Biggest challenge to sustainable world peace is hate and violence: Modi By Shanika Sriyananda

Modi taking part in the 14th international Vesak Day celebrations held in Colombo as the chief guest said that the menace of terrorism in our region was a concrete manifestation of this destructive emotion.

Cautioning the international community on the growing ‘arc of violence’ the Indian Premier said the ideologies of hate and their proponents in the region were closed to notion of dialogue and hence only opened to causing death and destruction.

He said that he believes that Buddhism's message of peace is the answer to growing arc of violence all over the world.

Addressing a packed audience including President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Srisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, politicians, diplomats and participants around the world, Modi said that south, central, south east and east Asian countries were proud of their Buddhist links traced to the land of Buddha.

“ Lord Buddha’s message is as relevant in the 21st century as it was two and a half millennia ago.  Our region is blessed to have given to the world the invaluable gift of Buddha and his teachings," he said.

He noted that the themes of social justice and sustainable world peace, chosen for the Vesak day, resonate deeply with Buddha's teachings; they are both deeply interdependent and interconnected.

“ Buddhism and its various strands are deep seated in "our governance, culture and philosophy," he said.

Indian Prime Minister Modi has arrived the island nation on Thursday to be the chief guest at the international religious event as well as to strengthen Indo-Sri Lanka historical relationship. This is his second official visit to the country.