Hindu Community Faces New Religious Threat By Chrishanthi Christopher Several complaints have been received from parents of a girl’s school in Colombo Religious sentiments are running high around the world. An online video film allegedly insulting Islam has sparked violence in several countries killing seven people. The US and the Western embassies in the Islamic countries have come under attack. Here at home the Hindu sentiments are simmering. Recently the traditional practice of offering animal sacrifices to Lord Shiva in the ancient temple belonging to the Hindus came under protest. The Buddhist clergy and animal rights groups opposing the killing of animals in the Sri Bhadrakali Kovil Muneswaram called on the government to put an end to the killings saying that it was against the Buddhist precepts. Adding to the series of problems confronting the Hindu community recently there were several complaints from parents of students studying in the Hindu schools in Colombo.  It is alleged that groups of people belonging to a certain Christian sector had been distributing Bibles. It is learnt that these groups consisting of locals and a few     foreigners have met the principals of the schools and with their help distributed Bibles to children. Hindu parents of these children complain that it is an inappropriate act. Puwenesweran a parent of the Ramanathan Hindu College in Bambalapitiya says that his daughter had brought a Bible home on Monday the 18th. “I was surprised to see a Bible in my daughter’s hands.” On questioning his daughter he had found out that a couple of people - a foreigner and a local – had been handing over bibles to children at the gate of the school. His daughter Abhira (not her real name) in Grade 7 says that she and her friends were compelled to take the Bibles that were distributed.   “When school was finishing my teacher told us that there are some persons distributing some books at the entrance and to take one home”.  She says that the book looked nice ‘like a diary’ and that they took it. She said that they were told that they can give it to someone else if they don’t want it. Ravi a father of another student from the same school says that his daughter was forced to take the bible that was distributed.  He says that the books were distributed inside the gate. “It was inside the gate and they cannot do it without the permission of the principal of the school,” he maintains. Balasubramaniam a parent of a student from Hindu College Bambalapitiya says that it is sad that these things are allowed in Hindu schools.  “We are not against Christianity but they are trying to convert our children adopting subtle methods,” he says. “We must be careful,” he adds. However the school authorities of Hindu College Bambalapitiya and Ramanathan Hindu College, Bambalapitiya are distancing themselves from the episodes.  They deny any involvement in the act. They maintain that the groups had been distributing Bibles outside the compound of the schools. They were denied permission they say. Principal Kothai Nagularajah says that the books were distributed outside the school gate not inside. Nagularajah refused to talk to The Sunday Leader on the grounds that she has already sent out a statement to the Tamil media refuting the charges. Hindu College, Bambalapitiya, Principal, Rajaratnam also maintains that the Bibles were distributed outside the school premises and they have had no hand in the distribution. “We never granted any permission to distribute the books among our children it happened outside the school gates and we cannot comment on it,” he said. However Nugegoda Tamil Vidyalaya Principal Thiagaraja has no qualms. She openly admits that a Christian group had come in to distribute Bibles to the children. “They handed me around 400 bibles to be distributed and I distributed them and still have around 200 left,” she says. Thiagaraja maintains that she had distributed the books only among the Christian children in the school. Thiagaraja says that she attempted to return the bibles but was told to keep them as it might be useful in the future. “I do not understand their motive but even my two daughters studying at the Ramanathan Hindu College brought home two Bibles,” she said.