Peace mission brings Gujarati cyclist to Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 May 2003, 01:52 GMT]
S. Kumar Soni (30), an Indian citizen from Gujarat, currently on a world cycle tour promoting peace, arrived in Batticaloa today, sources in Batticaloa said.

Kumar has visited several villages and cities in the South of Sri Lanka and came to Batticaloa via Amparai. He is planning to resume his journey to Trincomalee the coming Sunday. His stay in Sri Lanka is expected to last three months, Kumar said.

"I sincerely hope that people of this beautiful island will renounce violence and be able to enjoy the fruits of peace. All are members of the same family. I undertook this mission to promote peace in this country and all over the world," Kumar added.

He started the cycle tour on 2 October 2001, and arrived in Sri Lanka end of last month after visiting Nepal and Bhutan.