(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –President Maithripala Sirisena requests all the religious leaders to take the lead in delivering the message of reconciliation and religious co-existence among the people, which is the guidance of all religious philosophies.
He made this request while addressing the Religious Coexistence Convention held at the BMICH yesterday (12).
‘’Even though the terrorists who fought to divide the country have been defeated militarily, their ideology has not been defeated, and it can only be replaced with a better, more positive ideology,” the President said.
President Sirisena said that although problems and issues among different communities we have experienced in our country over the past few decades, we have not experienced clashes between the religious leaders of the temple, the church and the kovil. He also said that it is possible to heal the society when it marches on the wrong path, and get it to the correct path through the guidance and sermons from different religious denominations.
The President said that it is the responsibility of everybody to join in Government’s efforts to build peace and reconciliation in the country without allowing a recurrence of armed conflict in the country.
While emphasizing the importance of uniting everyone to expeditiously implement this programme across the country, he pointed out the importance of setting up reconciliation committees at provincial level to apprise all the people regarding reconciliation.
The event was organized by the Ministry of National Coexistence, Dialogue and Official Languages.
The Maha Sangha including the Mahanayaka Thera of the Amarapura Mahanikaya, the Most Venerable Agga Maha Pandita Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thera, the Lekakadhikari Thera of the Malwathu Chapter Most Ven.Pahamune Sri Sumangala Thero, the Lekakadhikari Thera of the Asgiri Chapter Most Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thero, the Lekakadhikari Thera of the Ramanna Nikaya Most Ven. Atthnagalle Sasanaratana Thero, Hindu, Islamic, and Catholic religious leaders participated in this Convention.
Minister and MPs including Mano Ganeshan, Sarath Fonseka, State Minister A. H. M. Fowzie and public servants were also p[resent on this occasion.
