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'We should unite for country's economic solidarity'

Responsibility has devolved upon all politicians to shed disunity and narrow differences so as to foster unity and harmony among the various communities in the country, said Rt. Rev. Oswald Gomis, Archbishop of Colombo at a ceremony held at Christchurch College, Kalutara for the issuing of two new stamps and first day cover with the Christmas Celebrations of this year.

Winners of various events were awarded prizes and persons who rendered valuable service to the Catholic Church were also felicitated. The ceremony was organized by the Ministry of Mass Communication in association with the Ministry of Christian Affairs. The new stamp depicting St. Philip Mary's Church at Katukurunda was presented to the Archbishop and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga by Posts and Telecommunications Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar. The Archbishop said, Christmas brings peace and solidarity to mankind shalom in the Bible signifies harmony and man's relationship with his environment, both of which are integral parts of peace. "If our dream for peace is to be realized consensus among the politicians of different lines is essential. Selfishness has to be necessarily eliminated", he added.

We should not forget the fact that whenever the divisions among us surface it clearly resulted in our being subdued by the imperialists. So unless we reform ourselves it is futile to put the blame on the past colonial masters such as Portuguese, Dutch and British.

We should unite ourselves as true Sri Lankans instead of maintaining separate identities as Christians, Buddhists, Muslims or Hindus. This should be the message we should deliver when we celebrate Christmas", the Archbishop continued.

Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Imthiaz Bakeer Markar said, the recent political crisis have its serious impact on the peace process and as a result the European Union, UNO, USA and India have expressed their concern over the developments in our country". The need of the hour today is political consensus to resolve the ethnic conflict. That the executive and the legislative are represented by two different political establishments, underscores the need for cohabitation. However, any attempt as opportunistic politics in pursuit of narrow political gains would certainly have a deleterious effect on the posterity", he added.

Winners at essay and oratory contests etc. were awarded prizes. Many social workers who contributed to the well-being of the Catholic Church were appointed JPs at the ceremony. Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga, Acting Post Master General, Shervin Senadheera and Rev. Ivan Peter also spoke.

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