On 26th April 2019, the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church in Etobicoke, Toronto had packed with Sri Lankans belongs to all faiths at an interfaith solidarity in Mass and Memorial service to honour the victims and to bless the injured in the wake of Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka.
This event hastily organized by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in association with the Canada-Sri Lanka Catholic Association in Toronto. The members of Federal Parliament of Canada and Provincial Parliament of Ontario, Mayor of Mississauga, Chief of Protocol of Ontario, members of the Consular corps in Toronto and other dignitaries among the participants.
The special Holy Mass was conducted by Chief Priest of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church together with other priests from different denominations and pray for peace in Sri Lanka. Venerable Ahangama Rathanasiri Thero of Toronto Maha Viharaya, representing Buddhist community encoded similar sentiments, calling unity among all communities and forgiveness. Kurukkal Bala and Mr. Shehan Samsudden, representing Tamil and Muslim communities respectively expressed their condolences to peace loving people in Sri Lanka.
Hon. Yasmin Ratansi, MP of Federal Parliament of Canada recalled the past incidents happened in other parts of the world and highlighted positive progressive achievements on Post-war developments in Sri Lanka.
Hon. Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors & Accessibility of the Ontario Parliament and Her Worship Bonnie Crombie, Mayor of Mississauga also addressed the gathering
Consul General, Kapila Jayaweera in his remarks stated that Sri Lanka would build up a Sri Lankan identity binding the different ethnic communities and those of diverse religious beliefs together. Sri Lanka has been through many a hurdle and will overcome this too with love and compassion.
