“Day of Brotherhood”: A Unity of Hearts – ‘Let’s Fly Together’ – SYU
The Socialist Youth Union (SYU) has organized a series of island-wide programs to mark the annual “Day of Brotherhood” under the theme “Let’s Fly Together” on July 23, commemorating the victims of the 1983 ethnic violence and reaffirming a commitment to national harmony.
Addressing a press conference held on July 22 at the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Head Office in Pelawatta, Battaramulla, SYU National Organizer and Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Eranga Gunasekara, emphasized that the core objective of the “Day of Brotherhood” is to foster national unity, science over ignorance, and collective equality over racism and hatred.
Key Events & Regional Programs
Gampaha District Event: A special commemorative program led by Minister Bimal Rathnayake is scheduled to take place on July 23 at 5:00 PM at the Indra Jubilee Hall in Kadawatha.
National Main Event (Eastern Province): A two-day central program will center on the Batticaloa District in Eravur. Scheduled for July 25 and 26 from 10:00 AM onwards, the event will involve local communities across Murakottanchenai, Punnakkuda, and Jamil Akbar villages. Activities will feature community clean-up drives (Shramadana), documentary screenings, musical performances, children’s activities, sports, and cultural workshops aimed at building trust and solidarity.
Island-wide Campaigns: SYU youth activists across various Divisional Secretariat divisions will conduct awareness campaigns featuring leaflet distributions, banner signings, and interactive unity programs.
Reflecting on 43 Years Since Black July
Reflecting on the historical context, Eranga Gunasekara noted that the tragic events of July 1983—occurring 43 years ago—were not isolated incidents, but rather the result of deliberate state-sponsored violence and divisive political agendas under the then-JR Jayewardene administration.
“The dark period of July 1983 did not happen by accident. State patronage and political mobs were unleashed, burning over 94,000 valuable books at the Jaffna Public Library, disrupting democracy, and instigating communal violence that triggered a devastating 30-year war,” Gunasekara stated.
He further highlighted how the cycle of violence led to massive economic loss, casualties, and long-term societal wounds, reiterating that Sri Lanka must never again allow racial or ethnic divisions to dictate its future.
The press conference was also attended by National People’s Power (NPP) Jaffna District MP Karunainathan Elangumaran, NPP Batticaloa District MP Kandasamy Prabhu, and SYU National Committee Member Shanika Madurangi, among others.
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