Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says that he accepts the recent announcement of the Buddhist chief prelates and will take steps to set up a council to dispel suspicions and misconceptions among religions and build religious reconciliation.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said a religious reconciliation council would be established under the leadership of all religious leaders. The main objective of this program is to reconcile religions and communities, he added.
The Prime Minister made these remarks at a function held at the Kumme Public Grounds in Baddegama to distribute benefits to 4,500 Samurdhi beneficiaries. Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister further said that the Maha Sangha had pointed out that there would be no solution by removing Muslims and Tamils from the mainstream.
The Prime Minister pointed out that whatever the religious views they hold, everyone should have the right to practice their religion freely.
Wickremesinghe said that the Constitution had established that priority should be given to Buddhism in Sri Lanka and all other religions had also accepted that.
The Prime Minister pointed out that on that basis the religious reconciliation council could resolve the issues between the various religions in the country resulting in religious reconciliation. He added that arrangements would be made to promptly formulate the laws and regulations necessary to set up the council.
Wickremesinghe said steps would be taken to discuss the matter with the Chief Prelates of the three main Buddhist chapters and the leaders of all other religions.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe emphasised that the confidence of the people in the political system had collapsed and measures should be taken with new thinking to rebuild the people's confidence.
Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Vajira Abeywardena, Land and Parliamentary Reforms Minister and Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka, Primary Industries and Social Empowerment Minister Daya Gamage, Samurdhi Ministry Monitoring MP Bandula Lal Bandarigoda, people's representatives and State officials participated in the occasion. (Colombopage)