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| Wednesday, 3 September 2003 |
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M. Nelson Piyaratne, Kataragama Group Correspondent Kataragama and its multi-religious traditions took the limelight as the Committee for a National Vision conducted consultations here on Saturday and in Matara on Sunday. The consultation was conducted in Kataragama in a spirit of consensus and communal harmony. The National Vision aims to lay out a roadmap to a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka that is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-faith, and plural society, where cultural diversity is recognized as a source of national wealth and strength. National Vision Committee members present included Chairman Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Darini Rajasinghe Senanayake, Brigadier Ranjan de Silva and Nimalka Fernando. A virtual rainbow of local dignitaries presenting statements to the Committee included Buddhist monks, swamis, and Vedda elders. The public consultation was hosted by Ven. Dr. Aluthwewa Soratha Thera of Kiri Vehera Raja Maha Viharaya. Prior to the event, in a spirit of multi-religious amity, the participants had first paid respects at Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya before partaking of dana at Sri Theivani Amman Kovil. The discussions then began in earnest at nearby Kiri Vehera. The Kataragama consultation included a detailed statement by the Committee explaining the Vision, followed by statements by the Basnayake Nilame and the heads of Kataragama's Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim communities. All emphasized the fact that Kataragama is unique in Sri Lanka and perhaps in the world as a place where people of three major religions mingle and worship in a spirit of tolerance and mutual respect. A common theme in the presentations was the request that the Kataragama region be demarcated as a cultural sanctuary where traditional practices and lifestyles are recognized and protected, and where traditional laws are given precedence over statutory law. Adam's Peak was also mentioned as an appropriate region in which to situate a multi-religious sanctuary for tradition. Nikaweratiya Mudiyanse Tennekoon stressed that mere well-intending words, without implementation at the local level, would only foster contempt for Government authority. One contentious issue concerned the use of loudspeakers in the sacred premises. It was decided that the use of amplified sound is justifiable when important announcement must be made to large crowds. The consultations concluded with detailed statements by Wanniyal-atto elders representing the Danigala, Dambana and Henanigala Vedda communities. Each stressed the different history, circumstances and needs of the various Vedda communities. The Vision for Sri Lanka recognizes that the country's constitution and institutional design should be based on power-sharing that reflects its multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual society with a mixed cultural geography. The Vision also declares that local knowledge and practices embodying traditional lifestyles should be respected, preserved and maintained, without compromising the nation's commitment to equality and social justice. |
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