Brian Senewiratne, M.D.

Brian Senewiratne, M.D., a Sinhalese, in Brisbane, Australia, has been campaigning for a just peace and democracy in Sri Lanka for the past three decades. With the recently deceased Adrian Wijemanne (a Sinhalese intellectual and a former executive in the World Council of Churches), they have been the 'voice of Sinhala reason' for many years. Dr Senewiratne has contributed a number of articles (many on the Sangam), and addressed scores of meetings and conferences across the world (including the Eelam Conferences in New York in the 1980s). His principled stance on the ethnic issue has had a major impact in his lobbying efforts since he is not only a Sinhalese but a cousin of the outgoing President, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

In several recent articles he has defined where he stands and why:

1. I am a Sinhalese from the majority community (74%) and not from of the persecuted Tamil minority (18%) which has, for many years, faced serious problems at the hands of the Sinhalese- dominated Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL). My only interests are humanitarian, and the future of the country.

2. I am a doctor of medicine, not a politician. It is of no concern to me as to who runs Sri Lanka as long as it is run without discrimination and extensive violation of human rights, including and especially, the right to life.

3. I am a Christian from a Buddhist background. I find it outrageous that politically active Buddhist monks should provide the main platform for ethno-religious chauvinists and political opportunists to prevent a solution. Thousands of yellow-robed men in the streets of Colombo, demanding a return to war, are insulting the teachings of one of the greatest teachers of peace the world has ever known. I also find it equally unacceptable for the Christian Church in the Sinhalese South to fail to unequivocally condemn the killing of civilians in the Tamil North. The Christian Church in the Sinhalese South seems to be more Sinhalese than Christian.Speaking “from the heart”, Brian’s forceful presentations have a degree of sincerity that is obvious. He has been invited to India to address an important international form in the Parliamentary Annexe, has recently addressed European Union parliamentarians in the EU in Brussels, an international conference of academics in Zurich on “New Trajectories for Peace” in Sri Lanka, and has just been in New Zealand addressing MPs from all the political parties in New Zealand.Brian firmly believes that a better Sri Lanka, divided if necessary, is not only possible, but will be achieved. If sense does not prevail, the result will be a long drawn-out war which neither side can win, a physical and economic devastation of the country, a failed State and chaos.

Brian Senewiratne, MD
Senior Specialist Visiting Physician,
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
Senior Visiting Physician, Redland Hospital, Cleveland, USA

Courtesy: http://www.sangamevents.org/agm_speaker_1.html
Selected Writings Brian Senewiratne, Australia