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The coexistence of diversity has been the abiding feature of Sri Lankan society from ancient times, with Muslims providing the perfect example for fully integrating themselves into the national society while preserving their unique religious and cultural identity, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Speaking via video conferencing at the inaugural session of the Islamic Conference on Justice, World Peace and Coexistence in a Pluralistic Society today at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo, President Rajapaksa said Muslims have integrated themselves most peacefully and harmoniously with the neighbours among whom they live, while at the same time protecting their own culture, religion and way of life. “As part of their methodology of integrating in a plural society while maintaining their own identity the Muslims speak two languages in some parts of the country and even three languages in some of our towns,” said President Rajapaksa. Looking back in history the President noted that the Muslim community in Sri Lanka had always enjoyed a royal patronage and recalled the patriotic Muslim leaders who were in the forefront of the nation’s recent history, the struggle for independence, such as Dr. T B Jayah, Sir Mohamed Marcan Markar, Sir Razeek Fareed, Dr. M C M Kaleel and Dr. Badiu-din Mahmud among others.
[Full text of the speech] Reverend Members of the Clergy Mr. Speaker Hon. Ministers Members of Parliament Mr. M H Mohomed, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Islamic Centre Foreign Delegates and Distinguished Invitees
It is my honour and privilege today to address the inaugural session of this important International Islamic Conference. The theme of the conference is an important one – “Justice, World Peace and Coexistence in a Pluralistic Society”. Both in a local as well as in a global context the theme is both relevant and appropriate. The coexistence of diversity has been the abiding feature of Sri Lankan society from ancient times. The Muslims for example have a recorded presence in the island from about the middle of the 13th century. While fully integrating themselves into the national society, the Sri Lankan nation has always provided the Muslims a system in which they have been able to preserve their unique religious and cultural identity. It is a fact of history that Arabs have been visiting our shores from trade, even before the advent of Islam. Serendib – an ancient name for our country – has its origin in the Arab language. The 14th century Arab traveler, - the famous Ibnu Batuta – describes his visit to towns populated by Sri Lankan Muslims. Sinhala literary works of the 15th century such as the Gira Sandeshaya and the Kokila Sandeshaya describe the presence of the Muslim communities of that period. As we look into our country’s history, we find that the Muslim community of our country has in the past, always enjoyed royal patronage. As a loyal and integral part of the national entity, they have performed important services in the royal army. History describes how they have also participated in the ‘Vihara’ and ‘Devala’ systems of the Kandyan kingdom. The Hambantota district from which I come, provides a home to the Malays who arrived in our country form Indonesia and Malaysia. While on the one hand they are an important segment of our Muslim community, they are also at the same time a dedicated and committed part of the national community. In the British period of our history, the Muslims were well represented in our legislature and have played an important role in the more recent history of our country. It is relevant to recall that the first Muslim member of the legislature in this period was the Hon. M C Abdul Rahuman, the great grandfather of Al. Haj. M H Mohamed. Let us also recall at least a few of the names of those patriotic Muslim leaders who were in the forefront of our national struggle for independence – Dr. T B Jayah, Sir Mohamed Marcan Markar, Sir Razeek Fareed, Dr. M C M Kaleel and Dr. Badiu-din Mahmud among others. The more recent history of our country records the distinguished contribution made by past and present Muslim leadership in the task of nation building across the political divide. There are scholars who have suggested that the history and role of the Muslim community in the plural society of our country provide an important key to successful nation building in our country. In the crafting of a successful plural society there is much that our nation can learn from its Muslim community. They are widely distributed geographically and live for a large part among the Sinhala and Tamil communities. And in doing so they have integrated themselves most peacefully and harmoniously with the neighbours among whom they live, while at the same time protecting their own culture, religion and way of life. As part of their methodology of integrating in a plural society while maintaining their own identity the Muslims speak two languages in some parts of the country and even three languages in some of our towns. In conclusion let me congratulate the Sri Lankan Islamic Centre under the leadership of Mr. M H Mohamed for convincing the International Muslim Community to hold this important conference in Sri Lanka. Let us also thank His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Al-Turki, Secretary General of the World Muslim League in the Holy City of Mecca, for accepting the invitation of our Muslim brothers to hold the conference in our country. I wish your conference all success.
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