The horrendous tragedy that struck and killed innocent people who were engaged in prayers on Easter Sunday is most depressing and devastating. Over 325 people have lost their lives and whilst they were predominantly Christians there were also Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and people of no faith amongst the victims. Such atrocities perpetrated by blood thirsty fanatics moves all humanity and makes them cry and feel helpless.
I have been to Sri Lanka to visit some of my relations. It is a small but naturally endowed, beautiful, reasonably prosperous, and, by and large, a multicultural country. It is like a pearl in the Indian Ocean. I have also visited St Anthony’s Church and, as usual, amongst the attendees were people of all faiths and possibly none.
It beggars belief that the Sri Lankan authorities were forewarned nearly two weeks ago by Indian sources about the possibility that such a vicious attack by a little known group the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) was planning such attacks on churches during Easter. It is extremely painful that the internal rivalry amongst the top echelons of power within Sri Lanka did not pay heed to this warning and a close community, a multi-faith community, has now been torn apart. What is the future of such small countries who have so much vulnerability? Religious extremism, fanaticism and hatred of believers of other faiths is the worst problem of the present era.
Sri Lanka, a country that is dependent on tourism, will now take time to rebuild it’s society and economy. The dead are being cremated but what will happen to all those who are injured, or those who may have lost their limbs or are now totally disabled. Besides the ruin of careers and shattering of communities how are hundreds if not thousands of families going to be able to regroup and resettle?
The real question for the super powers is to try to muster up courage and develop a strategy of precautions to prevent such attacks and tragedies in the future. More importantly it is the responsibility and a duty of the faith where such perpetrators come from. Every preacher, every Islamic state, mullah and leader of any Muslim organisation, or for that matter, any members of any faith should denounce clearly and equivocally that these acts of terror are not approved or cannot be condoned by any faith who values human life.
After all, at the end of the day, all faiths are supposed to give us the values of peace, harmony and happiness whilst we are on this planet. No one especially in today’s world can get away with such terrorising acts to in order to acquire supremacy over other religious groups.
It is important to remember that Sri Lanka is a multi faith and multicultural country. Around 75% of the population are Buddhist, 12% Hindus, 8% Christians and the same number of Muslims. With all the recent violence in the country historically it is a closed community and let’s pray that sooner rather than later sanity prevails.
Mr S Ranjan
Lewisham
