DUBAI: An Iftar organized recently by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka for Dubai and the Northern Emirates in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Muslim community in Dubai turned into a platform for leaders from different religious faiths to not only focus on the month of Ramadan but also use the opportunity to promote cross-cultural understanding.
It was truly a spiritual gathering that saw leaders and representatives from the four main religions of Sri Lanka delivering speeches that highlighted the messages of tolerance, inclusion, compassion, sharing and caring that are taught by their respective faiths.
In addition to the presence of the religious leaders and Sri Lankan Muslim expatriates, the Iftar was also attended by the Consul General for Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Charitha Yattogoda, the Charge d’affaires of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Sisira Senevirathna, Head of Chancery at the Consulate General, Chathura Weerasekara, Country Manager, Sri Lankan Airlines, Asiri Wickramasuriya, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Business Council in Dubai, Muhammed Riza and other officials from the Consulate General and organisers.
The uniqueness of the event was not lost on the large number of attendees. Apart from the fact that the Iftar gathering was attended by the venerable priests and religious leaders, the Iftar was held at the Daham Pasala premises located inside the compound of the Consulate General for Dubai and Northern Emirates. The fact that the Daham Pasala management readily agreed to provide its premises for hosting the Iftar on a Thursday, a day before the weekly classes that are conducted for students of Buddhism, spoke volumes of the amazing cultural bonding that came into play that evening.
The programme for the evening started off with a welcome address by Consul General Charitha Yattogoda who emphasized the need for promoting cultural understanding and the importance of bringing people together through such activities to maintain the island nation’s multicultural, multireligious and multiethnic composition to ensure lasting peace and harmony.
Mr. Yattogoda highlighted the tremendous contribution made by the Muslim community for the development of the nation. The Consul General also thanked the Muslim community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates for their unstinted support over the years in all endeavors of the Consulate General and also for the valuable role that they have been playing in promoting the Sri Lankan identity in the UAE.
The Charge d’affaires of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Sisira Senevirathna spoke on the significance of the Holy month of Ramadan in the context of enriching the principles of giving and creating peace and harmony among all.
The religious leaders representing the four main religions of Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity in Sri Lanka invoked blessings for Sri Lanka and the people during a special session held just before Iftar.
The function, organized by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and Northern Emirates for the third successive year, was also evidence of a strong desire by Sri Lankans from various faiths to learn and understand about different cultures. Over dinner, participants were able to engage in a ‘Question and Answer’ session that helped clear misconceptions of Islam and the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. It was conducted by Moulavi Sheikh Muneer Mulafer, a prominent personality involved in promoting inter-religious and inter-cultural reconciliation and co-existence in Sri Lanka.
In a special pre-recorded video message to the gathering, internationally renowned Islamic speaker and Zimbabwean scholar, Dr Mufti Esmail Menk emphasized the importance of following the true teachings of Islam which calls for understanding and respect for people of different cultures, races and religions.
The organisers also screened an inspirational play in the Sinhala language that was produced by the Muslim community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates to showcase a typical village environment in Sri Lanka, where different communities bond with each other during the month of Ramadan. The drama was directed by talented young artist and President of the Zahira Mawanella Old Boys Association in the UAE, Rifkhan Rauff.
