1,000 Sunday school teachers in Jaffna oriented on National Integration and Reconciliation Program

President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, launched a program in February 2017 in Colombo to institutionalise national integration and reconciliation into Sunday religious schools teaching Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. 

As a continuation of this program, a national reconciliation event was held in Jaffna at Weerasingham Hall on 23 May 2017 with the participation of over 1,000 religious school teachers to introduce and institutionalise national integration and reconciliation concepts and principles to the Sunday school teaching. 

These programs were well received by the Sunday school teachers and district officials, said Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation Secretary V. Sivagnanasothy.

The vision and objectives of the program is to create a conflict-free, united and reconciled society where everybody respects different religious principles and philosophies and establish a harmonious society which leads to prosperity. 

Respecting and valuing diversity in religions, languages, ethnicity and promoting and facilitating integration and reconciliation and building an inclusive society was identified as the important theme and mission of this program.

This dialogue session also discussed the importance of sustainable peace and national Integration as the fundamental pillar to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The discussions concluded that in a pluralistic society religion has the power and potential to unite people of different languages and ethnicities. 

All religions teach the principles of kindness, love, compassion, forgiveness, equity, brotherhood and mutual respect. The session also referred to President Sirisena’s statement: “Religions are the most precious guidelines of human civilisation and all individuals should practise the teachings of peace, unity and patience as taught in respective religions.”  

The dialogue session also discussed that Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ, the Prophet Mohamed and Hinduism leaders were great “messengers of peace and reconciliation” and called on citizens of all ethnicities to join hands in brotherhood and unity. 

The session’s speakers also urged all moderates to reject the extremist views of all sides. Only wise men can achieve and enjoy the blessings of peace. The foolish will always put it in jeopardy. Peace can never coexist with violence, ill-will and hatred.   

The dialogue session also concluded that the children of the previous generation were “cultural children” whereas today’s children are “technology children” and therefore there is an urgent need to inculcate Sunday religious teaching with reconciliation programs as mandatory to enhance the moral values of society. 

The session also concluded that the reconciliation process needed to be supported by healing and a reparation program, which includes durable solutions for conflict affected people such as the release of private lands, a housing program, social and economic infrastructure, livelihood opportunities and other economic empowerment programs to provide employment to youth and engage them in development rather than allowing them to be distracted by other socially unacceptable involvements. 

In order to build a harmonious society and a prosperous nation we must join hands to eliminate extremism, discrimination and segregation. Reconciliation is a long-term journey which requires the active engagement of all citizens and communities and aims to provide a space for peaceful and dignified living. 

Under this initiative, religious school teachers are identified as change makers and are given knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on integration and reconciliation. Training materials and knowledge products are being developed with the support of religious departments to empower religious teachers to effectively contribute as peace messengers, said Secretary Sivagnanasothy.

At the end of the program, all thousand Sunday religious teachers read the national declaration on reconciliation and confirmed their involvement to serve as peace messengers and change agents and inculcate reconciliation through religious values and principles and help young children to make them good citizens. 

The national event also emphasised that religious fanaticism, language extremism, regional extremism and hate speech should be eliminated to ensure peace, integration and reconciliation. This national event was attended by Secretary Sivagnanasothy, Northern Provincial Council Chairman C.V.K. Sivagnanam, High Commission of India, Jaffna Consulate General A. Nadarajan, District Secretary, Jaffna, N. Vethanayahan, Northern Provincial Council Chief Secretary A. Pathinathan, Northern Province Governor’s Secretary L. Ilangovan, divisional secretaries, religious leaders and over 1,000 Sunday school teachers.

The workshop concluded with a call to “become the agents of peace, harmony and reconciliation with tolerance and coexistence”, saying religion makes mankind and people show compassion, kindness and empathy to others.