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[June 23, 2005 - 10.30 GMT]
In a bold and essential step President Chandrika Kumaratunga decided to break the silence surrounding this epidemic in our country in order to encourage all Sri Lankans, especially the political leaders to begin dialogue on the subject and thereby educate everyone on the correct facts about HIV and how it is transmitted and that those living with the virus need not be feared or ostracized. “Armed with the facts we will see that there is no reason to label or point fingers at those living with HIV, and no reason to reject or harm them. Our culture is one that provides care and support to those in need – let us extend this to our friends, family members and fellow citizens who are living with HIV/AIDS”, said President Kumaratunga speaking at the event held at the BMICH, last evening. The event was organized to coincide with the birth anniversary of Dr. Kamalika Abeyaratne, a respected paediatrician, humanitarian, and one who tirelessly battled for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. She passed away late last year. President conferred on the country’s highest award the title of ‘Deshamanya’ for her distinguished services to medicine. This was the first time this prestigious award has been conferred posthumously. President Kumaratunga described the late Doctor as a “national symbol and a powerful voice in the fight against the social stigma and discrimination against HIV suffers who campaigned tirelessly to create awareness on HIV/AIDS and to improve prevention methods and also advocated making drugs available free to HIV/AIDS suffers”. The
event was sponsored by the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS.
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The
Government yesterday initiated a national dialogue on HIV/AIDS, with the
goal of letting all Sri Lankans know that the best way to protect themselves
from the effects of the disease is to shed their inhibitions and begin to
talk openly about this important subject.
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