Former Sri Lankan PM meets Sri Ravishankar

Bangalore, June 15 (UNI) Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe today called on spiritual leader Sri Ravishankar of the Art of Living Foundation here and discussed the escalating conflict in the Island nation.

Mr Wickramasinghe, who was now the Leader of the Opposition, spent nearly an hour with Sri Ravishankar at the International Centre of the Foundation here.

Later, talking to reporters, he expressed concern over the situation in the island nation. ''The gaps are widening and emotions are flaring up. Sri Ravishankar can calm emotions and help avert the impending war.'' He said during the last few months Sri Ravishankar had been working to build an atmosphere of trust so that the peace process could continue.

Mr Wickramsinghe said the spiritual guru's initiative was the beginning of a long process and hoped that it would be able to build some common ground among the conflicting groups.

He revealed that Sri Ravishankar and emissaries from the Art of Living Foundation had met the LTTE and Norwegian representatives who were facilitating the peace process in Sri Lanka.

Asked whether the people of Sri Lanka would allow an Indian to mediate in the conflict, he said ''Though an Indian, Sri Ravishankar is seen as an international figure and he has been spreading the message of peace and harmony throughout the world.'' Sri Ravishankar described the Art of Living's peace initiatives in Sri Lanka as an ongoing process and appealed to the opposing camps to prevent any further escalation in the conflict. ''The situation in Sri Lanka is quite bad at the moment and we all are praying that a fresh war doesn't break out. Peace should return to the country,'' he added.

Sri Ravishankar, who had earlier this year visited Sri Lanka, had expressed readiness to meet LTTE supremo Prabhakaran to facilitate the peace process.

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