Reviving Dr. Adikaram's Vagetarian Society

In the early 1980s the late Dr E.W. Adikaram set up the Sri Lanka Vegetarian Society in order to promote the vegetarian way of life in our country. Dr Adikaram was well known as an ardent humanitarian. He was actually more than that. He not only worked in many spheres of activity for the welfare of human beings, but also treated animal and plant life with equal care and tenderness.

In forming the Vegetarian Society Dr Adikaram's concern was to do what he could to reduce the massive killing of animals that is taking place for human consumption. But obviously he knew that the promotion of vegetarianism was at the same time a means of making kind-hearted human beings. In general, if one did not wish to be part of the process of killing animals, one would also not wish to be part of the process of killing human beings. We must not overlook the enormous implications of that fact.

It is interesting to recall that one of the functions of Dr Adikaram's Vegetarian Society was to publish a paper called Mituru Lova. In choosing this title, his idea was that we should be friendly towards the world which is the source of our sustenance and therefore our greatest friend.

From the large number of letters and articles on this subject that appear in newspapers regularly, it is clear that there is a growing number of people who feel that the way of life symbolised by vegetarianism is deeply satisfying to them at the present time when cruelty and inhumanity are rampant around us. In this they are one with the millions of people in countries like Britain and the United States who have abandoned flesh eating and become ardent vegetarians.

Reflecting on the present situation in our country and the world, some of us have been thinking of reviving the movement that Dr Adikaram started. We believe that the time is right for those of us who want to see a kindlier world to get together and spread the message of the interdependence of the species and the need to do our part to protect the living beings of the earth. We should also establish links with other organisations in Lanka and the world which are already in the field working towards these ends. By networking in this way vegetarians should be able to build up a sense of solidarity among themselves and not feel that they are destined to remain as freaks in a naturally brutish society. It would also be a fitting tribute to a unique humanitarian that Sri Lanka produced in recent times.

Considering all this, we have decided to resuscitate the Sri Lanka Vegetarian Society as soon as possible. While we are working on the preliminary arrangements, we would be happy if friends of the vegetarian movement contact us and indicate their willingness to participate and help. We may add that the movement is not limited to any religious or linguistic group, as indeed by its very nature it cannot be. The convenors are Prof. Mahinda Palihawadana of 271/7, Chandana Udyanaya, Maharagama (Tel. 851094), Mr. Dharmadasa Wijemanna of 136, High Level Road, Maharagama (Tel. 851739), and Mrs. S. Duraiswamy of 9, Castle Lane, Colombo 4 (Tel. 588891).

(The above article appeared in The Daily News of April 22, 1997)

Prof. Mahinda Palihawadana
President, Sri Lanka Vegetarian Society