Our motherland needs us now, more than ever to stand together

It’s two weeks since the “Easter Terror Attack”- the newspaper title describing the recent bombing spree that shocked and devastated our little island on April 21, 2019.

I didn’t lose a loved one nor was I in the vicinity to witness any of the blasts and for that I’m grateful. But,

I look into the eyes of the mother who lost her child that day- the day she had planned to cook a special Easter meal after their church service....

And my heart breaks....

I look into the eyes of the father who had come on holiday to our paradise island, only to lose his wife and son. Sunday’s breakfast was supposed to be their last meal before they left for the airport. It was the last meal they ever ate....

My heart aches....

I look into the eyes of the little child who stands over her mother’s coffin, crying, wondering why her mother won’t wake up- won’t open her eyes and look at her the way she does....

And my heart crumbles a little more....

I will never completely understand the pain and shock felt by those who got caught up in the attack nor will I be able to fathom the grief of those who lost their loved ones. But my heart is shattered at what has happened.

The people behind these attacks say they did it for the sake of their religion. For Allah. But if they followed Allah’s teachings or any God at all for that matter, they would not have massacred hundreds of innocents the way they did. Because love is the basis of every religion. I can’t find an adjective that has the potential to describe the attack completely...but this was not love of any kind, rather an act of cruelty, hate and violence.

They were not Muslim. They were terrorists, who warped the teachings of Islam to suit themselves and their selfish, inhumane beliefs. They had lost all connection to humanity.

Of course I’m mad! I’m angry! I’m broken! I’m scared.... Just like the rest of this country. Everything changed on Easter Sunday. Nothing will be the same. But as much as I thirst for justice, I thirst for peace and love. Although it may seem insane, I do not hate those who carried the explosives into the churches and hotels because they were influenced by a much greater force of evil- one that eventually consumed them. If anything, I am sad... I am sad that they were lost and could not be found in time to be corrected. I am sad that they had become so weak in mind that they thought they were killing themselves for a ‘greater good’. I am sad that they will never know or experience true love, devotion and life.

Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian-- we are diverse, yet we are one.

The attack isn’t over until it’s dealt with in mind and spirit as well...so don’t spread hate or cause division. Our motherland needs us now, more than ever to stand together, stand strong and stand for justice through peace.

My prayers will continue to go out to the souls of those who have slipped through our hands, to those who continue to fight for their lives, to those in grief and mourning, to the armed forces who have become our shields of protection during this time and to the government that needs to start making a change. May God bless us all.

Yelani Dias Via email