Peaceful rally in the city against hate speech

Sri Lankans of all faiths and religions took to the streets of the capital city of Colombo yesterday to protest against hate speech and racial and religious attacks on minorities.

Carrying placards which read “Diversity our Strength,” and “Hate has no place in Sri Lanka,” people from all walks of life including Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Buddhist monks and Christian priests converged at Nelum Pokuna, Green Path.

The anti-hate ‘Rally for Unity – Hate Has No Place in Sri Lanka’ was held to protest against the recent incidents of violence directed at minority communities in the country by extremist nationalistic groups.

The rally was part of a series of non-partisan, non-violent awareness campaigns, organised by a voluntary movement of concerned Sri Lankans from various institutions, professions and industries, the organisers said.

The Rally for Unity comes just two weeks after the police and the extremist Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena disrupted and dispersed a rally organised by a group called ‘Buddhists Questioning Bodu Bala Sena’ outside the BBS headquarters in Colombo.

However the rally yesterday was peaceful and police were walking alongside the protesters. The organisers hope that the rally would be a catalyst for similar events and initiatives, and empower the silent majority of moderate Sri Lankans to stand up for an inclusive Sri Lanka.