'Religious harmony helps achieve greatness in international arena'

Posts Telecommunications and Rural Economic Promotion Minister D.M. Jayaratne said religious harmony and co-existence would enable Sri Lanka to achieve greatness in the International arena.

He said this at a ceremony held at the Joseph Vaz Church, Galagamuwa to mark the issuing of two new stamps in the denomination of Rs. 5 and Rs. 30 to mark Christmas 2005.

He said, As I visualise it is the lack of mutual understanding between the two main communities that had been the major contributory factor to the North East crisis.

The division among people on communal, religious, caste basis and mutual suspicion among them had further aggravated the crisis.

All religious leaders including the Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed as well as Hinduism had preached non-violence as the essence of their doctrine.

Basic human rights including the right to profess and practise a religion of one's choice has been enshrined in our Constitution. We can overcome the present crisis if we try to honour and respect others irrespective of petty differences as to race, religion and caste.

The Minister added history recorded that the first human settlements in and around the Jospeh Vaz Church had occurred in 1579 A.D. Relatives of these Tamil speaking settlers lived in Puttalam area and the Kalpitiya Peninsula. Oratorian chronicles recorded that blessed Joseph Vaz during his advent to Sri Lanka in 1687 A.D. had visited this Parish area for missionary work. According to folklore when the residents complained to him about the threat posed by wild animals, he had blessed a wooden Cross and planted it under a tree as a protection to the people.

This Cross made of ebony is there to see even today. The Minister said the inclusion of a picture of this Cross in the two new stamps issued for Christmas 2005 was a very significant feature.

Bishop of Kurnegala Rt.Rev.Dr. Raymond Peiris, President Bishop Conference and Chairman National Jospeh Vaz Committee Rt.Rev.Dr. Vianney Fernando, Bishop of Kandy, Plantation Industries Minister and Rural Economic Development Deputy Minister Milroy Fernando, Indigenous Medicine Minister and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister Tissa Karaliyadde, Post Master General Sherwin Senadheera and other officials were also present on the occasion.