Features

JRJ on Gandhi’s methods of winning freedom for India

Published

11 months ago

2025/02/9

Thilina Walpola

(Excerpted from Men and Memories by JR Jayewardene)

(Continued from last week)

It was at this time that the British also committed a number of mistakes. The War was over, but the government decided that India should be governed by the same rigorous laws that prevailed during the War. In 1919, they passed an act called the Rowlatt Act and imposed all the Emergency Regulations that they had used during the War. Gandhi resisted this. He said we must start a campaign against this.

We will first burn all the foreign cloth, we will boycott all foreign goods. We have to find some issues. For instance, we will wear clothes which are only woven in India. So he started a tremendous movement throughout India, throughout the 700,000 villages, to boycott all foreign goods and use local things instead. It was so effective that it created a tremendous stir all over India.

During this period, at a place called Jallianwalla Bagh in Amritsar, a British official called Dyer had prohibited meetings being held. People gathered at a small place surrounded all round by buildings with only one door to enter, and had a meeting. Dyer ordered his soldiers to surround the crowd and fire at all the people. Hundreds were killed and hundreds were injured. This happened on April 17, 1919. He (Dyer) was later summoned before a Commission in London, called the Hunter Commission. There he said, “My intention was not to arrest the people but to kill them.” The British Government gave him a large sum of money and commended him. This incident gave Gandhi enough reason to decide to start a civil disobedience ‘Satyagraha’ campaign. The Amritsar incident gave a tremendous momentum to his ‘Satyagraha’ movement.

During that campaign, at a place called Chauri Chaura, in February 1921, hundreds had gathered and were demonstrating peacefully. Some people behind the rally were attacked by the police. They all turned back and attacked the police, set fire to a police station and killed some policemen. The non-violent campaign turned into violence. When Gandhi heard this, he called off his movement. He was asked by his colleagues like Jawaharlal Nehru why he did it when they were on the verge of success.

He said, “I don’t want to achieve freedom by violence. Our people are still not ready for a-non-violent movement and I am calling off my movement.” It shows how sincere he was.

Soon after that he was charged before a Judge in 1922. The Judge himself was a man of repute and he said, “I am proud to see a prisoner of your stature, would you tell me whether you are guilty or not guilty?” He said, “Your Honour, I am guilty and I am not asking for any mercy. You can impose the highest penalty on me.” The Judge himself did not know what to do and said, “Since you are pleading guilty, I sentence you to prison.” That was the type of man Gandhi was.

Now we come to the 1928 period, when the British thought something must be done about India. The talks between Indian leaders and the Governors and Viceroys were not sufficient. The British Government sent Sir John Simon in February 1928. They did not say that the Simon Commission was to discuss freedom, for no such thing had been even mentioned in the terms of reference of the Commission. Gandhi decided to boycott the Simon Commission all over India. The Simon Commission had to go back empty-handed.

The Prince of Wales came on a tour to India. He was met with black flags, `satyagraha’ campaigns and protest rallies. It became quite clear that India was preparing for a long struggle for freedom, violent or non-violent. One of the leaders in this freedom movement, Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Bombay, who was senior to Gandhi, was the first man to say “Swaraj is my birth-right and I will have it.” He was banished to the Andaman Islands for life. One of the young leaders was Jawaharlal Nehru. There were the Patel brothers, Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad, Motilal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, and so many others who were now working with Gandhi. They all said, let us now work for complete Independence and separation from the British Empire.

In January 1930, for the first time, Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian flag and said, “We are for Complete Independence, Poorna Swaraj.” That was January 26, 1930, at the Lahore Congress. That day is still remembered as the Independence Day of India (now celebrated as the Republic Day).

The British were then led by a Labour Leader, Ramsay Macdonald, as Prime Minister. He thought being Labour, he should do something and summoned a Round Table Conference in London in 1931. Gandhi was sent as the sole representative. He was invited to Buckingham Palace and was asked what he would wear.

This story was related to me by a Sri Lankan, Bernard Aluvihare, who was there and one of the young Sri Lankans who joined the Indian movement. Gandhi had looked at himself and said, “I can wash these clothes and wear them,” meaning his dhoti. When at the Palace, he was told, “Mr. Gandhi, you don’t seem to have many clothes on your body,” he had replied, “His Majesty, is wearing enough clothes for both of us.” Another official had said, “Mr. Gandhi, you are not wearing enough clothes.” Gandhi had replied, “You British wear Plus-Fours while playing golf. I am wearing Minus-Fours.” He was a man with a sense of humour. He knew what to say and when to say it.

