Govt. to take up cause of Buddhists and Hindus at international level

Symbol of good luck for Hindus

The Sri Lankan government is to take up the issue of the proposed EU ban on the Swastika symbol at international level, as Buddhists and Hindus too revere a similar symbol.

Religious Affairs Ministry secretary P. Kodituwakku said the government was gathering information to prove that the swastika symbol had been used in Sri Lanka from ancient days.

Symbol of good luck for Buddhists

“The information would be handed over to the president and the final decision would be taken after discussions with the relevant ministers, the Mahanayakas and Hindu religious leaders,” he said.

The history of the swastika symbol goes back more than 3000 years before a new dimension was given to it by Hitler in the 20th century.

Symbol of terror during Hitler’s reign

Both Hindus and Buddhists believe that that the symbol stands for luck, good fortune and well being.

There was no comment from the German embassy in Colombo on the ban by the EU, whose presidency is currently being held by Germany.

By I.K.