Muslims for National Harmony Launch website – www.sailanmuslim.com

Filling a vacuum and meeting a long-felt need in Sri Lanka’s Muslim community, a website was launched on April 5 with the aim of advocating the legitimate interests of Muslims of this country while promoting the national interest.

The launch of this website, a portal with multiple features, came at a time when Sri Lanka in general and its Muslim population in particular were at a critical juncture, facing a defining moment.
It is a timely venture that comes at a time when the Muslims in Sri Lanka and elsewhere are facing numerous problems and Islam remains largely a misunderstood religion.

In fact, the website sailanmuslim.com is the “who, what, when and why” of the Muslim community of Sri Lanka — with the “how” factor also being dealt with adequately in the form of suggestion to specific problems.

The website launch took place at the Orchard Building, Wellawatte, Colombo 6, amidst a large and distinguished gathering of invitees including three eminent guest speakers in Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera, Bishop Rt.Rev. Duleep de Chickera and Justice C. Vigneshwaran.

In his welcome speech, Sailan Muslim Foundation Chairman, Faiz Musthapha stressed the need for national harmony. Citing the Verse 13 from the Holy Quran’s Chapter 40, Mr. Musthapha told the gathering that Islam stood for pluralism and the brotherhood of mankind and did not contribute to a clash of civilization.

Tracing the website’s pre-birth history, the Sailan Muslim Foundation President recalled the discussions a group of like-minded Muslims had had for months and the hard work that had gone into making their goal a reality.

“We realized that there was an urgent need for a website to air and disseminate our views effectively. The launch of a website has been one of its objectives from the inception,”

Mr. Musthapha said that he is proud to be associated with a group of highly dedicated and motivated team of individuals that made our dream of a web site a reality.

Mr. Musthapha’s welcome address was followed by speeches by guest speakers. While Ven. Dhammaloka Thera talked about the Buddhist vision on diversity in unity and the need for a strong resolve to face challenges on the way, Bishop Chickera called for cross-community activism and the importance of self-criticism. Citing examples from Sri Lanka’s recent history, Justice Vigneshwaran in his speech spelt out how equality and communal harmony could promote peace. Please see separate stories for guest speakers’ speeches.