Interreligious Groups Promoting Sri Lankan Peace

(August 21, 2008) Dialogue between Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims in Sri Lanka is playing an essential role in the search for peace, affirmed the apostolic nuncio in the country. Archbishop Mario Zenari told L'Osservatore Romano that cooperation, particularly among Christians and Buddhists, is based "on a mutual respect that has lasted for centuries." Buddhists make up 70% of Sri Lanka's population, and the nuncio affirmed that they "show respect for Christians, whom they appreciate especially for their social work -- particularly their schools and formation centres -- and their fraternal closeness to the people." Archbishop Zenari mentioned two organizations in Sri Lanka fostering interreligious dialogue: the Congress of Religions and the Interreligious Council for Peace. The existence of these two entities is "the fruit of a divine grace, which brought light to darkness," he said. Both organizations are "an example not only in Sri Lanka, but also in the rest of the continent." "No cultural diversity can prevent the different leaders from sitting together at a table to identify the reasons for their divisions and assess the bonds of union, in order to achieve a peaceful coexistence," the nuncio added. He mentioned the example of a local interreligious council operating in the Trincomalee-Batticaloa Diocese. It works "not only in the religious field, but also in an endeavour to placate the conflict in the north of the country," he stated.