The Muslim World League yesterday donated 5 million US dollars to Sri Lanka to be spent on the victims of the Easter Sunday terrorist bombings.
The Secretary General of Muslim World League Dr. Mohammad Ibn Abdulkarim Alissa officially handed over the cheque of US 5 million dollars at the National Conference on Peace, Harmony and Co-exitence, which was held yesterday at the Nelum Pokuna Theater with the participation and patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.
The Mahanayake Theras of the Asgiriya, Malwatte, Ramanna, Amarapura and Kotte Chapters, leaders of the Christian, Islam and Hindu faiths attended the conference.
Former President and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President Chandrika Badaranaike Kumaratunga were present at the event but left before the summit concluded.
The President stayed until the end of the summit, who also said during his address, that he probably spent more hours in this event more than any other conference he had taken part before .
President Sirisena said the maximum number of hours he would spend on any other conference would be one and half hours or less. The President was present at the summit for well over three hours.
President Sirisena also said that loss of life caused by the Easter Sunday terror attacks cannot be compensated with any amount of money.
The Mahanayake Theras pointed out here that the Sinhala community that follows the Buddha’s teachings cannot promote peace and harmony alone.
Secretary General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammad Ibn Abdulkarim Alissa said at the gathering that evil elements and those who have been intellectually poisoned use religion as an excuse to serve their goals. He said it is their duty as the religious leaders to confront this situation to clarify the truth to the world.
Western Province Governor A.J.M.Muzammil was thanked by all participants for the initiative. Buddha Sasana Minister Gamini Jayawickreme Perera, Deputy Ministers, Ambassadors, members of business community, NGOs and intellectuals participated in the in the summit.
The President of All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama too addressed the gathering.
(Daily News)