(Lanka-e-News- 06.July.2017, 11.30PM) Following a request made to the speaker of parliament to permit a group of representatives of the All Religions Convention to hold discussions with parliament party leaders , the latter and the speaker met with the group of leaders of All religions convention yesterday (05) in the evening at the parliamentary committee hall No.1.
At the meeting , the representatives of All religions Convention made a request to give them also an opportunity to express their opinions pertaining to the main issues which have cropped up in the country currently. The representatives discussed the importance of accommodating their views and the need to give some official recognition to the All religion convention . The importance of creating an understanding jointly between the political authority and the religious leaders as regards national peace and reconciliation was also a theme of discussion at length . The all religions convention leaders acknowledged the vital need of the new constitution aimed at building national peace and reconciliation.
The determined efforts of speaker Karu Jayasuriya to improve discipline within the parliamentary chamber , was lauded by the religious leaders who participated in the meeting.
The religious leaders expressed their immense appreciation over the immediate response shown by the speaker and the party leaders with a view to hold discussions.
The speaker further said , since all the parliamentary parties have given their blessings for the code of ethics in the pipeline for the parliamentarians , that will see the light of day before long.
Following a number of new measures taken during the past half year , the Sri Lankan parliament has become a model of Asia , the speaker pointed out , while adding steps will be taken to expeditiously present the proposals specially made by the all religious convention to the president and Prime Minister .
The representatives of respective parties in parliament , opposition leader R. Sampanthan , minister of justice and Buddha Sasana Dr. Wijedasa Rajapakse , minister of foreign affairs Ravi Karunanayake , minister of urban planning and water supply Rauff Hakeem , minister in charge of national dialogue Mano Ganeshan , deputy speaker Thilanga Sumathipala, Douglas Devananda M.P. , and M.A. Sumenthiran M.P. took part in the discussions.
Buddhist representatives of the convention at the discussion were : Most Ven. Dr. Iththepane Dhammalankara mahanayake, Most Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Wimalaratne anunayakeThera , Ven. Neethiyawala Palitha Nanayakkara nayake Thera , Ven. Nagoda Amarawansa nayakeThera ,Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakitha nayake Thera , Ven. Banagala Upatissanayake Thera, Ven. Dr. Walpola Wimalagnana Thera , Ven . Horawala Dhammajothi nayakeThera ,Ven. Kihimbiye Vijitha nayake Thera and Ven. Rukmale Dhammakithi nayakeThera.
The Catholic representatives were Rev. archbishop Oswald Gomez , Father Clitus Chandrasiri Perera , Father Mervyn Fernando , Father Placidus De Silva , Father Maxwell Silva , Shamil Perera ,Shirley Tissera and Andrew Samaratunge.
The Christian representatives were : Father W.P. Ebenezer Joseph , Father Noel Fernando and Father Premasiri Fernando.
The Muslim (Islam) representatives were : S.M. Inam Bawa Moulavi , Fazeel Farook and Shaik Thassim.
The Hindu representative was : K.V.K. Kurukkal Sivarasa
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by (2017-07-07 01:27:15)
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