A joint federation of several Muslim organisations, Sri Lanka Muslim Civil Society (SLMCS), together with a representative gathering of the Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu and Islamic clergy, Security Force chiefs, officers and leading civil activists, staged a three-hour long ‘Solidarity Peace Vigil’ at Independence Square, Colombo 7, on Saturday morning.
 Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake speaks to participants at the vigil. |
The objective of the vigil was to vehemently and unequivocally condemn the brutal, barbaric killing and injuring of innocent people at worship on Easter Sunday, and to vow to join hands with the Security Forces and other government authorities to bring back peaceful co-existence of all communities.
Expressing solidarity with all bereaved families and injured people, Muslim Moulavis and Muslim civil society activists in the SLMCS publicly condemned the brutal slaying of innocent people by disgruntled members of a misguided group and pronounced that no religion has preached these types of killings to reach spiritual attainments.
Buddhist monks, Christian and Catholic priests, Hindu priests, and Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim civil activists commended the restraint being displayed by all Sri Lankans without resorting to more bloodbaths and violence at this critical phase of the land’s history, and the tireless contribution of all members of the Armed Forces and the Police.
The occasion, themed on ‘Humanity Beyond Religion’ was addressed by Ven. Madampagama Assaji Thera, Dr A.T. Ariyaratne of Sarvodaya, Hindu Kurukkal and leading Moulavis and SLMCS leaders.
Hundreds of attendees in the day’s arrangement, ‘Rise up for Solidarity Peace Vigil’, including Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, afterwards lit candles, observed silence and placed white roses on the ground in memory of all victims and invoked blessings on all the injured for speedy recovery. They underlined the importance of unity in the nation for the country’s forward-march. Placards displayed slogans such as ‘ Terrorism Has No Religion’, ‘Family of One Nation’, ‘Together We are Sri Lankans’, and ‘Rise, Resist, United’.
Western Province Governor Azath Sally, Dr Kamal Waleboda, Senior Army Officers and SLMCS members joined the Solidarity Peace Vigil.
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