White paper on ‘Harmony Act’ presented to Speaker

Tuesday, 9 July 2019 01:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A white paper on ‘The Harmony Act of Sri Lanka’, initiated by a representation of Sri Lankan civil society was presented to Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya at the Speaker’s Chambers at Parliament Complex yesterday.

Entitled ‘The Harmony Act for Religious, Racial, Ethnic and Civil Harmony in Sri Lanka’, the white paper was developed by an independent and diverse cross-section of Sri Lankan nationals from the private and business sector, academic and professional spheres, representing the four principle ethnic denominations in Sri Lanka.

Modelled on the ‘Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act of Singapore’, the proposed Act is intended to foster interethnic, intercultural and interreligious harmony and understanding among all religious, ethnic, racial and civil groups in Sri Lanka and to prevent causing feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different religions, ethnic, racial and civil groups in Sri Lanka.

The paper was presented to the Speaker by Attorney-at-law Milani Salpitikorala on behalf of the civil society initiative. Also present at the occasion were Aman Ashraff, Attorney-at-law Priya Sivagananathan and Ashan de Silva.