Daily NEWS Srilanka

Religious leaders across the spectrum have said that it is the obligation of the entire nation to act with restraint at a time when various conspiracies were taking place locally as well as internationally to destabilize the country. They called on the citizens not to fall prey to those elements supporting international forces against the country.

The appeal was made at a media conference summoned by the Inter Religious Alliance for National Unity in Colombo.

The Ven. Prof. Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera said that he viewed these incidents as efforts made to destabilize the Government and the country, defame the motherland, meet the ends of the UN Human Rights Commission and to fulfil the aspirations of Navaneethen Pillay. He said that taking revenge is not moral. Whoever commits it, a mistake is a mistake. The Government should penalize the perpetrators. They do not accept that this country only belongs to the Sinhalese and the Buddhists. The Ven. Vajira Thera said that everyone should be determined to safeguard the rights of every citizen and enable them to live in peace and unity.

The Ven. Galagama Dhammaransi Thera said various extremist forces act based on minor incidents to breach the trust among communities and religions. Extremism in any society should be totally rejected. Extremists are serving the terrorists. The prelate made a fervent appeal from the President and the Government to consider all these dangerous forces and organizations who are supporting them with funds as terrorists and apprehend them and also to safeguard the reconciliation and trust prevailing in the country.

Rev. Fr. Sarath Hettiarachchi pointed out that they should understand that such groups were active fuelling communalism, at a time when the country was advancing after ending the conflict. He urged the people to preserve the religious amity they have built in the country. As such everyone should think how they should live in brotherhood without attempting to meet parochial aims. Fr. Hettiarachchi said that no one should be duped by rumours. There is sufficient electronic media to have an awareness of the truth and no one should permit to inject strength to terrorism. He added that everyone should unit and work together.

Kurukkal Babu Sharma said that some are supporting to denigrate the country destroying peace. A small incident has now been blown out of proportion. The country is undermined when peace is impacted.

Moulavi Al Haj Hassen Moulana told the news conference that everyone as Sri Lankans should live in unison, in a peaceful environment. He pointed out the need to safeguard peace and inter-ethnic harmony as it is crucial for the advancement of the country.