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Sunil Dutt's expedition to spread goodwill in south Asia

A 17-member goodwill motoring expedition, led by veteran film personality Sunil Dutt, today set off from Colombo on a 15,000-km journey to inspire people of South Asia to live in friendship, unity and with better understanding for each other.

Sri Lanka's Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister G L Peiris flagged off the "hands across the borders" expedition at a function attended by Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon and several distinguished guests.

Sunil Dutt, who has led similar peace marches from Bombay to Amritsar, when militancy was at its peak in Punjab, and from Hiroshima to Nagasaki in Japan, was overwhelmed with the response from Sri Lankans.

Team leader Akhil Bakshi said the expedition will cover Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and India and, on its last leg, might go to Pakistan as well. During the three-month journey the expedition members will address 1,500 meetings at the village, block and district levels and meet millions of people. It is expected to return to New Delhi by June 4.

The expedition is being co-ordinated in Sri Lanka by Sarvodaya movement leader A T Ariyaratne with assistance from the government and the Indian High Commission. During the week-long march in Sri Lanka, it will cover Anuradhapura, Kandy, Nuwara Eliyayala, and Galle and leave for India on March 12.

Dutt said though his march might not stop a stop a war, he hoped it could help make people less belligerent. The youth have tremendous potential to build anything and they could lead us into a millennium without violence, he added.

Two Sri Lankans have joined the expedition, which includes members from India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Bakshi said the expedition hopes to make people understand the importance of love and brotherhood.

"We have already wasted 50 precious years merely making weapons for self-protection. Making an impassioned plea to the heads of regional countries, Bakshi said a reduction of five per cent in military spending could provide succour to millions of poor people suffering from malnutrition, poverty and other illness. He hoped the close of the millennium will begin a new era of peace for mankind in the region.

The expedition has brought a goodwill message from Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to be conveyed to Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga. The team members would call on her on March 10. A public reception has also been organised in honour of the expedition members on the same day.

Ariyaratne said the peace march reminded him of the message brought by King Ashoka from India centuries ago. In tune with that, the team will light a lamp under the sacred Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura.

The expedition will start from Colombo and travel in five jeeps, driving over 15,000 km in three months through the interiors of six countries of the region.

On March 12, the team will cross over to Madras, from where it will start its onward journey to Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. The team is expected to visit Pakistan on May 26 crossing over from Amritsar to Lahore and will return to Delhi on June 4.

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