About us..
(Organised by the International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Colombo in
collaboration with Ford Foundation)
The International Centre for Ethnic Studies in collaboration with the Ford Foundation is planning to hold a Conference on Diversity and Co-existence in Asia. The conference will be held at Kandalama Hotel, Dambulla – in the midst of cultural triangular of Sri Lanka from 5-9th February, 2003.
The Asia wide conference on diversity and coexistence will be on the one hand a stocktaking, an assessment of the nature of research and activism in the field of ethnicity and diversity in the Asian region. It will also attempt to identify funding priorities and a program of follow up activities for researchers, activists and non-governmental organisations.
The Asian region is perhaps the most ethnically volatile region in the world. On the one hand, religious, ethnic, linguistic and tribal communities compete with one another and engage in violence and armed conflict. On the other hand, these communities coexist, intermarry, and closely interact with each other on a daily basis as part of every day life and community existence. The richness of Asia’s diversity is matched by the tension of its politics. This dilemma requires not only enlightened management on the part of political leaders but also active initiatives on the part of civil society, informed by a more profound intellectual understanding of the issues and dilemmas. The ICES convenes this conference in the hope that it will provide for in depth discussion among groups and individuals who are on the forefront of dealing with these issues.
Among the themes to be discussed at the conference are: