Int'l religious leaders stress need for peace

All of Sri Lanka and all Sri Lankans have paid a high price in terms of lives lost, economic opportunities foregone and in the weakening of the moral fabric of society, says a statement issued after the conclusion of the International Summit of Religious leaders on peace in Sri Lanka.

Yasushi Akashi, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan addressing the meeting referred to the irreplaceable value of the religious leadership in peace making.

Religious leaders from Sri Lanka and five other countries (Cambodia, Japan, Norway, Pakistan and the United States) met in Jaffna for an Inter Religious Summit on Peace in Sri Lanka from December 12-13 at the Jaffna Public Library.

The meeting was organised by the World Conference of Religions for Peace in partnership with the National Conference of Religions for Peace and the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka.

The Religions for Peace network, which is active in over 70 countries and five major geographical regions, includes a World Council of senior religious leaders from all parts of the world who work to counter violence through multi-religious cooperation.