The second Mass Wedding Ceremony under the “Mawaddatha wa Rahmah” (Affection and Mercy) initiative, launched by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Member of Parliament and Leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), was successfully held on 7th October 2025 in Vavuniya.
This historic event, the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, brought together 20 Buddhist, Catholic, and Hindu couples in a collective wedding ceremony that celebrated harmony, compassion, and unity among Sri Lanka’s diverse communities. Each couple was also presented with a cash grant to help them begin their new lives with dignity.
The program was generously funded by Sheikh Mahmoud Fateh Abdullah Al Khajeh who made this contribution in remembrance of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates, whose life of compassion and generosity continues to inspire humanitarian efforts worldwide.
Reflecting the interfaith harmony that Vavuniya represents, religious leaders from all major faiths participated in the ceremony, offering their blessings and messages of unity. The event was graced by Ven. Mihintale Thero as the Chief Guest, symbolizing the spirit of peaceful coexistence among all communities.
The “Mawaddatha wa Rahmah” project was first launched on 24th August 2025 in Puttalam, where 20 Muslim couples were married under the same initiative. That inaugural ceremony was graced by His Excellency Khalid Nasser Al Ameri, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka, as the Chief Guest.
Through this initiative, Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen aims to promote social harmony, inter-religious unity, and compassion among communities, extending practical support to young couples from all walks of life, a true reflection of affection and mercy in action.
