President's Christmas Day message
[26 Dec 2000]

"It is an opportune moment to respect rights and cultural values as a benevolent society while commemorating the birth of Christ who has won immense veneration and respect from millions of Christians throughout the world, " President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said in a Christmas Day message on Monday.

She exhorted all Sri Lankans to use this noble day to rebuild the nation to have the flame of peace alive perpetually so that " we can further the victories which we have already achieved." 

This is the moment to shed all petty differences that have arisen among us and to serve our motherland", the President's message said. 

The President's message "I will take this opportunity to extend my warmest wishes, this Christmas Day to all Christians in Sri Lanka commemorating the birth of Lord Jesus Christ who disseminated the message of peace, brotherhood and equality throughout the world. 

We have come to a decisive stage in our quest to usher in an era of peace and friendship. We have been debilitated by a cruel war which has destroyed our resources and values. It is our own brothers and sisters who continue to be obliterated from this horrendous war. What is also clearly evident is that the path of peace for which Christ laid his life down for, is more relevant today than ever before. 

The message that Christ disseminated was for all human beings to live in peace and mutual cooperation. Being on the threshold of the new millennium, we are deeply committed to achieve the noble ideals of Christ." 

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