Caritas Sri Lanka, the social development wing of the country’s Catholic bishops, organized a National Peace Forum from May 29 to 30.
The forum aimed to foster a national dialogue to build peace and harmony among all communities in Sri Lanka.
The event featured five distinguished guest speakers who addressed various crucial themes. Hejaaz Hizbullah, a lawyer and social activist, spoke on "Law Enforcement and Violation of Law in Sri Lanka."
Father Hari Haran, a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Ratnapura, discussed "Undermining Multiculturalism in a Hegemonic Backdrop."
Ven. Rahula Thero, an environmentalist and social activist, focused on "Environmental Justice for Peace."
Ms. Himalee Kularathna, a lawyer, highlighted "Victimization and Marginalization: Barriers for Peace and Social Cohesion."
Finally, Rohana Hettiarachchi, executive director of People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections, spoke on "The Election and Current Political Situation in Sri Lanka."
Participants from various communities and religious faiths attended and contributed to this important dialogue. “Together, we can build a more peaceful and harmonious Sri Lanka,” said Father Haran.
The program was funded by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and MISEREOR, the German Catholic Bishops' Organization for Development Cooperation.
In Sri Lanka, Buddhism is the majority religion (70% of the population; 90% of whom are Sinhalese), followed by Hinduism (15% of the population and 80% of Tamils), Islam (8%), and Catholicism (7%).
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
