Sunday Times 2
Iftar at Sri Lanka’s UN mission
View(s):The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York held a traditional Iftar (Breaking Ramadan Fast) ceremony on Wednesday, with the participation of a large number of Sri Lankan Muslim expatriates living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Welcoming the guests for the ceremony at the mission premises, Ambassador Rohan Perera noted that the Sri Lanka Muslim community had been maintaining admirable harmony with people of other faiths for several centuries and have had remarkable patience during testing times.
He said the Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting on June 13, 2017 resolved to guide the nation towards reconciliation, sustainable peace and economic progress, while denouncing in strongest terms the recent incidents of violence targeting places of religious worship, shops and business enterprises and houses.
Underlining the need to avoid extremist ideologies, Dr. Perera said that by truly adhering to the teachings of Islam one could spread peace around.
Sheik Dr. Mohamed Shafiek from New Rochelle delivered a sermon and led the prayers after Mohamed Nayeem recited Adhan for the Maghreb prayers. Deputy Permanent Representative Sabarullah Khan delivered the vote of thanks.