Religious Leaders urge people to hold hands to build the country, forgetting all divisions
Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya chapter of Siam Nikaya, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero, Anu Nayake of the Malwatte Chapter of the Siam Nikaya, Most Venerable Dimbulkumbure Sri Saranankara Wimaladhamma Thero, urge people to unite and work together to rebuild the country by setting aside ethnic differences.
The Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcom Ranjith, issued a video New Year message for 2026 emphasizing that everyone should come together to rebuild the country, free from divisions.
He said that we should unite through forgetting and forgiving each other, forgetting about all kinds of division that has been created among us socially and politically.
“The year 2026 has commenced, beloved brothers and sisters, and all fellow citizens of Sri Lanka. I want to make use of this opportunity to urge you in the situation of the terrible disaster that we experienced in November when the cyclone stormed, and the situation that has fallen on so many people, to unite yourselves with each other, forgetting and forgiving each other, forgetting about all kinds of division that has been created among us socially and politically and concerning other divisions.
“Let us get together and build this country in a new spirit, so that the year 2026 steps can be taken by all of us to achieve progress for our people and for our country.”
In the same way, the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya chapter, in his New Year highlighted the massive task ahead to rebuild Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah caused widespread devastation across the country.
“Everyone should work together by setting aside ethnic differences to rebuild the country,” emphasized the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya chapter of Siam Nikaya, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero in his New Year message.
“I sincerely pray that the New Year will be a fortunate and prosperous one. I especially wish to stress that, to rebuild our fallen country, it is important that everyone cooperates equally, with a sense of ownership for our nation, and works together without disputes or divisions,” Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero said.
Taking inspiration from how other countries have rebuilt after natural disasters, the Anu Nayake of the Malwatte Chapter of the Siam Nikaya, Most Venerable Dimbulkumbure Sri Saranankara Wimaladhamma Thero, also stated that the Sri Lankan people should unite to rebuild the nation.
