Amidst the recent turn of events in Kandy and its suburbs, a group of Buddhist monks have participated at the weekly Friday prayers at mosques both in the Colombo region and outside, to assure inter-communal bonds and to reiterate the importance of harmony.
Five bhikkhus comprising the Nayaka Theras of Mallikaramaya, Lankaramaya, Bodhirukkharamaya, Kotelawalapura Samadhi Buddhist Centre and Ratmalana Raja Mawatta Viharaya, visited the Ratmalana Jummah Mosque when the sermons were in progress on Friday 9.
During the visit, the bhikkus, who underscored the importance of reconciliation and the need to travel together, had highlighted that only a small group had created problems.
“We should live as one nation under one flag”, the bhikkus said.
Similar shows of solidarity took place during Friday prayers at Avissawella and the Watarappala Road mosque in Mount Lavinia, where the Ven Daksinarama Maha Nayaka Thera participated.
Meanwhile, the Sinhalese and Tamil communities of Balagolla, a village in the Kandy district came together in solidarity with the affected Muslims by distributing dry rations in the area and called for peace and coexistence.
A Peace Walk to ensure communal harmony with the participation of all religious leaders is slated to be held next week. (AR)