FULLERTON

Ananda Guruge, a lecturer in comparative religion at Cal State Fullerton, was recently appointed to a United Nations committee to promote peace, understanding and religious tolerance in the world. The committee will hold its first meeting in Chandigarh, India, in early February.

Guruge, who has taught at Cal State Fullerton for three years, is a Thravade Buddhist and a native of Sri Lanka. According to U.N. officials, Guruge was selected based on his commitment to cross-cultural, inter-religious dialogue, which he tries to foster in his students.

“We want peace to prevail in the world, but peace has to be built on one of the most important foundations we have: religion,” he said. “The time has come for the international community to work with religion.”