News
Buddhists can never be racists, says Karu
Buddhists could never be racists, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said on Wednesday. He said so speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Coalition for National and Religious Reconciliation.
Given below is his speech in full: “I am pleased to say that representatives of all religions and ethnicities, including the Maha Sangha are gathered here today. It is the wish of every Sri Lankan to live in a country that respects liberty, national and religious unity within a democratic framework. This is the stand we must pass on to our future generation.
“Sri Lanka, which was a prosperous country prior to its independence, deteriorated rapidly thereafter. Our country had to face failed military coups, youth unrest and a civil war. We are a divided nation today.
“Our objective is to bring an end to this unfortunate situation. Our ethnicity and religion are not something we can claim. It depends on a number of factors including our place of birth and our parental heritage. Buddhists in particular can never be racists. In the Vassettha Sutta, the Buddha stated that mankind is one race.
“Then we must respect the noble truth of Buddha’s teachings. If there are people who hold racist views, the Maha Sangha should educate them. Is it necessary to divide ourselves according to ethnicity and destroy a country? Conflicts between races and religions have had a decisive impact on the serious setbacks in the social, economic and political spheres as well as the breakdown of people’s lives in Sri Lanka since independence. Later on, such issues led to the creation of a number of serious crises in the country and also led to a protracted civil war which destroyed the lives of many Sri Lankans. It also had a devastating effect on the overall economy of this country and the image of the nation.
“One of the main factors cited by social and political analysts as contributing to the country’s demise was the lack of a proper discourse in society on the process of nation building in the pre-independence era and the failure to reach a consensus, as well as systematic actions taken by some parties to create antagonisms between races and religions due to their need to secure political power in the post-independence era. Attention has also been drawn to the fact that informed and influential groups in Sri Lanka in particular have not been widely involved in these matters.
“Unfortunately, even today, many factors are being created to pave the way for such conditions in the country. Special attention has been paid to the situation in the aftermath of the Easter attack, with various suspicions and grievances between the Sinhalese and Muslim communities, the Buddhist community and the Catholic and Christian communities and among the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities as a whole.
“This situation will be decisively detrimental to the future well-being of the country. As responsible organisations and citizens, we need to focus on this and intervene to prevent such an unfortunate situation from occurring in the country. This has become our primary and foremost responsibility.
“Our intention as the Coalition for National and Religious Reconciliation is to contribute to the creation of a broader dialogue among religious institutions and civil society organisations that are regarded as two of the most influential groups in Sri Lanka. At the same time, it is an attempt to inform all citizens of this responsibility. It is to highlight the importance of working responsibly by all people in the name of national and religious reconciliation. It is our fervent belief that this responsibility belongs to all of us.
“After taking the advice of the distinguished participants who are gathered here today, we will travel across the island to speak on national and religious unity. This endeavour will require your approval and participation. Let us unite now to create a prosperous country.”
News
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka holds a bilateral meeting with Minister for Education and Skills Development of Bhutan
On the sidelines of the inaugural Global Conscious Food Systems Summit 2026, being held in Bhutan from 31 August to 4 September 2026, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, held a productive bilateral meeting with Yeezang De Thapa, Minister for Education and Skills Development of Bhutan, on 03 September 2026.
The discussions focused on further strengthening and expanding Sri Lanka-Bhutan cooperation in the education sector, with particular emphasis on developing mutually beneficial initiatives through enhanced Government-to-Government engagement.
Both sides underscored the importance of deepening institutional cooperation and exploring new avenues for collaboration in education, higher education and vocational training, with a view to creating greater opportunities for students, educators and academic institutions of both countries.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to initiate discussions towards the finalization and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the fields of education and vocational training. It was also agreed that the implementation of the MoU could be facilitated through the establishment of a Joint Working Group, headed at the Secretary level, with meetings to be convened annually to review progress, identify new areas of cooperation, and facilitate the effective implementation of agreed activities.
The major areas of cooperation discussed included enhancing collaboration among universities and academic institutions, promoting academic and faculty exchanges, joint research and university programmes, strengthening training and capacity-building opportunities for educators and teachers, and sharing expertise and best practices in the education and vocational training sectors.
The two sides also discussed strengthening child protection and safeguarding mechanisms, promoting ethical values among students, and addressing violence against children while ensuring their safety, protection, well-being and access to quality education.
Opportunities for Bhutanese students to pursue undergraduate studies at universities in Sri Lanka were also discussed, with particular emphasis on Dentistry, Medicine (MBBS), and allied health disciplines such as Physiotherapy. The discussions further covered opportunities for postgraduate studies in medical and health sciences at Sri Lankan universities, as well as enhanced collaboration among universities and other academic institutions of the two countries.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for Sri Lanka and Bhutan to advance cooperation in education and vocational training and explore new avenues for long-term collaboration for the mutual benefit of students, educators and academic institutions of both countries.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya had an audience with His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at the Tashichhodzong in Thimphu on September 02, during her official visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan.
The cordial discussion focused on Bhutan’s future development priorities and opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.
His Majesty expressed Bhutan’s interest in drawing on Sri Lanka’s experiences and expertise in areas relevant to its development plans. The discussion also focused on promoting investment between the two countries, including the possibility of establishing an investment zone in Bhutan.
The two sides also exchanged views on demographic challenges facing Bhutan, including the increasing migration of young people and its impact on the country’s population and future workforce.
The meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation and sharing experiences and best practices in support of the sustainable development of both countries.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
Namal Rajapaksa had been summoned by CIABOC to provide a statement in connection with investigations into the controversial Airbus deal. He was subsequently arrested by CIABOC after recording his statement for over 5 hours.
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka holds a bilateral meeting with Minister for Education and Skills Development of Bhutan
Prime Minister Meets His Majesty the King of Bhutan
Kusal Mendis, Binura Fernando ruled out of T20I series in England
SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa arrested by CIABOC
Devapathiraja clinch U15 Division I title with 33-run win over Royal
Mandhana’s record ton powers India into semi-finals
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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