Catholic, Buddhist Youths Find Interfaith Friendship Near War Zone

December 18, 2006

Source: Catholic News Service/UCA News

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=22395

ANURADHAPURA-VIHARAHALMILLAWA, Sri Lanka – Milanka Kumari, a 15-year-old Buddhist girl, smiles as she holds hands with two Catholic friends she met during her first group interreligious encounter.

"We appreciate Catholic schoolchildren sharing their joy and kindness with us," beamed Kumari, who spoke with UCA News during a Dec. 12 program for Catholic and Buddhist youths in Anuradhapura-Viharahalmillawa, a village about 200 kilometers (about 125 miles) northeast of Colombo.

"We want to live together without division of religion, caste or ethnicity," she stressed.

The 60 Buddhist and 50 Catholic participants, aged 8-17, came from areas of North-Central Province, the territory served by Anuradhapura Diocese. Group activities included building a tower together, recalling each other's names and favorite things, and a meditation session.