Connect with us

News

Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue sees a silver lining

Published

on

Miguel Angel Card Ayuso Guixot

Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue has said that the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic would strengthen bonds of friendship and further unite people in service to the human family, adopting “a culture of dialogue as the path, mutual cooperation as the code of conduct; reciprocal understanding as the method and standard. 

The following is the text of the message issued by Miguel Angel Card Ayuso Guixot. MCCJ, President, to mark Vesak: On behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. I am writing to YOU on the occasion of the feast of Vesak to offer my heartfelt greetings. It is my prayer that this annual Buddhist  festival commemorating  the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Gautama Buddha may bring joy, serenity. and hope to the hearts of Buddhists throughout the world.

The current world situation. tragically marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. challenges the followers of all religions to collaborate in new ways at the service of the human community. In his Encyclical Fratelli tutti, signed in Assisi on 3 October 2020, Pope Francis reiterated the urgency of a universal solidarity that allows humanity to overcome together the difficult crises that threaten it, because “no one is saved alone” (Pope Francis, Fratelli tutti, 322).

 The Vesak greetings, of which we celebrated the 215????” anniversary last year, have highlighted many of the values we hold in common and the wisdom that supports the collaboration we foster, especially in addressing times as hard as the present one. The suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has made us aware of our shared vulnerability and interdependence. We are called to discover and practice the solidarity enshrined in our respective religious traditions. As Pope Francis says, “ancient stories, full of symbolism, bear witness to a conviction which we today share, that everything is interconnected, and that genuine care for our own lives and our relationship with nature is inseparable from fraternity, justice and faithfulness to others.” (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day, of Peace, I January 2021).

 The Buddhist teaching on Brahma Viharas (Four Heavenly Abodes or Virtues) offers us a timeless message of solidarity and active care. In speaking about metta (loving kindness), it exhorts followers to extend boundless love to all. “As a mother even with her life protects her only child, so let one cultivate immeasurable loving-kindness towards all living beings” (Metta Sutta). As the Buddha taught, practitioners are equally encouraged to “make haste in doing good deeds: one should restrain one’s mind from evil: for the mind of one who is slow in doing good tends to take delight in doing evil” (Dhammapada. 116).

 May dramatic situation of the COVID-19 pandemic strengthen our bonds of friendship and further unite us in service to the human family, adopting “a culture of dialogue as the path, mutual cooperation as the code of conduct; reciprocal understanding as the method and standard-(Pope Francis, Fratelli tutti. 285).

 Dear Buddhist friends, these are the thoughts that I wish to share with you this year. Let us look forward to the future with hope and serenity. Happy Festival.”



Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Platform enabling swift removal of websites, photos, and videos containing instances of child sexual abuse launched

Published

on

By

The launch of an online platform enabling the swift removal of websites, photos, and videos containing or potentially containing instances of child sexual abuse took place  on Thursday  (28) at the Presidential secretariat under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Recognizing the urgency of addressing child abuse in cyberspace, this initiative targets the dissemination of nude photos and indecent videos of children through internet and social media channels. Implemented by the National Child Protection Authority in collaboration with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), renowned for its expertise in internet child safety enforcement, this program receives financial support from Save the Children Fund.

Following the implementation of this online system, individuals can now visit the website of the National Child Protection Authority at www.childprotection.gov.lk to report incidents of indecent photos and videos of children exchanged online. These reports will be handled by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in collaboration with the National Child Protection Authority. Subsequently, the offending videos will be promptly removed from the internet, and legal action will be pursued against the perpetrators.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Heat Index at ‘Caution’ level in Western, North-western, North-Central, Northern, Eastern and Southern provinces and Ratnapura and Monaragala districts

Published

on

By

Heat Index advisory issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre At 4.00 p.m. 28 March 2024, valid for 29 March 2024

The Natural hazards Early Warning Centre has warned that the Heat Index, the temperature felt on the human body is expected to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Western, North-western, North-Central, Northern, Eastern and Southern provinces and Ratnapura and Monaragala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491

Continue Reading

News

COPF Chief: Milk food pricing formula discarded again to help importers make a killing

Published

on

Dr. Harsha de Silva

… frowns on trade minister’s role in the questionable process

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday (28) said the Trade Minister shouldn’t play any role in setting prices. Instead, pricing formulae had to be introduced, the SJB lawmaker said.

Dr. de Silva said so when he was asked whether the Trade Ministry and milk food importers followed the formula introduced by him during the tail end of yahapalana administration. The former UNP State Minister said the latest reduction of milk food prices hadn’t been done according to the formula decided by the House Committee years ago.

Recently, the prices of packets of one kilo and 400g of imported milk powder were reduced by Rs. 150 and Rs 60, respectively.Responding to queries regarding the formula remaining suspended since 2019 and what he in his capacity as Chairman of the COPF intended to do, Dr de Silva said that ministers shouldn’t have any role to play in setting prices.

“That is not their job. Ideally, there should be sufficient competition in the market to establish a fair price. If not or if there is a collusion then the regulator, in this case the Consumer Affairs Authority, must have a transparent process to establish a fair price. A good way to do that is a formula. This type of non-transparent pricing involving politicians is an absolute no.”

Dr. de Silva recently lashed out at the Consumer Affairs Authority and the Finance Ministry for failing to implement the milk powder pricing formula, thereby allowing milk powder importers to make a killing. Even after that intervention, the relevant authorities haven’t acted on the instructions issued by the House Committee.

Continue Reading

Trending