The prestigious Gusi Peace Prize, nominated by Philippines-based Gusi Foundation has been awarded to Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander, Security Forces, Jaffna in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the promotion of civil-military relations, reconciliatory measures, ethnic harmony, peace and human rights and welfare among the masses in the Jaffna peninsula.
This international award that picks 20 laureates from all the four corners of the globe recognizes their individual roles in their sphere of human-development and promotion of reconciliation and ethnic harmony.
Major General Hathurusinghe is the only South Asian recipient of this year’s award which is the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Jaffna-based Tamils during the 30-year long separatist campaign of violence were badly affected since most of them had no alternatives other than be under the diktats of blood thirsty Prabhakaran. Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, on being appointed the Commander Security Forces Kilinochchi / Jaffna identified basic needs of those affected Tamil people and swiftly launched a number of relief-oriented projects to promote their livelihood.
His vision for establishment of a Civil Affairs and Public Relations office complex in the town brought immense solace to the community and came in for praise of all segments of society. Within a short span of 6-8 months after he assumed duties as Jaffna Commander in January 2010 upon the completion of his tenure as Kilinochchi Commander, Major General Hathurusinghe, on the instructions of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, triggered a mammoth housing project for erection of houses for those returning from relief villages for resettlement.
In addition, he succeeded in cementing close rapport between Security Forces and Jaffna civilians through well-coordinated cultural, social, religious and economy development programmes in the peninsula.
Award of this honour to a Sri Lankan Army officer re-endorses the fact that Sri Lankan Security Forces, as alleged by some quarters, have not carried out any planned violation of human rights or atrocities on civilians during the war or after it.
The Gusi Peace Prize is to be presented to Major General Hathurusinghe during a colourful Awards Night in Manila shortly. Journalism, Humanities, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Business & Philanthropy, Religion, Internationalism are the other areas considered for award of the annual prize.
The annual Gusi Peace Prize is annually offered by the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation, an organization based in Manila that performs humanitarian work for poor communities across the Philippines. The foundation was inaugurated in 2003 by Barry Gusi to continue the philanthropic work of his parents, the late Capt. Gemeniano Javier Gusi and Teodora Cha Sotejo. Captain Gusi was a hero who fought the Japanese invaders during World War II and became popular for advocating Human Rights.