Nothing happened at the Round Table Conference and Gandhi came back to India. In 1930, he planned a 200 mile walk from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi Beach, to make salt which was a government monopoly. Nobody was allowed to pick or make salt. Gandhi thought this was a most appropriate law to break, as millions were using salt. The whole of India rose as a man. Gandhi’s salt march made it very clear that India was ready for a complete revolution and that they would consider nothing less than freedom. Gandhi’s ‘salt march’ proved that all the political parties and masses were behind him in the struggle for complete freedom.

We, in Ceylon, were much affected by this movement in the 1930s. When Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru came here, I know how our young people felt. I myself was a law student at the Law Faculty. We decided to unveil a photograph of Gandhi in the Law College in the year 1932. We got the famous painter, David Paynter, to do the portrait for us. We law students collected money and the President of the Law Society, a distinguished lawyer, gave us a big sum of money, but when he found that Gandhi was not very popular with he British businessmen here, he withdrew his contribution. So we told him, “You go to hell”, collected the money, and unveiled the portrait which is still hanging in the Law College premises.

Sri Lanka was very much affected by this movement, especially the youth of our period, myself, Dudley Senanayake, the Gunawardena brothers, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, the ce Zoysas and many others. The older people like D.S. Senanayake looked a bit differently at Gandhi and the events of the period, but that did not matter to us and we carried on.

Gandhi had not yet come to the stage where he said, “I am bringing a movement for the freedom of India.” He took the Bihar indigo incident; the Rowlett Act and the laws of that time; the salt march, to break the salt law of the British; to begin his campaign. He thought he must make the final decision to tell the British to “Quit India”. He took that step at the Indian National Congress Committee Meeting in 1942.

In 1942, 1 had the privilege of attending that meeting with the help of Jawaharlal Nehru. We were seated behind Gandhi in a huge hall on the sea beach at Bombay. There were more than 100,000 people listening to him. He came in and made a long speech. He said, ‘”This is a movement we have started with one objective and we will not stop till that objective is realized that is “Quit India.” He ended up his speech by saying: “Karenge Ya Marenge”, that is, “Do or Die”. The leaders were arrested and locked up in prison the next day.

The British found that the freedom movement was gathering strength all over India, in all the villages despite their attempts to stop it. They said, “India is already free, we cannot keep her down anymore.” They finally thought that they would give freedom and sent Sir Stafford Cripps to discuss with the Indian people how India should be given freedom. At that time, they also decided that the division of India should be considered. I do not know whether Gandhi completely approved of that, but he would never have resisted a movement for the Muslims to safeguard their own interests.

I think that is why he was murdered in 1948. He was sympathetic to the Muslims; he was sympathetic to the Hindus; he was sympathetic to all lovers of freedom. It did not matter to him whether a person was a Hindu, Buddhist or a Muslim, what mattered was the principles of Freedom, Truth, Righteousness and all these principles are essentials of all religions. That was Mahatma Gandhi.

He was a politician who never deviated from these principles. As a religious man he followed the principles which were enunciated by the Hindu avatars, by the Buddha, by Christ and Mohammed.

This combination made him in the words of Rabindranath Tagore the “Maha Atma” the `Great-Soul’.

When I was invited to deliver the Inaugural Lecture of the Commonwealth Series, there seemed no better place to do so on “Ahimsa” other than in London, the Chief City of the Greatest Empire the World had seen, and now of the Commonwealth of Nations which had taken its place. What better forum could there be for me to express my views than this, and to an audience which was attentive, democratic and intelligent; and possessing other qualities the people of the United Kingdom, through three and a half centuries of Parliamentary Democracy, had inherited and developed.

(To be continued)

All News Advertisement

Features

Race hate and the need to re-visit the ‘Clash of Civilizations’

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: ‘No to race hate’

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done very well to speak-up against and outlaw race hate in the immediate aftermath of the recent cold-blooded gunning down of several civilians on Australia’s Bondi Beach. The perpetrators of the violence are believed to be ardent practitioners of religious and race hate and it is commendable that the Australian authorities have lost no time in clearly and unambiguously stating their opposition to the dastardly crimes in question.

