Canada Condemns Violence Against Muslims in Sri Lanka
June 16, 2014 - Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, today issued the following statement:
“Canada condemns the outbreak of communal violence against Muslims, which resulted in the loss of lives and extensive damage to property in the south of Sri Lanka on June 15, 2014.
“We offer our condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.
“This is one of a number of recent and troubling attacks targeting the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. It is of the utmost importance that every person is able to practise his or her faith free from the threat of violence. We urge Sri Lankan authorities to act quickly to ensure the safety of all communities. These attacks are completely unacceptable and a clear violation of the right to religious freedom.
“Canada will continue to condemn all religiously motivated attacks. We urge calm on all sides and call for a swift and transparent investigation into what happened, as well as appropriate prosecution of those responsible.”
The Sri Lankan State Only Protects A Chosen Few
By Springer -June 18, 2014
It is evident from all accounts that the ethno-religious riot in Beruwala and Aluthgama has left a terrible toll. A toll of physical destruction, injured bodies and minds and death.
A victim – Photo Facebook
In the absence of worthwhile media coverage owing to a state blackout, our citizen’s group deemed it necessary to see for ourselves. A visit to Beruwala and its precincts was just concluded. There was much to see in Beruwala even though the attacks were on a much lesser scale than Aluthgama. Time was too short to visit Aluthgama..
The town and villages in Beruwela were deserted. Shops were closed and there was an eerie feeling of violence. Men were huddling in street corners chatting quietly and watching furtively to see if violence would breakout again. There was no visible protection around .Muslim villages. However there were plenty of Police, STF and Army on the main Galle Road and on the periphery of Sinhala areas.
