5th session of Muslim

5^th session of Muslim – Buddhist Dialogue

1^st - 2^nd / 06 / 1432 Corresponding 4^th – 5^th / 05 / 2011

Sri Lanka to host conference on Buddhist-Islamic peace dialogue

Sunday Times, May 1, 2011

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka will host an international conference on Islamic-Buddhist dialogue for world peace on Wednesday and Thursday in Colombo. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prof. Hamid AL-RIFAIE & Prof. Abdullah Omer Naseef from Saudi Arabia are among key speakers, with former minister and Sri Lanka Islamic Centre Chairman M. H. Mohamed said.

Mr Mohamed said the conference which was last held in Cambodia was being organized by the Sri Lanka Islamic Centre in collaboration with the Saudi-Arabia based International Islamic Forum for Dialogue. The other sponsors of the conference are the Buddhist Centre Singapore, the Muslim Missionary Society Singapore and Jamiyah Singapore.

Speakers at the conference include Ven. Kamburugamuwe Vajira Thera, Ven Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera, Ven. Nabiriththankadawara Gnanaratana Thera, Ven. K. Gunaratana Thera from Singapore, H. E. Prof. Dr. Hamid Ahmad AL-Rifaie from Saudi Arabia, Abdul Karim Mohideen from Singapore and Dr. M.A.M. Shukri.

They will discuss Buddhist and Islamic perspectives on peace, understanding issues and how to reach consensus.

Opening ceremony,

Hon. Haji M. H. Mohamed, Chairman of Sri Lanka Islamic Center;
Ven. Dr. Kamburugamuwe Vajira,President of Buddhists Tumble & President of Sabaragmuwa University;
H.E. Prof. Dr. Hamid Ahmad AL-RIFAIE, Presdent of International Islamic Forum for Dialogue – Saudi Arabia;
Mr. jagath Sumathipala, President, All Ceylon Buddhist Council;
Hon. Haji Abdul KarimMohydien, President, Jamiyah Singapore;
H. E. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Omer Naseefm president, Muslim World Congress;
Ven. Prof. Nabiriththankadawara Ganarathana Thero, Department of Pali and Buddhism, University of Kelaniya;
Hon. D. M. Jayaratne, Prime Minister of Democratic Social Republic of Sri Lanka and Minister of religious Affairs;
Speech of H.E. Mr. President Mahina Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka.

Researchers:

Buddhist Perspective on Peace by Ven. Bellanvila .Wimalaratana Thero, Chancellor, University of Jayawardanapura;
Islamic Perspective on Peace by H. E. Prof. Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie, President, International Islamic Forum for Dialogue – Saudi Arabia.

· Discussions.

Prof. Dhaya Edirisinghe, Head of the Department of Philosophy, University of Kelaniya.
Dr. H.M. Saleem, Chairman of the Inter Faith Committee, Vice President of Jamiyah Singapore;

· Discussion.

Ven. Dr. K. Gunaratana, Inter Member Of The Inter Religious Organization, Singapore and Advisor to the Mahakaruna Buddhist Society Therowadha, Buddhist- Singapore;
Dr. MAM Shukri, Director, Jamiya Naleemia

· Discussion

Prof. Dr. Ananda Kumaraseri DATO, Former Secretary General of ASEAN;
Dr Ruvaiz Haniffa, MBBS., DFM., MSc., MCGP(SL).,MRCGP(INT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo;

· Discussion

v The Conclusion:

1. Discussing the final declaration;

2. Signature of the declaration;

3. Reading the ( Colombo Declaration ).

v H. E. Mr. President Mahinda Rajapaska receives Muslim Delegation.

v H.E. Prof. Abdullah Naseef thanked Mr. President for his kind recieption.

v H. E. Prof. Hamid AL-Rifaie thanked Mr. President on behalf of Muslim & Buddhists Scholars and Thinkers for hosting the 5^th session of Muslim - Buddhist Dialogue.

v Pictures of the conference:

From right: President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, Prof. Hamid AL-RIFAIE, Prof. Abdullah NASEEF.

Prof. Dr. Hamid Ahmad AL-RIFAIE present Colombo Declaration to President of Sri Lanka and presents to him his book ( Religious Matter and Cosmic Crisis ) and his book( Lessons of Life ).