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Rt. Rev. Swithin Fernando, former Bishop of Colombo in a message titled "Peace - through repentance and forgiveness and mercy" expresses satisfaction at the program of the 'pilgrimage of peace' says "every Sri Lankan must get involved in this pilgrimage in emanating thoughts of penitence, forgiveness and mercy."

The statement:

it is, indeed, a matter for great thankfulness and joy that the pilgrimage of Peace in our land is progressing very satisfactorily. There is, however, a very great deal more to be hoped for, aspired to and to be worked for as we move on.

Whatever is to be achieved is greatly conditioned by personal attitudes and community attitudes in the pursuit of this quest for Peace. This applies to all of us Sri Lankans irrespective of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, etc. We are in our present state because of the spirit of revenge for wrongs done by others.

The exploiting of such wrongs is often done in order to gain political harvests. In such pursuit we have clear evidence how, while one party or another may make passing gains the Nation as a whole is left battered and severely wounded. That is precisely where we are now.

We are now in a state where it is the order of the day to hunt down the suspected wrong doers. There is no doubt that wrong-doers must be identified and dealt with; but this must never be merely to punish them and to hold them placarded as criminals for the rest of their lives. Dealing with such wrong-doers must have the punitive and the curative sides simultaneously.

Such wrong doers are not to be condemned and ostracised for all time but be loved and brought back to the mainstream of the Nation enlightening them to give that which is in them - their best for the good of others. I make bold to say that such a wish and a hope is not merely idle wishful thinking. Miracles such as I visualise have happened and will continue to happen all the time.

Why not in our dear Sri Lanka today? While Peace negotiations go on at high level among those on whom such responsibility rests every Sri Lankan must get involved in this pilgrimage in emanating Thoughts of Penitence, Forgiveness and Mercy. These are the unseen foundations upon which the visible edifice of Peace will ascend upwards.

Our Country and our Nation will undoubtedly move forwards in our quest for Peace. Peace will in its turn undoubtedly bring about much that is urgently needed for the well-being of our people in all parts of our beloved Sri Lanka. This needs to be our constant and unwavering vision that will lighten our path forwards.

In such an attitude of mind there is no doubt that religions professed in our Country must play the key role. Politics, unfortunately, is often divisive Religion, whatever that Religion be, must be uniting people together in binding love always flowing with repentance, forgiveness and mercy. While knowing a man's worst we are taught to work out the best that is in him for his own good as well as for the good of all.

For us Christians the HOLY SEASON OF LENT falls on us on February 13th when we in devotion identify ourselves with our Lord Jesus 'Fasting with Prayer' in the wilderness for forty days.

Could not LENT this year be as never before a time when we shall pour ourselves at the foot of our Lord's Cross for forgiveness to our entire Nation and for the NEW LIFE of His Resurrection in Peace and Harmony? Like Jesus after His Resurrection we shall bear evidence of the wounds that our Nation has suffered and as in Jesus those wounds could be made the very ingredients of the WONDERFUL PEACE we long for, for our Nation.

I have no doubt that other religions professed in our dear Sri Lanka will have their own outflow of devotion for Peace with Forgiveness and Mercy. Can we not, therefore, in our respective spheres bring the highest tenets and ideals of our respective Faiths to dawn upon our Nation to give us that New Life that is the hope that is throbbing in the hearts of all of us.

I am confident that this New Life is coming and it will dawn upon us in all its splendour sooner than we think. On our Independence Commemoration Day that is soon to be with us may this Dawn of Peace shine upon us.

In my personal outreach I cannot do better than to remind ourselves of the Words of our Lord Jesus Himself when He said:

"Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you and pray for them who spitefully use you. Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. Therefore be merciful just as your Father also is merciful."

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