Rise above political differences, ensure religious co-existence: All Ceylon Hindu Congress to President

All-Ceylon Hindu Congress in its Thaipongal message has called upon President Maithripala Sirisena to rise above political differences and ensure religious co-existence.

Following is the full text of ACHC’s message:

 “We, ALL CEYLON HINDU CONGRESS (Federation of Hindu Religious Associations and Temple Trusts in Sri Lanka) in the fervent hope that with the dawn of the month of THAI a way will be born, believe that by the Grace of Shri Sivagami Samedha Shri Nadarajapperuman, a new era of good governance and rule of law will be born.

The new Government should take meaningful steps to ensure that all the people live in this country with equal rights and freedom without any discrimination and all the political leaders should support this.

We have brought to the attention of His Excellency the (new) President the following urgent matters:—

1.    There are people in the Northern and Eastern provinces, suffering in the so called welfare centres as they have been deprived of the right to live in their own homes. Arrangements should be made to pave way for them to go back to their own homes and live in their own places. That is their fundamental right. IMMEDIATE ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE TO RESTORE THE PROVISION (which is now suspended) OF ESSENTIAL FOOD to them as most of them are starving. No citizen of this country should be allowed to starve;

2.    The Northern Provincial Council elected by the people should be facilitated to function without any delay;

3.    Intervention and domination of the Armed Forces and the Archaeological Department in Hindu Temples should be forthwith stopped;

4.    Action should be taken to release all the political detainees languishing in jails without trial.

We should mention another important matter. No poojahs were allowed to be held in several Hindu Temples under the guise of Security for a long time. We request the new Government to take steps to facilitate daily poojahs in those temples also. We intend taking up this matter with the Minister of Hindu Religious Affairs also.

Our people have been suffering untold hardship and difficulties during the last few decades. Those people also voted at the last Presidential Election with the belief that a new era will dawn with the birth of the month of THAI.

We appeal to all to rise above all political differences and come forward to ensure that the belief of the people does not become futile.”