Ven Dambara Amila Thero calls to ban communal parties.

At a function to launch the book  “Clouding the Crescent in Sri Lanka”.Press Release: 

The need to ban all communal parties and communal politics to save the country from ethnic conflict in the interest of the country to avert unwanted sufferings to innocent people was emphasized by Ven Dambara Amila Thero during a book launching function held at Havelock City Club House in Colombo recently.

The book” Clouding the Crescent in Sri Lanka”-A documentary on the Hate Campaign against Sri Lankan Muslims written by  United Kingdom based Sri Lankan researcher Lukman Haress was launched at a largely attended function recently.

Addressing  the gathering of mainly intellectuals and prominent men and women from the civil society,   Ven Amila Thero who is also the head of History and Archaeology Department at  the Sri Jayewardenepura University added that;

When there were dark clouds emerging during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime, there were also silver linings as well. Although it appeared that these clouds were emerging from a small group of Sinhala racist elements which was not the case as it had all the hallmarks of state patronage flowing through a minority group of rogue monks espousing racism.

 This posed threats and insecurity to Muslims, Christians and the country as well.

In his thought provoking speech Ven Amila Thero added that racist and communalist cries are raised by forces which are bankrupt and barren. They use such vocabulary to suit their petty tastes. Politicians and religious leaders use this strategy the most to push their narrow agendas- to get votes and/or get popularity. Dividing people as  'us' and 'them' is one such strategy. We are all 'homo-sapiens' biologically and making us think along racial or religious lines breeds hatred and animosity.

This is the reason for the racial and religious conflicts we had in our country. Whether Sinhala, Tamils or Muslims, we must begin to think as human beings first. Our different identities as different racial groups can be maintained as long as we do not make those distinctions as dividing lines and forget our human family links.

We fought those divisive racist forces which emerged among the Sinhala people and was able to defeat them and bring about a change in thinking. Today, there is a conducive atmosphere to think freely without those forces oppressing the 'other' But it is important that we do not rest or become indifferent. Civil society should be alert and demand good governance from the rulers. National Reconciliation should be the basis for our development and future progress of our country. Accepting the multi-lingual and multi ethnic character of our country is essential as this country belongs to all- Sinhala , Tamils and Muslims. To emphasize this, we need leaders with a strong political will  and far sight said Ven Amila Thero

Reviewing the book attorney at law and human rights activist Mr. S.G Punchihewa said’ In history, there has always being divisive forces seeking to divide humanity along racial or religious lines. In Sri Lanka too, both politicians and self seeking religious  leaders have been at this game and using/spreading hatred against minority communities to achieve their narrow agendas. What happened after independence is exactly this.

Majoritarian raised by these defeatist forces have spelt doom on this country. All our communities joined together to win our independence but parted ways later based on parochial interests rather than on national interests. This book on 'Clouding the Crescent' is a timely one which the author has written to stress the need to stand together as one nation without attempting to divide our nation as majority and minority ethnic groups.

Researcher Lukman Harees has skillfully written the story of the rise and fall of communal politics in Sri Lanka yet once more in our recent history. The author clearly indicates that hate has no place in our society which our people have shown time and again.

The recent hate campaign against the Muslims in recent times by a minority group among the majority race was an indication of the level of political and social maturity of our nation and it is sad that our political and religious leaders do not learn lessons from history.

The author has in more pictorial and easy language indicated that our nation has been failing to grasp many opportunities in history to create 'srilankan-ness' or a common Sri Lankan identity. The recent defeat of the Tigers was one such opportunity and the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime instead chose to allow hate groups to operate with impunity to create divisions along religious lines.

This book also seeks to underline the age old bonds between the Sinhalese and Muslims and the contributions the Muslims have made to the development of our country. They are not aliens but have a long history in this country. Therefore this hate campaign is a conspiracy and should be defeated. He also identifies the various forces which was responsible and attempting to make Sri Lanka as a pariah state in the community of nations both internal and external and cautions the people to be alert.

This book is therefore a timely publication and a ''must 'read' by all those who has the interest of this country at heart stated Mr. Punchihewa.

Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thero, Rev. Fr Adrian, Mr Shibly Aziz, Former Attorney General , Mr Latheef Farook, Senior Journalist and Author and many former diplomats were among those present . Ends