In the past walking through the streets of Colombo sensing the tension, seeing armed soldiers standing, waiting, looking for the slightest cause for alarm was something to tremble amidst. In another moment one could drive a couple miles away from Colombo’s hub of activity and find oneself surrounded by natural beauty. Soft gentle winds provide a cooling relief from the heat of the city. Greens, vivid pinks, reds, and purple of every tone peek out of the ground and create an encompassing calm swaying canopy of trees and flora. A hue of blues and green shimmer off in the ocean as the setting sun flaunts its final display of radiance in a variety of colors and imagery.

These are the lasting memories one has of an island paradise. When living in Sri Lanka one would become desensitized to the constant news of civil war between the ethnic groups, the masses dying, fleeing, screaming, fighting, bleeding, and crying out for end of war and beginning of peace. Focusing one’s mind on nature and the mundane activities of daily life and struggle would be an avenue of escape from the chaos around. In the past 26 years Sri Lankans have faced a myriad of struggles and a barrage of consistent messages of definite war and daring hopes for peace. In the 1970’s and 80’s riots started causing mass carnage and fear in the lives of many, Sri Lanka was divided never to be the same again. Houses stood in ruins, bodies lay where they were shot down as the people attempted to run for their lives, and people hid hoping their families would survive the night. Although this started in Colombo it continued almost 30 years later restricted to the north east region of the country. Though there have been several suicide attacks, bombings and destruction to the Colombo area in these past years affecting politicians, officials, journalists, and civilians alike. Civil war; a fight that ended up in a war against terror, children taken as child soldiers, families destroyed by constant shelling and bombings, people torn apart from their fellow countrymen, and a country unable to move forward and develop.                

I remember being there and hearing that the airport was attacked, living there as thousands died through suicide bomber attacks in Colombo city, and reading an email from my uncle who stood miraculously alive as others perished before his eyes on a railway platform in Colombo city. I saw a beautiful country which was hidden beneath the horrors and evils of war. I saw hope as people would stand together Tamil and Sinhalese; and Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist all saying let’s please stand for peace; as Sri Lankans. I saw no discrimination; our generation was suffering through an unwanted war of old and forgotten issues. We as Sri Lankans see hope, we see peace, and we see this beautiful country restored. This is a step by step process but today as the headlines tell us the war is over, we rejoice, and we thank God our prayers for our country have been answered. My prayer continues, a prayer for a fully united people, a prayer as a Christian that we allow God to work in our country and through the layers pull out that beautiful country we all see and love.