The Australian Prime Minister is on record as stating in this connection: ‘ New laws will target those who spread hate, division and radicalization. The Home Affairs Minister will also be given new powers to cancel or refuse visas for those who spread hate and a new taskforce will be set up to ensure the education system prevents, tackles and properly responds to antisemitism.’

It is this promptness and single-mindedness to defeat race hate and other forms identity-based animosities that are expected of democratic governments in particular world wide. For example, is Sri Lanka’s NPP government willing to follow the Australian example? To put the record straight, no past governments of Sri Lanka initiated concrete measures to stamp out the evil of race hate as well but the present Sri Lankan government which has pledged to end ethnic animosities needs to think and act vastly differently. Democratic and progressive opinion in Sri Lanka is waiting expectantly for the NPP government’ s positive response; ideally based on the Australian precedent to end race hate.

Meanwhile, it is apt to remember that inasmuch as those forces of terrorism that target white communities world wide need to be put down their counterpart forces among extremist whites need to be defeated as well. There could be no double standards on this divisive question of quashing race and religious hate, among democratic governments.

The question is invariably bound up with the matter of expeditiously and swiftly advancing democratic development in divided societies. To the extent to which a body politic is genuinely democratized, to the same degree would identity based animosities be effectively managed and even resolved once and for all. To the extent to which a society is deprived of democratic governance, correctly understood, to the same extent would it experience unmanageable identity-bred violence.

This has been Sri Lanka’s situation and generally it could be stated that it is to the degree to which Sri Lankan citizens are genuinely constitutionally empowered that the issue of race hate in their midst would prove manageable. Accordingly, democratic development is the pressing need.

While the dramatic blood-letting on Bondi Beach ought to have driven home to observers and commentators of world politics that the international community is yet to make any concrete progress in the direction of laying the basis for an end to identity-based extremism, the event should also impress on all concerned quarters that continued failure to address the matters at hand could prove fatal. The fact of the matter is that identity-based extremism is very much alive and well and that it could strike devastatingly at a time and place of its choosing.

It is yet premature for the commentator to agree with US political scientist Samuel P. Huntingdon that a ‘Clash of Civilizations’ is upon the world but events such as the Bondi Beach terror and the continuing abduction of scores of school girls by IS-related outfits, for instance, in Northern Africa are concrete evidence of the continuing pervasive presence of identity-based extremism in the global South.

As a matter of great interest it needs mentioning that the crumbling of the Cold War in the West in the early nineties of the last century and the explosive emergence of identity-based violence world wide around that time essentially impelled Huntingdon to propound the hypothesis that the world was seeing the emergence of a ‘Clash of Civilizations’. Basically, the latter phrase implied that the Cold War was replaced by a West versus militant religious fundamentalism division or polarity world wide. Instead of the USSR and its satellites, the West, led by the US, had to now do battle with religion and race-based militant extremism, particularly ‘Islamic fundamentalist violence’ .

Things, of course, came to a head in this regard when the 9/11 calamity centred in New York occurred. The event seemed to be startling proof that the world was indeed faced with a ‘Clash of Civilizations’ that was not easily resolvable. It was a case of ‘Islamic militant fundamentalism’ facing the great bulwark, so to speak, of ‘ Western Civilization’ epitomized by the US and leaving it almost helpless.

However, it was too early to write off the US’ capability to respond, although it did not do so by the best means. Instead, it replied with military interventions, for example, in Iraq and Afghanistan, which moves have only earned for the religious fundamentalists more and more recruits.

Yet, it is too early to speak in terms of a ‘Clash of Civilizations’. Such a phenomenon could be spoken of if only the entirety of the Islamic world took up arms against the West. Clearly, this is not so because the majority of the adherents of Islam are peaceably inclined and want to coexist harmoniously with the rest of the world.

However, it is not too late for the US to stop religious fundamentalism in its tracks. It, for instance, could implement concrete measures to end the blood-letting in the Middle East. Of the first importance is to end the suffering of the Palestinians by keeping a tight leash on the Israeli Right and by making good its boast of rebuilding the Gaza swiftly.

