Sri Lanka Army during a glittering ceremony at Manila-based Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) received further international recognition when Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna was awarded the South Asia’s most prestigious Gusi Peace Award-2010 for his salutary role and dedication towards humanitarian assistance to Jaffna people and attainment of peace, dignity and harmony in the peninsula.
The Gusi Peace Award, conferred annually by the Gusi Foundation recognizes and honours exemplary contributions and commitment made by distinguished individuals or groups worldwide towards Peace and Human Rights, in Scientific Discoveries, Politics, Academia, Performing Arts, Literature, Medicine or Physiology, Journalism, Economics, Humanities, Physics, Chemistry, Religion, Internationalism, etc.
Major General Hathurusinghe, the only Southeast Asian laureate to have received this Peace Prize, similar with the Nobel Peace Prize is selected by a committee of 20 researchers. 19 more laureates from every corner of the world, in addition to Major General Hathurusinghe carried away the prize for this year in different spheres of excellence.
Conferment of those awards took place at the PICC Manila early this week, graced by a galaxy of invitees including Sri Lankan Government’s representative, North central Province Chief Minister Berti Premalal Dissanayake, Sri Lankan Ambassador in the Philippines N. Bennet Cooray, senior military officers, expatriates, et al.
Mr Barry Sotejo Gusi, Chairman, Gusi Foundation and Peace Prize Philippine Committee and Dr Mrs Evelyn Gusi who have been instrumental in sustaining the award of those Peace Prizes with the support of the Gusi Peace Prize Philippine Committee, inherited the arrangement, thanks to the efforts of Mrs Chua Sotejo Gusi, the wife of much-respected Captain Gemeniano Javier Gusi, inspiring founder of the Gusi Foundation and its Peace Prize in 2002 who etched a legacy in the Philippine history were in attendance at the colourful awards night.
All Gusi Peace Prize laureates on arrival at the main hall at the PICC were conducted to the main stage in a dignified and colourful parade, preceded by respective National Flags of their countries of origin as music heralded their entry. It followed the military parade, in which National and Gusi colours walked in afterwards in accordance with the formal practice.
Major General Hathurusinghe in acknowledgement of the Gusi Peace Award during his brief address to the audience gratefully reminisced about the able guidance he received specially to be qualified for this accolade, from HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka and the Secretary Defence, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa who assisted him whole-heartedly in restoring normalcy and promoting the economic prospects among the northerners.
The recipient in his brief note to the audience, also did not forget to share the dignity of being the year’s Gusi Peace Prize laureate with all military officers and soldiers with whom he worked jointly for the welfare of Jaffna people in the past couple of years.
A cultural troupe, specially flown from Rajarata, at the invitation of the Gusi Foundation, added special colour to the awards night, robbing the zenith of the day’s spectacle with traditional drums reverberating. Several other international music and dancing groups also provided entertainment to the occasion throughout.
Major General Hathurusinghe upon assumption of his duties as Jaffna Commander at a critical stage of the recently culminated Humanitarian Operation for peace, rendered an admirable service showing the highest regard for humanitarian concerns in the peninsula winning hearts and minds of the ordinary public. His amiable approach and common sense as then Commander of Kilinochchi and later on as the Jaffna Commander, made a difference and brought about an impressively sound relationship between Tamil civilians and the members of the Security Forces.
On the instructions of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, he implemented a number of people-friendly projects, including construction of houses for the returnees, conduct of medical clinics, promotion of goodwill by way of sports and recreational activities, improvement of all government schools, launching of many community oriented welfare projects, distribution of school books and stationery, repairs and reconstruction of Hindu temples, facilitation of various other administrative services, etc.
His establishment of the first-ever Civil Affairs and Public Relations office complex in the heart of Jaffna town, brought immense solace to the Tamil community and came in for praise of all segments in society and the international community as it is slated to resolve issues on the spot after directly connecting with relevant authorities across the country.
"Although the Gusi Peace Prize is honoring peace-loving endeavors worldwide, I have chosen my homeland, the Philippines, to be the home of Gusi Peace Prize… We should become international citizens of the Third Millennium, helping one another to achieve world peace," Gusi Ambassador Mr Barry S. Gusi told the august assembly. Mrs Mahinda Hathurusinghe and members of Major General Hathurusinghe’s family were present at the ceremony.
Major General Hathurusinghe was earlier awarded the prestigious Gold Medal - 2009 for his thesis "Strategic Military Victory over LTTE" during his Masters degree course in the National Defence College of the Philippines as the first in order of merits.
General Hathurusinghe's erudite theses scored over the other identical 32 works, presented to the 2009 class. He received his Gold Medal from the Defence Under Secretary Antonio Santos during the graduation ceremony of the 44th Regular Course - Masters in National Security Administration (MNSA) in Manila last year before he was selected for this reputed conferment of the Gusi Peace Award.
The largely circulated English daily "Manila Times" in its September 2, 2010 issue prominently carried a news story about his graduation with flying colours under the caption "Sri Lankan General gains top award at the National Defense College".
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