"How far have we understood one's religion and their culture and to what extent do we respect and honour their religious rituals? While we are fully aware and acquainted with our own practicing religion we also should be conversant with the colleagues of different communities at least in our own places where we work or live. This mentality should begin from one's bottom of the heart and not by mere words alone. Only then we can build up national unity and reconciliation. So said the Vice Chancellor Prof. MMM Najim at a meeting organized by the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation on the theme of National Unity and reconciliation through Higher Education at the Auditorium of the Engineering Faculty of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka recently.

Office for the National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) has introduced a project titled 'National Unity and Reconciliation through Higher Education to address this matter. The foremost objective of launching this programme in Universities is to initiate a dialogue among the University students belonging to different religious communities, leading to social cohesion and peaceful co-existence in the multi religious and multi ethnic society in Sri Lanka.

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Dr.MS Junaideen delivered the welcome address and the Co-ordinator of the Programme Eng. MB. Murshid briefed the purpose of the meeting and that what is expected.

Continuing further Prof. Najim said that at a time when people are not believing each other and expanding the gap owing to misunderstandings and misinterpretation ONUR's move of this nature would definitely bring in tangible results. He believed that University where all three communities engage in all their activities together is an ideal place to initiate this venture and he trusts that every Faculty should start this ideal venture.

Its announced that the foremost objective of launching this programme in Universities is to initiate a dialog among the Un students belonging to different religious communities leasing to social cohesion and peaceful co-existence in the multi religious and multi ethnic society in Sri Lanka. The communique says that peace is universal concept which can happen in diverse ways: inner peace, community peace and national peace. Youth can be employed as an agent for positive change on individual has to promote social responsibility at various level. The University student can be utilized as an agent for positive change by conducting various activities based on interest of each higher institute in the country.

Office of the National Unity and Reconciliation's National Co-Ordinator Dr.M.S.Asees and its Deputy Director Ms.Sanduni Ariyawansa in their address gave a detail picture of the programme.