Besides, the US needs to make it a priority aim to foster democratic development worldwide in collaboration with the rest of the West. Military expenditure and the arms race should be considered of secondary importance and the process of distributing development assistance in the South brought to the forefront of its global development agenda, if there is one.

If the fire-breathing religious demagogue’s influence is to be blunted worldwide, then, it is development, understood to mean equitable growth, that needs to be fostered and consolidated by the democratic world. In other words, the priority ought to be the empowerment of individuals and communities. Nothing short of the latter measures would help in ushering a more peaceful world.

Features

The perennial challenge of peace-keeping and reconciliation

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Christmas

Peace on Earth to all people of good-will is the perennial and the pristine song of Joy and hope aired in every nook and corner during every Christmas season commemorating the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. In his own day, Jesus of Nazareth was himself a wonderful instrument of peace and reconciliation in his own homeland of Palestine. He was open to all classes of people, whatever their ethnicity, race, language or social class with preference particularly to the sectors of the poor among these social strata. He would freely crisscross the various regions of Palestine which at that time was tri-partite: Galilee in the north with its fishing villages, lakes graced with wonderful beaches and imposing ranges of hills and valleys; Samaria in the middle and Judea in the deep south which located the religious centers of Judaism with its magnificent temple and also housed the State buildings of the Roman prefectures.

Liberation from Oppression

Entire Palestine was colonized with Caesar sitting in Rome his capital and having his legates governing the local provinces. People too were living in the expectation of a Messiah who would fight the colonial power and thus bring liberation to their oppressed motherland. There was a strongly prevalent messianic current of hope circulating and the longing for the day and the appearance of the Messiah, the liberator. Though inundated by Roman paganism and constantly under the threat of foreign invasion, the people kept to their traditional religious beliefs with their festivals, pilgrimages, rituals and rites and laws.

Unfortunately, there was a historic breach with the breakaway of the Samaritans from the Jews, both claiming to be authentic descendants of their earliest patriarchs. They had different holy centers of worship. Jews considered the Samaritans a hybrid race enabled by the inter-marriages encouraged by the invading Assyrian foreigners (721 BC) with the local population that were not deported by the invaders. It was a historic schism that had very sad socio-cultural, religious and political repercussions. As time went by, this enmity had created many tensions and had percolated into many other serious issues that caused estrangement within the country. The story of the Good Samaritan who came to the rescue of the Jew fallen among the robbers along the road to Jericho and the sole leper who returned to thank Jesus following his healing and who happened to be a Samaritan are gospel incidents that strived to heal this division and bring reconciliation among the two dissenting groups. Creating confusion among the general public was also the fact of the misunderstanding of the mission of the Messiah wholly thought of as a purely political liberation which was only a partial truth.

The homeland of Jesus was desperately in need of a profound spiritual and religious revolution. There had to be a more humane understanding of the Law of Moses, the great code of the national ethic and putting relationships in their correct perspective despite the fact that the land was surrounded on all sides with kingdoms and ruling monarchs who were pagan and the worship of idols was rampant. People treasured their religious and cultural traditions and were in great fear of them being lost when invading foreigners threatened their sovereignty and even territorial integrity. Their very land was sacred for it was the land of their God and therefore defended against any foreign pagan aggression. In fact, there had been often and on many insurrectionist movements rebelling against the Roman colonial rule that were summarily crushed.

Religion at the service of Freedom & Liberation

Jesus Christ saw the need of introducing a new spirituality based on a new ethic to restore the religious sensibilities of Israel. From the mountain he taught the classical sermon on the Beatitudes which declared the poor as blessed and those who suffered persecution for the sake of justice and righteousness as blessed too. It would be the meek who will inherit the earth and those who are merciful would be the true children of God. Pharisaical spirit of religion that is subservient to the letter of the Law that kills and false religiosity limited purely to rites and rituals were to be empty of meaning. Love of God to be total had to be matched with the love for the neighbor. Even enemies were to be loved without conditions. Self-righteousness had no place in the spirituality he propounded. People have to be fed both with spiritual food of truth as well as material nourishment to feed their hunger as he multiplied fish and loaves in the Galilean mountains to cater to the thousands who had flocked to hear him and sought blessings of healing and solace. Many were stunned wondering how the son of a carpenter could have such wisdom and powers even over demons who rattled at his presence. Simple jealousy, unfounded fear and a great amount of misunderstanding and suspicion finally caved in from his enemies, the religious authorities of Jerusalem and the Roman governor that led to that shamefully blatant and unjust condemnation ever recorded in legal history: the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

