First death anniversary of Fr. Tissa Balasuriya Rebuilding society and religion even after death

Challenges faced by religion, its short comings, its role in Sri Lankan society in building unity and dealing with issues pertaining to reconciliation after the war were showcased at a ceremony on Friday January 17, organised by the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) to mark the first death anniversary of its founder director Fr. Tissa Balasuriya. The issues highlighted were those with which late Fr. Balasuriya was associated during his life time.





Short comings in reconciliation
Senior Minister Professor Tissa Vitharana who highlighted this matter said the shifting of Sri Lanka’s freedom struggle towards Buddhism had resulted in the country’s failure to build one Sri Lankan community. He said shift was an unfortunate one

He also said the failure to use Tamil culture which he identified as a source of strength to build national unity was also unfortunate.

The minister said today’s need is to forget the ethnic, religious and caste differences for the sake of the country. This he said is essential to face the challenges which Sri Lanka might face in the future especially from the international community.

Venerable Gunanandan Kurukal said the culture among Hindus who light lamps for Gods Vishnu and Siva in November for one whole week was misunderstood by the Sri Lankan authorities who claimed that people in the North had lit lamps to commemorate the dead LTTE Leader Prabahakaran. “It may be the death anniversary of the late LTTE leader but Hindus have to practise their culture irrespective of  Prabahakran,” he said.




Religious Harmony
Venerable Buddiyagama Chandraratana Thera who was a close associate of late of Fr. Balasuriya in his speech stressed for inter-religious harmony. Venerable Thera made this point by paying a glowing tribute to Fr. Balasuriya. The Thera also explained how one could practise the principals of Madyastha Prathipradawa (neutralism) and the Dhana Parmitha the first of the ten paramithas preached by The Buddha. He said Fr. Balasuriya followed this parmitha by giving up all his wealth and adopting selflessness.

Sri Lanka’s challenges in the international arena Former Sri Lankan permanent representative to the UNHRC in Geneva Dr. Dayan Jayatileke who also spoke at the ceremony stressed the need for focusing on human liberation rather than holding on to two distinct views which are namely focusing on nationalism by opposing internationalism and the expectation of freedom through international intervention into the country’s internal affairs. He said it is essential to take up a middle path and focus on human liberation. Dr. Jayatikeke stressed that politics and the economy should be nurtured in accordance with this middle path.

He recalled that Fr. Balasuriya was a person who identified this need and worked on it.

Challenges faced by the Catholic Church
Fr. Aloysius  Peiris who made the key note address called for reforms in the Catholic Church in dealing with theological teachings. He called for the separation of the Theological Commission which is to come up with interpretations regarding theology and the Congregation for the Development of Faith (CDF) which is responsible for safeguarding the faith and thereby guiding religious teachers including priests. He said these institutions should be separated as in the case of the government where the three arms of the government the executive, legislature and the judiciary remain separate in accordance with the constitution.  At the moment he said the members of the Theological Commission are appointed by the CDF. He also spoke on the concept of the Dogma which is seen as a formula adopted by the church in maintaining ideologies with regard to faith and theology. At the moment the church distances itself from anyone whose ideology or  interpretation of theological interpretations fall outside the theme in the Dogma.

With regard to the issue pertaining to Fr. Balasuriya’s book “Mary and  human liberation’ he said there was a misinterpretation on the decision made by the CDF. He said the CDF did not come to a decision with regard to Fr. Balasuriya but that there was some misunderstanding in this message. However Fr. Peiris drew a positive picture on the future of the church that Pope Francis the present pontiff had set the foundation for reforms in the church.

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Fr. Aloysius  Peiris who made the key note address called for reforms in the Catholic Church in dealing with theological teachings. He called for the separation of the Theological Commission which is to come up with interpretations regarding theology and the Congregation for the Development of Faith (CDF)