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| Wednesday, 31 December 2003 |
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Politics | |
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| Government to set up religious unity committees The Government has decided to set up religious unity committees at national and district level under the auspices of the Ministries of Buddha Sasana, Christian Affairs and Muslim and Hindu Religious Affairs to prevent religious tension and maintain peace throughout the country. The office of the Government spokesman in a communique issued yesterday said the government has taken this decision after drawing its attention to the religious tension created in the country during the last few days. The communique added that it was unfortunate that our society had to face this unexpected situation of tension at a time it is grieving the passing away of Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera. The government vehemently condemns this attempt to foment religious tension and clashes against the peaceful religious lifestyle preached by Ven. Soma Thera throughout his life. Bhikkus have had to take great pains to protect other religionists from these harmful acts. Even the Maha Sangha who handled Ven. Soma Thera's funeral arrangements had to take their time off to make fervent appeals through the media to certain sections to desist from acts which would cause religious tension and harassment to the religionists, the communique said. However certain extremist groups which disregarded these requests had caused damage to a few churches and mosques in certain areas and created a sense of fear in other religious groups through various threats, it said. The communique said: "As directed by the President, it is the security forces duty to bring those responsible for these unfortunate incidents before the law. If they fail in this duty, these groups will persist with their activities plunging the country into a dangerous situation. Creation of religious divisions in a country battered by the ill effect of sowing the seeds of racialism for the past several years will only plunge the country into a worse abyss. To overcome this situation the government has decided to set up religious reconciliation committees throughout the country under the direction of the Ministries of Buddha Sasana, Christian Affairs, Muslim and Hindu Religious Affairs." |
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