In some ways the celebration of Christmas, which is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ is being caricatured with commercialism and mere external fanfare with décor and illuminations. The deeper truth is that we are celebrating a spiritual event that was decisive in history: God entering the world in the real physical and bodily appearance of a human being. He made humanity make its peace with God and brought enlightenment about the mystery of life and death declaring the importance of love and respect of others in neighborly love and forgiveness. Like an industrious fisherman he cast his net into the deep and distant waters for an abundance of harvest that would bring civilization itself a mighty haul of blessings. Christianity is very much alive in its two millennia history cutting across cultures and civilizations witnessing to the belief in God and the dignity of man who has an eternal destiny. This religion is pro-life in all dimensions: safety of the unborn, the sacredness and inviolability of every life, the sanctity of marriage, life-beyond death, no violence of any kind, no wars, no nuclear weapons, no arms race or unwarranted ethnic or racial superiority, no danger to sovereignty of nations and their territorial integrity and safe haven for refugees and migrants of every hue.

It is in some of these very difficult issues that peace-keeping and work of reconciliation are becoming global priorities. Science and technology alone are no saviors of humanity embattled as it is in problems that appear to be very dramatic and far extensive. In no way should human beings become victims of their own creations however impressive they may be. Humanity must be the center of our global concerns and innovations with everything serving it towards a better quality of life. A Human being must never be instrumentalized in dehumanizing experiments. On the contrary, he must be served in all things so that his unique place in creation may not be displaced and continue to be the final point of reference in all world’s undertakings and ventures. To this must all regional and international bodies commit themselves in earnest. Christianity considers Jesus Christ the Lord to be the goal of human history, the focal point of the longings of history and of civilization, the center of the human race, the joy of every heart and the answer to all its yearnings as the great Vatican II Council document put it (Gaudium et Spes 45) while the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts (Gaud. et Spes 1).

Christianity & Secularity

It is this spirit of Jesus Christ that impels Christianity to be closely involved in the world society’s journey which registers the triumphs and failures of history. Wherever it has gone, it has opened hospitals for healing the sick, schools for education and other charitable institutions thus playing the role of the Good Samaritan in keeping the fires of charity and compassion alive in a society always prone to various kinds of natural disasters and human conflicts that bring misery and suffering. Christianity favors an economic system that is neither radically socialist nor downright capitalistic and holds primacy of labor over capital, thus taking a clear anti-Marxist stand in this ever important socio-political issue. The dignity and working conditions of the worker with the issue of a living wage, pension benefits, sharing of profits, private enterprise are considered important human issues to be dealt with within the parameters of social justice and labour rights. Democratic principles are preeminently Christian in outlook empowering people to make the needed political options in constructing a system of governance and rule that benefits the common and the greater good. Christianity wishes its voice to be heard in international fora and in contexts in which important decisions affecting people globally are made.

If the spirit of Christmas is to endure beyond its usual annual celebration, the challenges of the Christmas event must be faced and due response to its newer questions met with courage and hope. In the concrete, they are the peace among nations, inter-religious harmony, war against terror and fundamentalisms, economies without disparities and respect for human rights as well as basic freedoms. These are all elements for reconciliation and building-blocks for peace-keeping. Military superiority and economic imperialism are the most satanic forms of modern paganism that plague our world creating so much suspicion, instability and tensions. More spirit of listening, dialogue and understanding are in demand for a stable world and a new form of warm humanism. In emulation of Jesus Christ the eminent peace-maker and reconciler, it behoves that all those who claim to be peace-makers and agents of reconciliation pursue the same mission. Thus, the spirit of Christmas is preserved ever alive.

by Rev. Fr. Leopold Ratnasekera OMI
Ph.D., Th.D.

Features

So this is Christmas …

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

The world over, Christmas is being celebrated today. However, in our part of the world, Christmas, and the lead up to the New Year, will be observed on a sombre note.

With this in mind, I wish my readers a Blessed Christmas and let’s hope 2026 will be a good one … without any fear.

