Lions & Tigers Came
for Amma's Darshan in Sri
Lanka
19 February 2005 — Sri Lanka
When Amma visited the Tamil tsunami-relief camp in
the Ampara district of Sri Lanka on 17th February,
15 Tamil Tigers—soldiers of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam)—came for Amma's darshan, as did 20
soldiers from the Sinhalese government's Special
Task Force (STF). The Sinhalese and Tamil armies have
been engaged in a brutal civil war since 1983, in which
more than 60,000 people have been killed.
"Their hearts were open," Amma said. "They
told me that they want to become united, but
that they have a goal to achieve. I went there
for tsunami rehabilitation; they came for my
darshan."
The LTTE soldiers who came for Amma's darshan
were all young women, recognizable as militants
by their short haircuts, men's shirts and wide
black gun belts. As the ladies came before Amma,
their hardened face softened and smiles lit up
their eyes. |
 |
 |
Maheswari Velayudham, the political secretary
to Sri Lankan Minister Douglas Devananda, was
also in attendance. She was overwhelmed at seeing
the two groups peacefully together. "Amma
is the unifying force," she said. "She
is the catalyst. Only Amma can bring all these
people together."
When asked by reporters at Trivandrum if She
would be interested in facilitating peace between
the two warring groups, Amma said, "Amma
is not interested in interfering in the internal
affairs of another country, but if they ask,
I will discuss." |
On 18 February, Amma met with Sri Lankan President
Chandrika Kumaratunge at the president's residence
in Colombo. The president expressed to Amma her concern
regarding the intense strife plaguing her country.
She told Amma that just when it seemed like some progress
was being made with the peace negotiations that the
tsunami had come, once again bringing pain and suffering.
Amma told the president that she indeed felt the pain
of the Sri Lankan people, and that as with every situation
in life two factors were required for a favourable
outcome: human effort and God's grace.
�Sakshi
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