COLOMBO – Mahendra Jayasekara, President of the Colombo Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA), stated that self-discipline in food consumption is a powerful tool for mastering the mind.
He made these remarks as the guest speaker at a “Friendship Iftar” organized by the Sri Lanka Jama’athe Islami (SLJI) in collaboration with Ramyalanka. The event took place on February 24, 2026, at Darul Iman Auditorium at the SLJI headquarters in Colombo
Mr. Jayasekara emphasized that by controlling and developing the mind, virtues such as patience, mutual trust, compassion, and love flourish. He called for an environment where the essence of all religions is utilized to enable people to interact and engage in commerce without hesitation.
Addressing socio-political issues, he highlighted poverty as a primary barrier to ethnic harmony and urged the public to demand government action on poverty alleviation. Furthermore, he argued that leadership should be chosen based on merit and capability—as suggested by religious teachings—rather than solely through conventional democratic popularity.
Ven. Dr. Galkande Dhammananda Thero, Director of the Walpola Rahula Institute, also addressed the gathering. He offered a nuanced perspective on interfaith unity:
“While it is often said with good intentions that all religions teach the same thing, that is not strictly true. Each religion has its own unique principles and practices. True unity lies in acknowledging, respecting, and honoring these differences, he said.
The keynote address was delivered by Usthad M.H.M. Ussair Islahi, President of Sri Lanka Jama’athe Islami. Other notable speakers included:
Mr. Nishantha Preethiraj: Vice President of the Sarvodaya Movement.
Commander Kotalawala (Retd.): Director General of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board.
Rev. Smith Jones, and Mr. Ravishan Fernando of the Mawbima Media Network.
The event saw broad representation from prominent civil society organizations, including the Walpola Rahula Institute, National Movement for Social Justice, PAFFREL, the National Peace Council, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Alcohol and Drug Information Centre and Transparency International Sri Lanka.
The “Friendship Ifthar” concluded with a traditional Iftar-breaking of the fast and a dinner, symbolizing communal harmony.
