Towards a Better World Order

"Having followed the tragic history of Sri Lanka over too many years, Asanga's book gives me reason for hope in the island's future. For wounds to heal, they must first be cleaned. What caused the wounds must be squarely faced; the splinters have to be extracted one by one; and the poison neutralized. Despite still mourning the assassination of his own father, without ignoring the past, Asanga looks forward to a Sri Lanka where ethnic and religious conflicts are overcome and both India and China are good friends."-- George Yeo Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore "Asanga Abeyagoonasekera's book brings into focus the com- plexities of Sri Lanka's historical narrative as a backdrop for global reconstruction and reconciliation, creating 'rainbows after storms'. "Towards a Better World Order" transforms war into an opportu- nity to show that we all have a role to play when it comes to making the world a safer and more dignified place. Bravo!" -- John Hope Bryant Founder, Chairman / CEO of Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Ventures. Member of U. S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans, and the only African-American bestselling author on economics in the world today. "Asanga Abeygoonasekera's "Towards a Better World Order" is a call for moderation, toleration and coexistence. In the backdrop of aging powers and rise of Asia, a greater will is needed to restore global harmony!" -- Professor Rohan Gunaratna Head, International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, Singapore "Asanga's passion to change the world towards a better place for future generations is genuine. His inner flame as well as his sorrow hidden behind his smiles will lead Sri Lanka as well as the whole world to a right direction. As he implies throughout this book, violence cannot bring peo- ple around the world peace and happiness. Only strong beliefs, pas- sion, a clear direction in life, honesty and true care/consideration for others, which are all necessary components for an authentic leader, will bring positive changes for our lives. My friend, Asanga, is a rare leader that Sri Lanka and the world need since he has all of these elements as the authentic leader." -- Kunihiko Shimada Formar UN Peace Mediator, Japan "This thoughtful collection of Asanga's speeches and articles over the last few years crisply capture the contemporary realities of the impact of various events in the island nation of Srilanka. The simplicity and the sincerity with which the culture and history are interwoven provide a very well-analyzed and valuable treatise for understanding the dynamics of various forces at work. More than anything else, the distinctiveness of the book lies in its consistent focus on re-conciliation, leading to sustained peace. There are many nuggets of wisdom to foster tolerance and goodwill among all sections of society. I particularly welcome the central theme that emphasizes that every citizen has a role to play and every profession has a contribution to make, in nation build- ing. I do hope the book is widely read not only in Srilanka, but also in the entire South Asian and South-east Asian Region" -- Ravi Chaudhry Chairman CeNext Group, India Fellow, World Business Academy "Asanaga's views of moderation and balance and the imperative to elucidate a strong civic and publicist voice is well echoed in his writings. The second part of the book are about his Selected Speeches that have been more from his heart than his mind, drafted with erudition and vision. The section covers a wide swath of issues of Sri Lanka's nation building, the complex tasks of peace and reconciliation and the importance to articulate a Sri Lankan world view thus eclectically combining Sri Lanka's discourse on domestic and international affairs .." Dr. Lawrence Prabhakar Williams