This programme was the Inaugural session of a Multi-religious cooperation in the Jaffna district under the broader theme of “Enabling Humanitarian Solutions through Multi-religious Cooperation and Cohesive Community Response in Sri Lanka” with the grant obtained from the European Commission.

The programme was attended by representatives from all four religions. The Chief Incumbent of the Naga Vihara in Jaffna, Rev. Meegahakumbure Siriwimala, the Christian Archdeacon, Rev. Fr. S. P. Nesar Kumar, 5 Hindu priests including Rev. Kirubanandha Kurukkal from the main Hindu Temple in the Jaffna town around 22 community members and in total 35 religious and community leaders attended this meeting.

Dr. Jehan Perera, the Executive Director of the NPC addressing the audience explained the current situation in the country, and the role of NPC in identifying humanitarian needs of the people in the North, through inter-religious co-operation. Ms. Regina Ramalingam explained the objectives of holding the meeting as to promote multi-religious community responsiveness of groups who have been divided by the conflict and enable them to find appropriate humanitarian solutions to care for conflict-affected women and children. This will be achieved by forming 12 District-level Inter Religious Councils (DIRCs) and this meeting will be the initial step in forming a DIRC in Jaffna.

During this programme, an Inter-Religious District Committee was formed with religious representatives and community leaders from all four religions. The main aim of this committee was to launch a social forum to identify basic humanitarian needs of the people. Rev. Fr. Praveen was appointed as the convener to the Committee and four individuals were appointed from four religions as Steering Committee members.