President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the policy of the present government is to treat every religion equally and provide equal rights to every citizen. He further stressed that he does not approve of making the Palestinian people victims in the Israel-Hamas conflict. He pledged full support to the program of the UN Secretary-General to stop the conflicts and establish peace in the region.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe conveyed these thoughts while addressing the National Milad-Un Nabi Celebration held at Musali National School Stadium in Mannar this morning (22). The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe Further said;
In addition to this event, development programs such as the opening of a new school building and housing projects have been implemented here. Mannar District is in need of development, especially considering the damage it suffered during the war. Therefore, we are implementing programs for the resettlement of displaced persons in these areas.
We are also continuing discussions about the construction of roads, especially in Mannar District, as reminded by the minister in Parliament. Education is another area that needs development, not only in Mannar city but also in other parts of the district.
Furthermore, we have planned a substantial development program in this area. Arrangements are already being made to establish a sea transport service between India and Mannar, starting from Kankasanthurai and later in Thalaimannar. India and Sri Lanka are also planning to develop the electricity system together, which will benefit Mannar.
The Islamic doctrine of the Prophet has spread from Morocco to Indonesia, across Africa and Europe. When the Prophet preached this doctrine, people of different faiths coexisted in the region without issues. However, today, there are more significant problems, especially the Palestinian issue, which was recently debated in Parliament. We heard that 20 food trucks have been sent to Gaza, but we must question whether this is enough.
The Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip are trapped due to the Israeli-Hamas conflict, and we cannot ignore their suffering. We call for the necessary food to be provided to these people, not only from Israel but also from Egypt, along with access to clean water.
While the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, it’s essential to ensure that ordinary Palestinian people are not victimized in this struggle. Arab countries, including Egypt, are taking steps to address this issue, and other nations are showing their support. We, too, are committed to giving our full support to the activities of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Council in resolving this matter and bringing peace to the region. There is a genuine need for a Palestinian government.”
