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Interfaith Solidarity with Sri Lanka

Interfaith Solidarity with Sri Lanka

Date: 2019-04-26

The South African flag with flickering candles alongside lay poignantly draped across a pillar of the Durban City Hall to remember the victims of the vicious Easter Sunday bombs blasts that claimed 300 lives in Sri Lanka.

It was a small gathering of about 50 ordinary citizens, religious leaders and activists who wanted to make a statement about peace and solidarity. The impromptu vigil organised within hours of news of the atrocities was opened in prayer by Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Rubin Phillip who appealed for a peaceful resolution of whatever disputes there may be anywhere in the world.

He also expressed his grief at so many lives being lost on one of the holiest days of the year. As the incessant rain pelted the pedestrian walk below, Aslam Mayet of the Active Citizen's Movement drew parallels with Christchurch and Paris and said that he hoped that there would a similar outpouring of grief over the loss of life in Sri Lanka. Sulosh Pillay of the humanitarian ACT Foundation asked that the gathering remember all victims of violence and that people mobilise for peace and harmony wherever they were.

eThekwini Regional Executive Committee member of the ANC Shayan Maharaj condemned the acts of terror and pointed to the role that South Africans had played at the activist, faith and diplomatic levels to promote peace in a long-troubled Sri Lanka. Parliamentarian Omie Singh cautioned against blame being hurriedly attributed to any single party and urged an investigation by the authorities in Columbo.

Among the gender and youth activists was Miss Uniworld finalist Al-Haadia Shaik who also represented the 1WomanImpact Foundation. She urged young people to take an active interest in their local communities and to also be alert to what was happening at a global level.

The Durban vigil had parallel observances in Cape Town, Christchurch and other cities. Paris shut down the lights on the Eiffel Tower as an expression of its grief.