Special ceremony to mark Easter:

Unity fundamental to development - PM

The Government's sole endeavour is to create an environment for all people to live in peace and unity with a sense of co-existence as preached by all religions, said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka at a special religious ceremony to mark Easter held at the Prime Minister's office yesterday.

The Prime Minister said "We need to give a new message to the country. Whatever religion we belong to we should learn to honour and respect all other religions.

No religion has taught us to murder or torture people. What they have enunciated is that one should lead a happy and peaceful life without burdening others." What the country needed today was a society which followed that path.

Everyone desired to see the birth of a disciplined society with a sense of patriotism and love and respect towards all communities and creeds.

Archbishop Most Rev. Oswald Gomis said Good Friday which reminded the birth of Jesus Christ was a very significant day for christians the world over.

On this day we should propagate love towards all beings noting that hatred begets hatred and it could only be overcome by love.

Unity among all people was a fundamental requisite for the development of a nation.

A book titled 'Some Christian contributions in Sri Lanka' written by the Archbishop was also presented to the Prime Minister at this ceremony.

Rev. Fr. Cecil Joy Perera, Secretary to the Prime Minister Mahinda Bandusena and Religious Affairs and Moral Upliftment Ministry Secretary H.M. Herath were also present.