• Palestinian people are not allowed to become victims in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
• Sri Lanka gives its fullest support to the UN Secretary General’s program to stop conflicts and establish peace – President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

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, upon arriving at the event site, received a warm welcome from prominent Muslim cultural figures. The keynote address of the event was delivered by Maulavi Ashek B. Nihamatullah.

A commemorative stamp and souvenir cover were issued for the National Milad-Un Nabi celebration 2023 and were presented to the President by the Postmaster General, Mr. Ruwan Palitha Satkumara.

The President was also presented with a special commemorative issue and the book “History of Mannar District,” issued on the occasion of the National Milad-Un Nabi celebration.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe also awarded prizes and certificates to the students who won the design competitions held in conjunction with the Holy Prophet’s birthday celebration.

Subsequently, honorary awards were presented to the Maulavis who had worked in mosques for an extended period, and a souvenir gift was also presented posthumously to Mr. Hasbullah, a professor who had rendered exceptional service to the area. The President presented souvenir gifts to the Chairman of the Puttalam Mosque Association and the Chairman of the Puttalam Jameitul Ulama Organization. A souvenir gift was also presented to the President on behalf of the Department of Muslim Religion and Culture.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe Further said;

Today, we are celebrating the birthday of the Holy Prophet here. This is the second religious celebration I have attended in Mannar District. A few months ago, we attended an event at the Sacred Madu Church.

I would like to express my gratitude to the Ministry of Religious and Cultural Affairs and the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs for organizing this event in a grand manner.

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.

This is just the beginning of Mannar’s development. This area has a high potential for a green economy and green energy, particularly with the available solar power. From Puttalam to Mannar through the Jaffna Peninsula to Mullaitivu, there is a great opportunity for this, and we aim to make Pooneryn the centre of this development.
Additionally, we aspire to make Mannar a tourist hub, and as the fishing industry develops, Mannar will experience a new economic boost.

Today, we gather here to remember the Holy Prophet. The same doctrine preached by Nabi Nayaka is what exists in Sri Lanka today. Therefore, we consider this celebration a national one.

Our policy is to treat all religions equally, and our aim is to provide equal rights to everyone. The Muslim community here faces certain challenges, and I would like to state that the government is actively working to address them. We inherited a country in financial distress, and we are diligently working to recover from that situation.

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.”

Minister of State and Chairman of Mannar and Mullaitivu Development Committee Mr. Kader Masthan,

“We consider the President’s visit to Mannar to participate in the National Milad-Un Nabi Celebration as an honor to our people. After the end of the war, this area did not develop. Due to the resettlement activities being carried out without proper planning, a situation has arisen where it is impossible to acquire land for development and investment in that area.

It should be mentioned that the expectations of the people of my district will be fulfilled under your leadership. You took the responsibility of a country whose economy was in collapse and worked to rebuild it. As a president who understands the plight of the people well, we hope that you will provide a solution to the problem of resettlement in these areas.”

This event was graced by the presence of the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake; the Governor of the Northern Province, Mrs. P.S.M. Charles; Member of Parliament K. Thilipan; the Secretary to the Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry, Mr. Somaratne Vidanapathirana; the Director of the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr. A.M. Faisal; religious leaders; defence chiefs; students; local residents; and a large number of people.

• President says addressing the “Green silk road for harmony with nature” high-level conference.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the world’s most biodiverse regions are found in tropical countries and he proposed the launch of a dedicated program to support these nations in addressing future climate change challenges.

He highlighted that 80% of the world’s endemic plants, as well as 50% of all coral reefs and mangroves are located in tropical regions. Sri Lanka, he noted, is actively working towards the establishment of an international university focused on climate change, capitalizing on this unique ecological context.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks during his address at the high-level conference “Green silk road for harmony with nature” held at the China International Conference Hall today (18), in conjunction with the 3rd “Belt and Road Initiative” International forum.

The conference was chaired by Mr. Han Zheng, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and leaders from other participating countries also shared their insights.

Furthermore, President Ranil Wickremesinghe elaborated on the establishment of an international university dedicated to climate change which aims to lay the groundwork for conducting relevant research and implementing protective measures to address the pressing global crises of climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity destruction. President Wickremesinghe strongly advocated for immediate action in these areas.

Expressing his views further, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said;

“Through this university, we have set three primary objectives. First and foremost, our focus is on researching measures for collective security and the common good. Secondly, we aim to foster knowledge sharing among the global community. Lastly, we are committed to providing practical education.

To mitigate the impacts of climate change, this institution delves into a comprehensive array of strategies across diverse fields, encompassing rigorous research, structural reforms within relevant organizations, international cooperation, community engagement and more. It serves as a valuable source of knowledge, research and solutions aimed at limiting global warming to a level of 1.5 degrees C. In this endeavour, the university assumes a pivotal role in the battle against climate change.

One significant challenge impeding global efforts to combat climate change is the widespread economic crises afflicting many countries. These crises have rendered participation in climate change mitigation an exceedingly intricate and daunting task.

The most effective approach is for the entire global community to unite and collaboratively seek solutions to this pressing issue. In this context, I would like to propose three key suggestions.

Firstly, offering debt relief to low-income countries can significantly alleviate their economic burdens and enable them to actively participate in climate change mitigation efforts. Secondly, providing access to concessional loans for high-income countries can facilitate their engagement in sustainable practices. Lastly, we should consider channelling additional funding through multilateral organizations, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, to support climate-related initiatives.

It’s worth noting that there are 150 tropical countries, with 88 of them participating in the Belt and Road initiative. This tropical region encompasses 40% of the world’s total land area and is home to 40% of the global population. In light of this, I would like to express my gratitude to the Republic of China, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, for organizing this conference, recognizing environmental concerns as a fundamental aspect of sustainable development.

During the Asia-Pacific Belt and Road High-Level Summit in 2021, Sri Lanka wholeheartedly endorsed the Green Silk Road initiative and our commitment to supporting this initiative remains steadfast.”

During the official four-day visit to China, President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended a prominent investment, trade and tourism forum with a strong focus on fostering future business opportunities. President Wickremesinghe extended a warm invitation to Chinese entrepreneurs, encouraging them to view Sri Lanka as a strategic hub for emerging green and digital economic ventures, highlighting the nation’s significant advancements in this domain.

• Forging Stronger Bonds: Enhancing Indian Ocean Identity and Bilateral Cooperation.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored the need to enhance the political, economic and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and Indonesia by reinforcing the Indian Ocean’s identity, during an official meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Beijing today (17). Both leaders are in China to participate in the Belt & Road Forum for International Cooperation. During the meeting, the two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on further strengthening political, cultural and economic ties between the two countries.

Furthermore, they deliberated on the implications of the economic crisis and the palm oil ban on the trade activities connecting the two nations. President Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to establish free trade agreements with various Asian countries and to formalize the existing agreement with India. In response, the Indonesian President expressed the timeliness of working towards a free trade agreement between Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

The leaders exchanged in-depth insights on global economic and political trends and how they address these challenges as small states in the Asian region. The event was attended by ministers and officials, with Indonesian Foreign Minister Ms. Retno Marsudi leading the delegation from Indonesia and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka representing Sri Lanka.