Saturday, 3 August 2013 00:24
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Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa participated at a traditional Iftar ceremony at the Ramada in Colombo on Thursday. The Iftar was hosted by the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.
Iftar is the breaking of fast of Muslims during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is one of the holy months in the Islamic calendar where pious Muslims all over the world fast from early morning to dusk. It is one of the five obligations of Islam.
The Secretary Defence sat down together with Islamic religious dignitaries and scholars who had arrived from many parts of the country to break fast in keeping with traditional customs. Rajapaksa’s initiative in organising such a religious gathering with the presence of invitees from different cultural and religious backgrounds came under praise from all those present. They commended the initiative of the Secretary in facilitating an environment where peaceful coexistence among all religious and ethnic groups can thrive. Muslim leaders also thanked the Secretary for his commitment in solving social issues that arose in the past while protecting the interests of the community.
Special prayers and sermons were conducted to invoke blessings on the nation. The evening ‘Maghrib’ prayer was also conducted soon after the Iftar ceremony. Muslims will celebrate the ‘Eid Ul Fitr’, the Ramadan festival with the sighting of the new moon in the course of the next week.
Members of the Jamiyathul Ulama, Deputy Minister Faizal Musthafa, Defence Ministry officials, professionals and military personnel were also present at the occasion.
