Govt. to open diplomatic ties with Palestine

COLOMBO: The Government will open diplomatic relationships with Palestine and a Sri Lankan Consulate will be set up in Ramallah shortly.

This decision would enlighten members of the World Muslim Congress, since it was their founder President Haj Amin Al-Husseini, the Grand Mufty of Palestine, the Veteran Majahid, the great Pan-Islamist, exemplary leader of World Muslim unity and Islamic Solidarity, who for over four decades agitated for a permanent nationhood for the Palestinians, with self-respect, to establish friendly relationship with all countries in the world.

These views were contained in a document presented before the 80th anniversary of the World Muslim Congress (Motamar) held at the Holiday Inn Hotel Monday (18) by A.H.M. Azwer, Presidential Advisor and Former Secretary of the Sri Lanka Chapter of the Motamar.

Azwer also read a message sent by President Mahinda Rajapaksa for this conference.

Paying a tribute to Minister M.H. Mohamed, the President of the Conference, he said that Mohamed is a symbol of national unity and an Ambassador of Peace among all communities.

He reminded the foreign dignitaries of the praiseworthy manner in which the large majority of Sinhalese elected Mohamed to Parliament for the last 42 years. The prestige and importance of the Motamar rose to sky high in the global sphere after Dr. Inannllah Khan became its Secretary General.

Motamar revived the spirit of Islam, awakened the inept Muslim Ummah, re-kindled zest and enthusiasm in them to put their back and the rail towards achieving human progress and the promotion of inter-faith, understanding, unity, peace and development.

The main participants of this three-day International Conference were Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera, President of the Maha Bodhi Society of Sri Lanka, Dr. Abdullah Bin Omer Nasseef, President of the World Muslim Congress, Dr. Raja Mohamed Zafarul-Haq, Secretary General World Muslim Congress, Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, A.H.M. Fowzie, Alavi Mowlana, Governor of Western Province and other Islamic Scholars from several Muslim countries. Clergy belonging to Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Islam blessed the conference.