Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz joined a packed congregation at a special interfaith service at St Michael’s Church, East Ham to remember those who lost their lives and loved ones in Easter Sunday’s tragic terror attack on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.
Newham has one of Britain’s largest Sri Lankan communities and many members attended a solidarity event before the church service, where a two minutes silence was observed, prayers said, and candles lit at East Ham Town Hall.
Following a silent march to the church, MPs Stephen Timms and Lyn Brown joined speakers from all the main religions, from the police, and from the Sri Lankan community of Newham sent messages of solidarity and support to all those affected by the attacks. School children from the St Anthony’s Primary School in Forest Gate provided the music.
Mayor Fiaz said: “The reason we hold this vigil, is because our hopes, freedoms, and even the pain we suffer, individually and collectively, is inter-connected – what affects one part of the Newham family, affects each and every one of us.
“Together, we have an unbreakable bond, a bond that is tied together, by a humanity, love, compassion and a resolve – it is that resolve and humanity that these terrible people want to break – they did not succeed in Sri Lanka and they certainly will not succeed in Newham.
“That is why I am incredibly proud of the clear message of solidarity that we are sending out together today – not just to the Newham family, but to our Sri Lankan family 8,000 miles away – we stood together after 7/7, we did so again after Christchurch, and we are once again united after Sri Lanka too.
“I say to the Sri Lankan community, Newham is the place you chose to call your home – this is where you have chosen to live, and bring up your families. In providing Newham this privilege you helped create a rich social fabric of diversity and unity – that I call the Newham family.
“And as a family, as your sister, I want you to know that you are in my prayers and thoughts. As a Newham family we will always support each other, to reflect on who we are, and more than that, through our solidarity we will heal, and come through this together.”
Former Newham councillor Paul Sathianesan, who helped organise the event, said: “I was very pleased and humbled to see the display of solidarity and love as the people came together and stood together shoulder to shoulder in peace and unity.
“Newham has become a promised land for many people, this is their second home, so today people came to the vigil and took part in an interfaith service which reflects and celebrates the diversity, the unity and the peace we enjoy in this borough.”