President graces institutionalisation of National Integration and Reconciliation in Sunday religious

Friday, 17 February 2017 00:00 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

35The Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation has organised a program to orient 600 Sunday religious school teachers to institutionalise national integration and reconciliation in the Sunday religious school teaching. This program was participated by over 600 Sunday religious school teachers covering Buddhist dahampasal teachers, Hindu, Christian, and Muslim religious school teachers.

President Maithripala Sirisena participated as Chief Guest of this program and delivered a keynote address in his capacity as Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation. The program was held at the BMICH and provided knowledge, attitude and practice to the religious school teachers to inculcate national integration and reconciliation in the religious school teachings.  

All participants committed by reading the declaration on national integration and reconciliation prepared by the Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation. Necessary knowledge products were also provided to the teachers to empower them to impart the integration and reconciliation concept and practices as part of the religious teachings to provide the knowledge to the religious school children said Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation Secretary V. Sivagnanasothy.

This program is intended to bring unity in diversity and to use the religion as a powerful tool for reconciliation and integration of different faith. This program aims to empower religious school teachers and children as change agents and peace messengers to promote national integration and reconciliation said Sivagnanasothy.

At this event, a commemoration stamp on national integration and reconciliation as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was launched by President Maithripala Sirisena. The event was also participated by Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Former President and Chairperson of the Office of the National Unity and Reconciliation, A.H. Mohamed Hasheem, Minister of Posts, Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs, A.H.M. Fowzie, State Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, Una Macauley, UN Resident Coordinator, Mano Thittawela, Secretary General for Coordination of Reconciliation Mechanism, Governor of the Central Bank, Head of European Union, Unicef, World Bank and ADB representatives and other special guests said Sivagnanasothy

This program will be expanded and replicated to cover all schools island-wide.37

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