Japan FM applauds Sri Lankan senior religious leaders

A high-level multi-religious delegation from Sri Lanka met Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba recently to discuss reconciliation and peace-building efforts in Sri Lanka. The delegation consisting of Sri Lanka’s senior most leaders from Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities was led by the Sri Lanka Council of Religions for Peace (RfP Sri Lanka), one of the 90 inter-religious councils affiliated to Religions for Peace, the world’s largest coalition of religious communities dedicated to advancing common action for peace.

Working through its national and 11 district-level inter-religious councils, RfP Sri Lanka is the country’s most representative inter-religious body, working on the frontlines of inter-ethnic and inter-religious reconciliation and peace building.

At the meeting, Foreign Minister Genba conveyed the Japanese government’s strong support for this historic, nationwide inter-religious structure and emphasised the critical role of religious leaders and communities in post-war reconciliation and peace building in Sri Lanka.

Most Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Anunayaka Thera, President of RfP Sri Lanka, expressed the commitment of RfP Sri Lanka to promote and advance dialogue, reconciliation and common action for peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Since its establishment, RfP Sri Lanka has worked to promote just peace and reconciliation throughout the various stages of violent civil conflict in Sri Lanka.

Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, Deputy Secretary General of Religions for Peace International, who coordinates the work of inter-religious councils around the world, commended RfP Sri Lanka’s commitment to take concrete action through district councils particularly in former conflict areas.

RC