All religion convention leaders underline the need of a constitution that would contribute to national harmony and reconciliation

(Lanka-e-News- 06.July.2017, 11.30PM) Following a request made to the  speaker of parliament to permit a group of representatives of the All Religions Convention  to hold discussions with parliament party leaders ,  the latter and the speaker met with the group of leaders of All religions convention  yesterday (05) in the evening  at the parliamentary committee hall No.1.

At the meeting , the representatives of All religions Convention  made a request to give them also  an opportunity to express their opinions pertaining to the main issues which have cropped up in the country currently. The representatives discussed  the importance of accommodating their views and the  need to give some official recognition to the All religion convention . The importance of creating an  understanding jointly between  the political authority and  the religious leaders as regards national peace and reconciliation was also a theme of discussion at length . The all religions convention  leaders  acknowledged   the vital need of the new constitution aimed at building  national peace and reconciliation.

The determined efforts of speaker Karu Jayasuriya to improve  discipline within the  parliamentary chamber , was lauded by the religious leaders who participated in the meeting. 

The religious leaders expressed their  immense appreciation over  the immediate response shown by the speaker and the party leaders with a view to hold discussions.

The speaker further said , since all the  parliamentary parties  have given their blessings for the code of ethics in the pipeline for the parliamentarians , that will see the light of day before long.

Following a number of new measures taken during the past half year , the Sri Lankan parliament has become a model of Asia , the speaker pointed out , while adding steps will be taken to  expeditiously  present the proposals specially made by the all religious  convention   to the president and Prime Minister . 

The representatives  of respective parties in parliament  , opposition leader R. Sampanthan ,  minister of justice and Buddha Sasana Dr. Wijedasa Rajapakse , minister of foreign affairs Ravi Karunanayake , minister of urban planning  and water supply Rauff Hakeem , minister in charge of national dialogue Mano Ganeshan , deputy speaker Thilanga Sumathipala, Douglas Devananda M.P. , and M.A. Sumenthiran M.P. took part in the discussions.

Buddhist representatives of the convention  at the discussion were : Most  Ven. Dr. Iththepane Dhammalankara mahanayake, Most Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Wimalaratne anunayakeThera ,  Ven. Neethiyawala Palitha Nanayakkara nayake Thera , Ven. Nagoda Amarawansa nayakeThera ,Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakitha nayake Thera , Ven. Banagala Upatissanayake Thera, Ven. Dr. Walpola Wimalagnana Thera , Ven . Horawala Dhammajothi nayakeThera ,Ven. Kihimbiye Vijitha nayake Thera and Ven. Rukmale Dhammakithi nayakeThera.

The Catholic  representatives  were Rev. archbishop  Oswald Gomez , Father Clitus Chandrasiri Perera , Father Mervyn Fernando , Father Placidus De Silva , Father Maxwell Silva , Shamil Perera ,Shirley Tissera and Andrew Samaratunge.

The Christian representatives were : Father W.P. Ebenezer Joseph , Father Noel Fernando  and Father Premasiri Fernando.

The Muslim (Islam) representatives were : S.M. Inam Bawa Moulavi , Fazeel Farook  and Shaik Thassim.

The Hindu representative was : K.V.K. Kurukkal Sivarasa 

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by     (2017-07-07 01:27:15)