MOHAMMED RASOOOLDEEN
COLOMBO : The outgoing Pakistan High Commissioner in Colombo Major General (Retd) Muhammad Saad Khattak has been instrumental in building bridges and fostering peace and harmony between people of different faiths, said Ven Dr Kirinde Assaji Thero Deputy Incumbent Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo on Tuesday, Sept.28
In view of the high commissioner’s departure on completion of his tour of duty in Sri Lanka, Ven. Assaji Thero made this statement in a thanking letter addressed to Ambassador Khattak.
The reverend thero said : “ I take this opportunity to appreciate the service rendered by you to promote goodwill and friendship between our two countries.”
“ I express our gratitude on behalf of the Buddhist people of Sri Lanka and Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo for the remarkable effort and dedication demonstrated to strengthen the relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at a state level, as well as to foster cooperation in many other spheres. In spite of the limitation posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, you continued your engagement in pursuing relations between our two countries while extending your support in this very challenging time to Sri Lanka.”
“ We will always remember with a sense of nostalgia and gratitude your association with the Gangaramaya Temple, as your visits to our temple was an excellent opportunity to build bridges and foster peace and harmony between people of different faiths. It is in this same spirit that you took the initiative to provide a group of prominent and high-ranking members of the Buddhist clergy in Sri Lanka a tour of Buddhist sites and Buddhist places of worship in Pakistan. You travelled the extra mile to connect with the people of Sri Lanka, which will certainly bear fruit in defeating preconceived and misconstrued notions about people of different faiths and ethnicities,” the Thero stressed.
In response to the letter, High Commissioner Khattak said : “ On behalf of Pakistan high commission, I thank the Most Venerable Dr Krinde Assaji Thero of Gangaramaya Temple for his kind acknowledgement and respect towards our efforts for greater inter faith harmony between Sri Lanka and Pakistan and it will continue its positive efforts regardless of abundant spoilers.”
