In our invitation, we gave them the original reference to their work and asked them to speak on the topic. All speakers, especially the ones that the writers referred to by the Observer to have been left out were invited well in advance by registered post. In addition we urged them to participate fully in the three-day proceedings. We got two replies, one from Dr. Uyangoda saying that he does not any more work on the topic of the traditional homelands, and the other from Dr. Radhika Commraswamy saying that she would be out of the island. We summarized both their positions in their own words.
Science advances always by reference to past work.
An individual has the right to change his views on the basis of new data or a new theory. He should then come out and state that he has changed his views giving reasons acceptable to his peers. The luxury of saying contradictory things at different times is not normally permitted in the serious knowledge enterprise. The Conference was well advertised. Perhaps, significantly in the state media, only the Sunday Observer did not carry an announcement on the meeting.