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Clarify the truth to the world through living testimony- Muslim World League Sec.Gen.
As the country still struggles to cope with the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings that shook the nation, a peace conference attended by religious scholars, government leaders, including a senior official from the Arab world, asserted solidarity and goodwill for lasting peace and coexistence among the various communities.
The National Conference on Peace, Harmony & Coexistence, organised by the Western Province (WP) Governor’s office, was held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre on Tuesday (July 30), where Muslim World League (MWL) Secretary General Dr Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Alissa was a Special Guest, along with the Chief Prelates, members of the Maha Sangha, President Maithripala Sirisena, former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chandrika Kumaratunga, foreign delegates and other Government and Opposition MPs in attendance.
The conference was organised to promote interfaith values of peace, harmony and co-existence, and to convey the message to the world, that the people of Sri Lanka live in harmony, while rejecting all forms of extremism.
WP Governor A.J.M. Muzammil, who played a key role in organizing the conference, noted in his welcoming address that mutual respect and trust among various religious faiths within the communities should be strengthened further, as those inter-bonds were damaged by extremist forces, in the recent past.
Noting that, this important summit on the “Peace of Religions” confirms the determination of the followers of religions to clarify the truth of religions that call for love, peace and harmony, Dr Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Alissa said that, as religious leaders, it is our duty to confront this deceitful claim and clarify the truth to the world through living testimony.
“This conference is here to assert the solidarity of goodwill with steadfastness and perpetuity. However, we mustn’t deny our lack of resolve in allowing the evolution of the primary material of violent extremism and terrorism, and, in particular, the rhetoric of hatred, racism and despicable superiority against others, under the guise of the hegemony of religious and ethnic ideology.” Dr Abdulkarim Alissa added.
He added that, religion has never been a menace to humanity, but certain evil elements, such as those who have been intellectually poisoned, did not accept this fact and, instead, they used religion as an excuse to serve their goals.
“In the time since these criminal acts, which not only terrorized Sri Lanka, but shocked the entire world, the attacks on Colombo have been widely condemned, including by Muslim religious leaders. But condemnation alone does not exonerate us, or pose a solution,” Dr Mohammad stressed.
Dr Mohammad, on behalf of the MWL, initiated the creation of a US$ 5 million fund to support the families of the victims of the bombings.
Addressing the conference, President Maithripala Sirisena emphasised that religious leaders should take the lead in mending the hearts of the people that were broken in the tragic incidents of April 21.
“Although the lives lost on April 21 cannot be restored, everyone can come together to defeat terrorism and ensure peace, unity and reconciliation in the country, for the sake of future generations.” President Sirisena said.
He added that the Government has taken every possible step to eradicate the hatred, fear, suspicion and distrust among the people of Sri Lanka, following the Easter Sunday attacks. He further said that all political parties should come to a consensus under the guidance of all religious leaders to ensure national unity.
Addressing the event, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera read out some of the controversial verses said to be included in the Holy Quran, and asked the audience whether these verses can do any good for the society and communities, to promote peace, goodwill and ethnic harmony.
In his speech, All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) President M.I.M. Rizvi Mufti noted that, those verses, which portray violence against non-Muslims, are not included in the holy book, and certain elements are manipulating those verses to spread hatred and violence among communities.
It was announced at the inception of the event, that Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith could not attend the event due to prior commitments. His message was read out by an official from the Archdiocese of Colombo.