of the Committee, Peace Prize laureates, Professors of certain disciplines, directors of peace research, foreign policy institutes and members of international courts, PRIO says.

As such, the PRIO Director holds the right to nominate but refrains, given his active role as a commentator.

The laureate is normally announced on the Friday of the first full week of October.
Besides President Sirisena, the shortlisted nominees are; the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its leader Susan Herman, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Syrian Civil Defence Unit the White Helmets and Raed al Saleh, Jeanne Nacatche Banyere, Jeannette Kahindo Bindu and Dr. Denis Mukwege-who work to help rape victims in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Giving reasons why it nominated President Sirisena, the PRIO says he has initiated comprehensive reconciliatory measures to heal the wounds of 30-year civil war. President Sirisena’s insistence on inclusive reconciliation therefore, stands out as an example to be followed.

In early 2017, the Sri Lankan Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms released its final report. This goes hand in hand with a range of other efforts, including a consultative process on Constitutional reform.

Resistance from the political opposition is real and so are the prospects for failure.
The President himself is susceptible to criticism, having held posts with the former Government that overran the LTTE. A Nobel Peace Prize to President Sirisena would fit a tradition of honouring pragmatic leaders, who show political courage and it would draw attention to reconciliation as a key to sustainable peace, PRIO says.

The Nobel Prize winner will be announced next Friday and we join the people in hoping and praying that President Sirisena, whether he gets it or not, will maintain the great values and virtues mentioned in the citation to lead Sri Lanka to be a model for Asia.

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Comments - 19

DillonDP Friday, 29 September 2017 12:27 PM

if any one politician from Sri Lanka wins the Nobel prize, Nobel prize would become a joke and an insult to everyone else who had won.

Lilla Edith Saturday, 30 September 2017 03:45 PM

For now, he can win the Nobel Prize but later he can win the Marathon Prize as well when people started to chasing him away for good.

Dingiri Friday, 29 September 2017 01:16 PM

Once the West binds him with a Nobel price, the president will have no option but to sacrifice the sovereignty of SL

Bastian Friday, 29 September 2017 01:19 PM

For not holding elections in Sri Lanka?

Pinto Friday, 29 September 2017 01:25 PM

External forces will do anything to keep 'yahapalanaya' in power forever

Hemantha Friday, 29 September 2017 01:36 PM

The prize for the new constitution.

Hemantha Friday, 29 September 2017 01:36 PM

The price for the new constitution.

Jinthu Friday, 29 September 2017 01:46 PM

They can give another Nobel to PM also

Mendis Friday, 29 September 2017 03:36 PM

Nobel Prizes are part of the Western Interests,if a person is not supporting the West then he or she however brilliant would not be nominated.They all like our President is because he beat MR who did not bother to listen to the white man.

SAM Friday, 06 October 2017 12:02 PM

Nothing but jealousy

suresh Friday, 29 September 2017 03:42 PM

SL is the only country where the citizens are joking and do not want their elected President to win the Nobel prize.What a petty minded lot

sri Friday, 29 September 2017 03:43 PM

it should be a joint prize for the President

sanjeeva Friday, 29 September 2017 04:30 PM

with all due respect it has to be mentioned that the absence of war doesnt mean there is peace. what is peace ? is it retaining the land occupied by original owners for 8 long years ? if there is no peace in hearts and minds of people there is no peace. peace in north doesnt mean celebrating wesak in kilinochchi and holding dansala in jaffna. the people in north doesnt have an inch of their land for cultivation. their livelihood is based on agriculture and fishing. but cultivation is done by security forces on civilian property.

sanjeeva Friday, 29 September 2017 04:30 PM

with all due respect it has to be mentioned that the absence of war doesnt mean there is peace. what is peace ? is it retaining the land occupied by original owners for 8 long years ? if there is no peace in hearts and minds of people there is no peace. peace in north doesnt mean celebrating wesak in kilinochchi and holding dansala in jaffna. the people in north doesnt have an inch of their land for cultivation. their livelihood is based on agriculture and fishing. but cultivation is done by security forces on civilian property.

Wise Donkey Friday, 29 September 2017 05:47 PM

With the attack on Rohingya refugees by his monks and no action or condemnation, he will be fast tracked to Nobel (Piece) Prize!

Ramza Friday, 29 September 2017 09:30 PM

The Oslo Peace Research Institute has shortlisted President Sirisena for the Noble Peace Prize, 2017.This way Sri Lankans were cheated many a times...and our pro govt medias public these kind of illusionary myths when peace prize and election coexists around the same period of time this kind of boastful stories emit from different sources. We got to cross our fingers and wait till Oslo shatters our day dream.

Manda Manasikaya Wednesday, 04 October 2017 12:04 PM

Nobel authorities, contact Australian government alsofor recommendation regarding his nomination.

mahinda Friday, 06 October 2017 06:00 PM

Like the best finance minister in Asia Robbed his mother country give the Nobel prize for ruining the mother country

Jayampathy Ranaweera Saturday, 07 October 2017 05:17 PM

This man does not deserve a NOBLE PRICE but deserves a JAIL SENTENCE FOR RUINING THE INTERGRITY OF SRI LANKA!!!

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President on the way to Nobel Peace Prize

Comments - 19

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