An awareness raising seminar was held for 50 senior students in the Trincomalee District and 85 senior students in the Batticaloa district under NPC’s project Inter-faith and Inter-ethnic Dialogue in Sri Lanka.

The event was organized by the two District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs) and supported by the Education Department.

Speaking at the Batticaloa event, Deputy Minister of National Integration, Reconciliation and Official Languages, Ali Zahir Moulana, stressed the importance of reconciliation and asked the students to participate in reconciliation activities.

Mr Moulana said he appreciated NPC’s project to promote ethnic and religious harmony in the two districts and pledged his support for future activities.

At their discussions, DIRC members felt there was mistrust among communities because young people did not respect the culture and rituals of religions other than their own. Therefore it was necessary to promote inter faith dialogue on religious perspectives of reconciliation.

In Batticaloa, a student committee was formed to continue reconciliation activities.