Several known personalities also send their greetings and best wishes to The Island readers:

* Noshin De Silva (Actress):

Happy Holidays to everyone across our beautiful island! As we move toward the end of the year, my heart goes out to all communities affected by the recent floods and severe weather. In these challenging weeks, we have also witnessed the true spirit of Sri Lanka through the humility, compassion, and unity of people coming together to support one another. May this season bring comfort to those rebuilding, gratitude to those giving, and hope to us all. Wishing everyone Peace, Healing, Great Health, and a very Happy New Year!

* Melloney Dassanayaka (Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2024):

As we celebrate the blessings of Christmas and step with hope into a brand-new year, I am reminded of the strength, resilience, and spirit that define us as Sri Lankans. This festive season invites us to reflect, to appreciate what we have, and to look ahead with courage.

Be positive and embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Be smart, be brave, and work hard for yourself, because your future is shaped by the determination you carry within.

May this Christmas fill your hearts with peace and joy, and may the New Year bring you endless possibilities, renewed strength, and the confidence to pursue every dream.

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas and a Bright, Prosperous New Year!

With love and warm wishes.

* Raffealla Fernando (Photographer/Designer):

Wishing you a beautiful, light-filled Christmas and a New Year overflowing with inspiration.

As a photographer and designer, I’m constantly searching for the moments, colours, and stories. that make life extraordinary and this season always reminds me how much beauty there is in the simple things: warm laughter, shared memories, and the quiet magic of togetherness.

Thank you for being part of my creative journey this year.

May your holidays be filled with genuine joy, and may 2026 bring you new adventures, brighter light, and endless reasons to smile.

This season, I’m also wishing for something close to my heart: for Sri Lanka to rise up bigger, better, and stronger. Nothing more to ask for than peace in these turbulent hearts, peace of mind for every soul, and the strength to rebuild our country in the coming year.

Merry Christmas, and a Vibrant, Inspiring New Year.

* Andrea Marr (Singer – Australia):

Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas and a Joyful New Year. May the message of Christmas remain in your hearts and give you peace.

* AROH (Music group):

We thank you for sharing your year with us, for every lyric sung, every rhythm embraced, and every stage shared. Your incredible support fuels our passion and continues to inspire the music we create.

Although the past few weeks have seen heaps of problems cropping up, may your Christmas be filled with Joy, Peace, and the beautiful harmony of family and friends.

Also, may the New Year bring you prosperity, health, and a score of exciting new possibilities.

We look forward to connecting with you through music in the coming year, as well.

* Melantha Perera (Singer):

Music heals the soul, and sharing its gift this season fills our hearts with joy.

May our melodies spread love to every soul, making our Creator smile as we celebrate His birth.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a New Year in perfect harmony!

* Natasha Rathnayake (Singer):

As we close another year and step into a new one, may this season remind us of what truly matters — kindness, connection, and love for all living beings.

Let’s carry forward the lessons, the healing, and the gratitude we’ve gathered, and step into 2026 with open hearts, courage, and compassion.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Christmas filled with blessings and joy, and a New Year that inspires clarity, creativity, and love in all that you do.

With love, and abundance of blessings!

God bless.

AROH

* Sohan Weerasinghe (Singer):

Yes, Christmas is back and 2026 is around the corner. It’s time once again to convey my good wishes and also to remind myself to be careful of my waistline as I have a weakness for goodies, especially Christmas cake!

Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year and you also must do your utmost to help the needy people around you, especially those affected by the disaster that took us all by surprise; give till it hurts!

* JJ Twins (Duo):

As the magic of Christmas fills the air and a brand-new year approaches, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful community for your continued support. May this festive season bring you joy, peace, and time spent with those you cherish.

We also take this moment to warmly wish Ivan Alvis a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year filled with success and happiness.

Jesus bless you all, and may you have a Christ-filled Christmas and New Year!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Bright, Successful New Year!

* SEVEN NOTES (Music group – Dubai):

SEVEN NOTES

As we celebrate the joy of Christmas and welcome the dawn of a brand-new year, we extend our heartfelt wishes to the readers and the dedicated team of The Island newspaper.

May this festive season bring peace, love, and harmony into your homes, and may the New Year 2026 be filled with success, good health, and new opportunities.

Thank you for inspiring communities across the globe with trusted journalism and unwavering service.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2026.