New Measures to prevent religious conflicts –

By strengthening the collective relationship of civil and non-governmental organizations and building a wide network in the district, in order to develop religious harmony in the Gampaha district of the Western Province, the Community Brotherhood Organization declares that a number of new practical activities have been taken for implementation in the future.

The program was held in Negombo, in the Gampaha District on the 30th of June, aiming to build a peaceful and harmonious life in the Western Province through the resolution of religious conflicts through a collective effort in the unity of all active organizations, 100 representatives of 45 non-governmental organizations, civil organizations, and other people’s organizations operating in Gampaha district has participated.

In the area, when arises any religious problem or an initiative to such a problem, not only the National Peace Council (NPC) intervenes to solve it, but all the civil and non-governmental organizations from all over the district come together and some strong steps were taken on this day to face it and find solutions, in the program.” told N. Vijayakanth, the facilitator of the program and the  Associate  Manager of Project ‘ARC’ of the National Peace Council.

According to Assistant Manager Vijayakanth, project “ARC” of the National Peace Council has already started to be implemented in 14 places in 13 districts in Sri Lanka to develop harmony between races and religions.

He further stated that a committee will be appointed through this program for the Western Province, which will be started today (June 30) in Negombo, and it is planned to bring all the representatives from other districts including them to Colombo and give them training and prepare a series of policies and hand them over to the government.

“Identifying priorities within the district, forming reconciliation committees at the village level, Preparing a practical mediation program through the activity, identifying working groups, identifying villages with stressful situations, identifying awareness programs, engaging youth organizations for this process, meeting with religious leaders and discuss this program with member councils, and educate school teachers, Taking inter-religious discussions and dialogues to the ground level, sharing resources and building a mediation mechanism for problems, using technology to share information in the district and creating a WhatsApp group (collecting civil and non-governmental organizations operating in Gampaha district) etc.” said Wasantha Kumara, the coordinator of the Community Brotherhood Organization that these activities have been planned for our focused plan.

He also said that in today’s program, we further educate ourselves, advocating for policy formulation, problem-solving, fostering cooperation, the impact of things at birth on conflicts, the impact of communication imbalances, the inclusion of all national heroes in school textbooks, and inclusion of cultural diversity, development of attitudes of youth and children, a program of teaching all three languages to children from an early age was developed, exchanging positive ideas through social media, eliminating the insensitivity of society regarding children and women, lobbying for the fair implementation of the law, building relationships between children in the north and south, changing the attitudes of religious leaders, etc.” said the Coordinator Wasantha Kumara.

According to him, 69 women, 31 men, 03 journalists, 40 Buddhists, 56 Christians, 02 Hindus, and 02 Bahai contributed to fostering this program representing all religions and races.

“I personally and as an organization think that this society needs to heal. Only in that, we can lead this society to some liberation. But if the people are against each other religiously or ethnically, it will only lead to the destruction of the country. At one time, the country faced a war. Recently experienced the Easter tragedy.” told Mojo News Manel Fernando who was representing the program, the organization Janavabodhaya Kendraya.

She also added, “We believe that even if we don’t do big things, if we start something small in our area, in our village, it will have a big effect. In that belief, if any religious or national conflict is created in our Western Province or in the Gampaha district, we will be able to gather for it and lay a foundation to stand on, that’s why we joined this program today,” she said.

Sudarshana Fonseka, representing the Focus Club organization also speaking to Mojo News said that this day is really a very useful day. This program is very important for Negombo, because when conflicts arise, if we have the strength to solve them in an organized and united manner, it will help us a lot. Recently, we have seen conflicts in the Negombo district. They still exist in different guises. So, if we can develop the ability not to turn these into conflicts through united awareness, it will be very valuable.  I believe that a good foundation has been laid today through this unity.” He further stated.

END.