Harmony Quote

Sri Lanka is the only home that citizens of this country have. Therefore, we have to collectively rise to ensure that the greatness of this country, from pre-colonial times to date, is ensured. To do this, we can strengthen and purify our hearts with the spirituality that is central to all the rich religious traditions practiced in Sri Lanka, a country that gives religious freedom to all, where the Buddhist temple chants mingle with those of the Hindu kovil, and pealing of bells in the Christian churches as well as the Azaan of the Muslims. This is Sri Lanka with its rich Buddhist tradition of tolerance. This is what we have to give strength to, and not the darkness of a few who revel in creating mayhem. We should always say in our hearts: “With each day may we try to understand and act in gentleness and wisdom, so that those with darkness in their minds may turn to the light, and may we also be vigilant and remove any ignorant and dark shadows that exist in ours.”

 

— Veteran Sri Lankan educator and social activist Deshabandu Jezima Ismail, in conversation with the Harmony page/Daily FT. The excerpts of the interview and story will appear in the Harmony page of 2 November.