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| Sunday, 19 January 2003 |
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Thai Pongal message : President reaffirms commitment to racial harmony President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has reaffirmed her "personal commitment to the harmony between all our peoples and the reconstruction of our nation as a multi-faceted, multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural entity within which all communities living in this country at present would march hand-in-hand towards prosperity and peace". The President said while addressing the gathering at a special function at Janadhipathi Mandiraya yesterday to mark Thai Pongal festival. The President, in her address also said: "I don't need to remind you that throughout Sri Lankan history since our peoples have lived together for many centuries, Hindu families in our country along with their Sinhala and Muslim brothers and sisters have exchanged sweetmeats during this religious festival. These gestures of goodwill have played an important role in building a multi-cultural society in Sri Lanka. "On this special day for all Hindus, I wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm the Government of Sri Lanka's commitment to safeguarding the rights of all our peoples, their human rights, their equality, and their right to live as equal citizens with dignity. "We must strive once again as our forefathers did to go beyond, to reach beyond, the realms of narrow ethnic boundaries. While each one of us within our communities will strive and must do so to protect the specific identities of our communities, of our cultures, of our religions and languages, religious practices, social traditions, we must continue in our efforts, which we began some years ago, to bring together all our peoples in our path towards progress as a Nation, towards peace, harmony and then prosperity. For this we have to continue in our efforts to shun hatred, suspicion, and the past, as well as violence in all we do. "I would like to end my few words of welcome to you with Thiru Valuwa Thirukkal's saying "that the pure in heart will never hurt others even for wealth and fear". |
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