Editorial - Forget the war and bring in the essence of all religions

Due to the war, Sri Lankans are hurt and wounded in several ways and some of them are still in camps.  There are others who are hurt and wounded because of injustice and economic factors.
We Sri Lankans are an ancient people and we have our traditions, heritage and values. Moreover we have in our land four of the world’s living religions and all our religions have values.
Therefore this year at our New Year time we need to leave the war behind and move into a post conflict era of peace with justice for all our people. This demands action.  For instance we as a people must stop celebrating the May 2009 victory where tens of thousands of people were killed or wounded. We also need to take a second look at the wisdom of putting up monuments to remember war heroes. Doing this demands courage from our party politicians and our religious leaders.
People of this school of thought believe that this year at New Year time we have the opportune moment to participate in genuine reconciliation so that we in this land who have lived for centuries respecting each other and our culture with our languages and religions will this year begin a new era. May this New Year usher in therefore this dawn of hope for our land recovering from violence and abuse of power.     
On Sunday, a Movement for Inter Religious Dialogue met to discuss how the essence of all religions could be brought together as a foundation on which to build a new Sri Lanka of sharing and caring, love and forgiveness, equality and social justice. The main topic of discussion was a comprehensive proposal submitted by Dr. L.A.W. Sirisena, former Director of the Castle Street Maternity Hospital to bring about religious unity in diversity. It is a practical and creative home grown solution though there may be  opposition from some extremists or trade unions. The solution essentially is to cut down on the number of religious holidays and turn them into holy days by having a religious talk with fellowship and tea from 8.00 a.m. to 10 a.m. at state institutions, schools and private companies. Workers and children of all religions and races will take part in this two-hour devotion before starting work at 10.00 a.m. As a result it is hoped that people would have a deeper understanding and respect for each other’s religions and take what is good from them while the country will also economically benefit with hundreds of additional productive working hours. The movement for inter religious dialogue unanimously resolved to submit these comprehensive proposals to the President for his consideration and implementation for the common good of all people and the country.