“The Muslim community has contributed to progress”-President  
[February 23, 2002 - 9.30 GMT]

President Chandrika Kumaratunga said, the Muslim community in Sri Lanka has continued to contribute for the progress of this country and for the happiness of all its people, in innumerable ways. 

“I am aware that Muslims of Sri Lanka performing Hadj in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina pray for the welfare of this country and for the well-being of all its people” the President said in her message issued to mark the festival of Hadj. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said in his message. “It is certain that our pilgrims will pray for peace and harmony in Sri Lanka and for the prosperity of our motherland, so that no one needs to harm another to establish class or racial differences and that all can live happily in equality as citizens of Sri Lanka”, 

The President’s message:

I am pleased to issue this message of felicitation on the occasion of the celebration of the Eid ul-Adha, the festival of Hadj. 

Hadji is the performance of the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, obligatory on every Muslim able to both physically and financially to perform the pilgrimage, once in a lifetime. This pilgrimage is undoubtedly the greatest annual Islamic event taking place in this planet, with nearly 3 to 4 million Muslims from every corner of the globe assembling at the epic centre, directed towards which, Muslims the world over pray, five times every day. 

Muslims from Sri Lanka too, without any restrictions and with the active facilitation of all the concerned state agencies, participate in this historic pilgrimage. I am aware that Muslims performing Hadj from Sri Lanka pray for the welfare of this country and for the well being of all its people, in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. 

Muslims have thereby continued to contribute for the progress of this country and for the happiness of all its people, as they have been doing in innumerable other ways. 

This country is presently facing the challenging task of restoring peace and unity. Peace is important. It is urgent. But peace must also bring dignity and honour to all the communities. Muslims of the North and the East in particular are undergoing hardships and sufferings, as much as the other communities. As we pray on this occasion of the Hadj for an end to these sufferings, we should be mindful of the need to work out the solution that will be acceptable to all the communities. 

As the Muslims celebrate the Hadj festival in every Mosque and in every village in this country, I have pleasure in extending my greetings to every one of them. 

Prime Minister’s message:

Eid-ul-Adha (Hadj Festival) is all about sacrifice. Today, millions of Muslims from all over the world will sacrifice their comforts and congregate in Arafa, and in the Holy City of Makkah in one uniform, irrespective of their land, language, colour, caste, creed and pray to God Almighty to forgive their sins and for their prosperity. 

The Holy Prophet Muhammed has exhorted that all human beings are brothers and sisters and there is no difference between them and everyone is responsible for the safety of the others. 

Eid-ul-Adha comes at a time when all sincere efforts are being made, to bring peace to our country adversely affected by the ethnic conflict. 

Considering the last sermon of Holy Prophet Muhammed on a day like this, 1412 years ago, the Muslims have a vital role to play in the resolution of this conflict. 

It is certain that the Sri Lankan pilgrims will pray for the peace, harmony, prosperity of our motherland so that no one needs to harm another to establish our class or racial differences and that all can live happily in equality as citizens of Sri Lanka. But achieving peace is no small task. 

It calls for sacrifice from all Sri Lankans living here and abroad. 

To achieve peace, we will have to sacrifice many false notions of racial prejudices and social arrogance in a spirit of brotherhood and tolerance. 

On this Holy day of Eid-ul-Adha, may I appeal to all Muslims brothers and sisters to recall the teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammed and contribute to building cordial and friendly relations among all communities and usher in an era of peace and prosperity. 

I wish you all a happy Eid-Ul-Adha. 

PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to webmaster@priu.gov.lk with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: February 23, 2002  - 9.30 GMT.