22 February 2021 12:10 am
We must not leave room for any group or individual to sabotage the national unity but build friendship and confidence among all communities if we are to take the long march to sustainable development, peace and prosperity, Justice Minister Ali Sabry said.
“ Buddhism teaches us the way to promote and protect inter- communal, religious harmony, reconciliation, friendship and brotherhood,” he added.
Addressing a ceremony held to mark the opening of the newly built ‘Dhatu Mandiraya and Deva Mandiraya at Sri Sumanaramaya of Athagama in Katukurunda, Kalutara, Minister Sabry said that mutual respect and trust among communities were a prerequisite to achieve economic, social and cultural progress.
“Unfortunately, the Christian community in Sri Lanka had to face a terrible experience because of a misguided and deranged group of Muslims in 2019. Such a carnage should never have happened. The final report of the Commission of Inquiry appointed by the President to probe the massacre has already been handed to the President from which we can learn as to how it happened and who were those behind it,” the Minister said.
He said that the most important lesson to be learnt from that massacre was the untold sufferings, misfortune and disaster that the country had suffered by giving opportunities to terrorists and murderers to get the upper hand by building mistrust and hostility among the communities.
“Late Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike who once served as the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement used the strength and agility she achieved from Buddhist teachings to intervene to resolve many a global issues,” Mr. Sabry said.
“She was able to prevent a possible military confrontation in 1962 by using her political and diplomatic acumen enriched by Metta (loving kindness) Karuna (compassion) Muditha (sympathetic delight). The people in the Middle East identify Sri Lanka as the ‘country of Bandaranaikes’ for, which every Sri Lankan can be proud of,” he said.
The government was determined to put an end to delays in law. Several steps in that regard had already been taken like increasing the number of Magistrate and High Courts, increasing the number of Judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, High courts and Magistrate Courts, he said.
“The entire court system will be digitised and court proceedings will be carried out in virtual format if and when necessary. A series of law reforms are to be passed in Parliament to do away with time- worn and outdated pieces of legislation,” he said.
The opening ceremony had been organised by the “Dayaka Saba” of Sri Sumanaramaya on the advice of Ven. Katukurunde Subhuthi Nayaka Thera.