Message of condolence and support to all those impacted by the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka

The members of the Canterbury Interfaith Society based in Christchurch, New Zealand are shocked and saddened by the horrific bombings which have taken place in multiple locations in Sri Lanka this Easter Sunday.  We would like to offer our deepest condolences at this time.

As people of faith ourselves, we are particularly horrified that several of the bombs targeted defenceless people who were gathered together in prayer in their places of worship.   At this time of mourning, we would like to reassure the people of Sri Lanka and all of those impacted in any way by these events that we are keeping you in our prayers.

In Christchurch, we also recently experienced horrific terrorist attacks. 50 innocent Muslim men, woman and children were killed and many more injured whilst praying in their mosques.  As a result of these attacks, we can appreciate to some degree the pain and suffering that you must be experiencing.   We strongly denounce all terrorist attacks made in the name of any religion and are shocked that these acts continue to propagate around the world.  We pray that hatred may be calmed by the light of understanding and we call to all for an end to acts of violence and terror.

We also pray that the people of Sri Lanka will not be divided by these attacks as the terrorists likely desire, however along with the rest of the global community, unite in loving support toward those directly and indirectly impacted by this event.


Matthew Gardner
(Acting Chair of the Canterbury Interfaith Society)
23 April 2019


Signed by
Dianne Downward (Unification Church)
Rev Andrew Donaldson (Parish Superintendent, Christchurch South Methodist Parish)
Rev Philomeno Kinera (Parish Superintendent, Durham Street Methodist Church)
Imam Gamal Fouda (Muslim Association of Canterbury, Imam of Al Noor Mosque, Christchurch)
Matthew Gardner (member of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations)
Sr Bertha Hurley SMSM (Roman Catholic Church)
Jenafor Rollins (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
The Ven. Canon Helen Roud (Vicar, St. Mary the Virgin, Addington – Anglican Church)
Hafsa Ahmed and Syed Raziuddin (Lady Khadija Charitable Trust)
Kieran Simpson (Christchurch Baha’i Community)
Surinder Tandon (Hindu and Christchurch Multicultural Council)
Robert Hunt (Theravada Buddhist Practice Group, representing New Zealand Buddhist Council)
Very Revd Lawrence Kimberley (Dean of Christchurch – Anglican Church)
Rev Kathryn Walters (Synod Superintendent, Central South Island Methodist Synod)
Derek Carver & Margaret Mouat-Carver, Co-Clerks of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Christchurch