S. Lanka president, cardinal stress role of religion in building national unity

The contribution of religions, which go beyond racial and ethnic divisions, is important for peace and reconciliation, said Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Card Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, at a ceremony marking the Tamil harvest festival of Thai Pongal, which this year fell on 18 January.  At the event, held at the Payagala Hindu College in Kalutara (south of Colombo), several cultural and religious activities were held to promote peace and reconciliation, starting with pupils. 

"Building peace and reconciliation does not take place only through the implementation of laws and the adoption of a new Constitution. It can only be done through religious philosophies,” said President Sirisena in his address.  In a country that is still suffering from the wounds caused by the war between the army and Tamil rebels, which lasted about 30 years, “religion is essential in the construction of national unity,” said Card Ranjith. For this reason, he said, it is essential to strengthen national unity and shared values.  “Today we cannot afford to give in to hatred, racism and religious ideologies that imprison us in behaviours from a dark past." Instead, "we must be able to think independently and understand the needs of humanity,” the archbishop explained.  President Sirisena concluded the Thai Pongal event calling on all of the country’s religious leaders to work together. "I ask you all,” the president said, “to further the government's goal of building peace and brotherhood among people, eliminating fear and suspicion in various communities. Racial and religious differences cannot act as a barrier to the plan to build a free and just society. "  (Source: AsiaNews)