Although ours is a Buddhist majority country, with around only 7% being Christian, Christmas is celebrated as a national holiday. The season starts on December 1 with the lighting of crackers at dawn, homes are decorated, shopping malls put up large christmas trees, mercantile and government offices organise parties  while dances and other fun activities take place in hotels all over the country. Importantly Christian churches hold special masses and organise gift-giving events - presenting food, books and clothes etc to poorer sections of the community on the day. For the children Santa brings gifts and other goodies.

Christians remember that the Christ-child whose birth we celebrate on December 25, was born in a stable at Behtleham. They also remember, in his 33rd year, Christ was falsely charged with sedition – inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state  was tortured, nailed to a cross like a common criminal and killed. His resurrection from the dead three days after his crucifixion confirms, that even the worst disasters can be successfully overcome.  Christmas therefore, especially if one is of the Christian faith, is a season of joy, hope, generosity and regeneration. 

This year too like the last, Christmas will be observed on a more sombre note given the dangers posed by the coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic. Once again, all over the world, whether we  be in Sri Lanka or in the developed nations of the world, all face the consequences of the ravages of the coronavirus. 
Large numbers of workers have lost their employment. While hope springs eternal in the human breast, for those of us who have little ones at home and who have lost our employment to Covid-19 pandemic, Christmas is going to be, an especially difficult time.

Statistics show that over 50% of Colombo’s workforce, most of whom belong to the unorganised sector lost their employment to the pandemic. In the Mercantile sector, wages of workers were drastically slashed.
 Today these sections of our people are deeply indebted. They live in hope that with the advent of immunisation programmes that the government is stringently implementing, the worst effects of the pandemic can be managed and workplaces will reopen. Those who have had salaries cut, await the day their salaries will be restored.

In September, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that Lankan authorities had vaccinated over 50% of the population. Latest surveys carried out by the media organization ‘Reuters’ confirms that by December 15, Sri Lanka had administered at least 31,634,248 doses of Covid-19 vaccinations to its population.  Assuming that an individual receives two doses, it means over 70% of our population has been fully vaccinated.
 No mean feat when a number of developed states in the West have not achieved this level of vaccination. For instance by December 1, ‘mayoclinic.org’ reported only 59.6% of the US population was fully vaccinated while 70.5% had received a single dose of the vaccine!

The dwindling numbers of those falling victim to the virus since the immunisation programmes began holds out hope that economic activity may recommence fairly soon.  The apparent containment of the virus is a big positive for health authorities and the government in an otherwise bleak scenario and government needs to be congratulated on this success.
It is also a feather in the cap of the government and health authorities for having successfuly implemented the immunisation programmes, especially in face of the worldwide shortage of vaccines. 

Again while hate preachers have been attempting to rouse religious ill-feelings between the communities, government was able to successfully prevent these elements from igniting violence after the recent killing of a Lankan expatriate worker in Pakistan. A major feather in government’s cap.  What is surprising however, is that the very same government has appointed a well-known hate monger to head a committee aimed at preventing ethno-religious divisions in the country.
If one is to prevent religious hatred in the country, it is of utmost importance to keep hate preachers under strict control. If we do not do this, our country too may soon be on the same slippery slope to religious hatred and divisions like neighbouring India and Pakistan where members of the minority religious groups come under  constant attack simply because of their religious beliefs.

To India’s eternal shame, students are cast into jail for cheering a non-Indian team at a cricket match. In Pakistan, innocent non-Muslim civillians are lynched for alleged crimes which supposedly breach that country’s Blasphemy laws.  Christmas is a time of joy, hope and regeneration. Let us celebrate  our diversity. Give hope to those in difficult circumstances and regenerate the ideals which made us a non-sectarian nation.