The World Methodist Peace Award presented by the World Methodist Council for rendering a commendable service creatively with fearless conformity for the building of peace, justice and harmony in the countries around the world has been awarded to Rev. Ebenezer Joseph, the President of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka.
The World Methodist Peace Award honoured by over 80 million Methodist devotees across the world began in 1977. Since then, this peace award has been presented 38 times to people dedicated to peace and reconciliation around the world.
The award recipients include great personalities who committed to national religious and ethnic harmony in the US, Egypt, England, Zimbabwe, South Korea, Ireland, Germany, Israel, South Africa, Ghana, Argentina, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Bolivia as well as Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev and Kofi Annan.
Reverend Ebenezer Joseph is the first recipient of the Peace Award in the Asian region. Born in Kandapola, Nuwara Eliya, Rev. Joseph received his basic education from Wesley College, Colombo.
He then pursued higher education at the Theological Institute in Tamil Nadu and obtained bachelor’s degrees from several universities.
He commenced his career as a Methodist pastor in 1980 and started his work at the City Mission Church located in Dam Street, Colombo. The reverend priest helped the members of the low-income families in the area and played a large role in protecting the Tamil people during the July 83 riots.
From 1999 to 2020, he held the position of General Secretary of the National Christian Board twice.
Rev. Ebenezer Joseph worked very closely with Ven. Itthepane Dhammalankara Maha Nahimi, Maduluawe Sobitha Nahimi, Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thera, Bellanwila Wimalarathane Nahimi, Murutthettuwe Ananda Thera and other religious leaders to build national unity among the people of the North and South following the end of the war.
Together with Buddhist and other religious leaders, he worked to convey a deep message about the religious harmony of Sri Lanka to the world by participating in various conferences abroad.
He has already received many national and international honors and awards for his work in building reconciliation in the country.
Rev Leslie Dareeju, the General Secretary of the Assembly of the Sri Lanka Methodist Church said the ceremony of presenting the Award to Rev. Ebenezer Joseph will be held on Saturday, February 18 at 5:00 pm at Wesley College, Colombo under the aegis of the President of the World Methodist Church Bishop K.J. Park (S. Korea) and its Secretary General Bishop Ivan Abraham (S.Africa).
