NCF HOSTS INTER-FAITH NEWS CONFERENCE
The National Christian Fellowship (NCF) of Sri Lanka - an umbrella organization of indigenous Churches in the country held an inter-faith clergy, news conference at its Auditorium with a view to promoting inter-faith relations, peace and harmony among all Sri Lankans and to address the needs of the Sri Lankan community at this perilous hour.
“We at the National Christian Fellowship are shocked, saddened and dismayed at the attacks on an Evangelical Church in Batticaloa, two Roman Catholic Churches and Hotels on Easter Sunday. We offer our prayers and condolences to the families that have been affected by these inhuman and evil activities of a few. We are deeply concerned and
disappointed at the irresponsible and negligent behaviour of our top most political leadership which has cost the lives of many innocent people. Instead of repentance and working in unity towards reconciliation, at such a time as this, it is a shame and disgrace to find the leadership pointing fingers at each other and working towards their gaining political advantage from this tragic situation. Sri Lanka has had religious and ethnic conflicts for 40 out of its 70 years of independence. Sri Lankans are yearning for a peaceful environment so that they could send their children to school without fear, engage in their daily livelihood and to build the trust that has broken among ethnic groups and for that, the urgent need for a leadership which is committed to righteousness, with honour and integrity. The vacuum that has been created over a period of time by successive Governments has left a fragile, fearful, and hopeless Society. We call upon the religious leadership to fill this vacuum and promote and influence people with character and a sincere love for our motherland, to take leadership in our nation so that we all Sri Lankans could live without fear and with dignity. We also call upon the responsible Muslim leadership, to find ways to rehabilitate the misguided people of their faith and to take steps to eradicate this kind of extreme teaching which promotes violence in our society. We call upon all Sri Lankans, and particularly the Christian Community, to follow our Lord’s example of forgiveness, patience and love so that we as a nation could rise from this traumatic abyss our Nation has fallen.