| By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya |
Lasanda Kurukulasuriya
Events during the past two weeks took a turn that was out of character for the typically laid-back New Year season, with some dramatic developments occupying the media’s attention. Most unfortunate among these events has been the attempted vilification of Dayan Jayatilleka, Sri Lanka’s ambassador in Paris.
 The pettish, nit-picking nature of the allegations leveled against one of the most able and articulate emissaries serving the country in these troubled times, is indeed regrettable, having emanated from within the Ministry of External Affairs itself (though not from the Minister’s camp, as Jayatilleka’s comments would indicate).
The missive sent to the ambassador accusing him of ‘actions punishable under the Penal Code,’ threatens him over procedural lapses in a matter as mundane as refurbishing the chancery building. The episode smacks of simmering internal jealousies manifesting in a devious attempt to oust Jayatilleka, rather than any serious misdemeanor on his part.
In the wake of the allegations the ambassador has responded to the inevitable media flurry in his usual forthright manner. “This ministry’s bureaucratic apparatus has a decades-long history of harassing those they consider to be outsiders,” said the non-career diplomat in a newspaper interview. “In my case however there are added factors. There is the resentment that a mafia of powerfully networked or ‘connected’ cut-throat mediocrities instinctively has towards someone who is neither a crook nor a mediocrity.” It is sad but true that the pertinence of this observation extends to other spheres of public life as well, so much so that one might ask, is it a national malady?
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Peace for the World
First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sunday 22 April 2012
Strange bedfellows, still bedfellows
On 20 April 2008 I said in this column “I participated at the Avurudu festival at Mangalagama, Yatinuwara. It was well attended. I felt that all those present were well-dressed and reasonably happy. Piyadasa, the chairman of the village cooperative store, explained to me that the wages of electricians, masons, carpenters etc, had all risen beyond Rs.700 per day, and that there was work. In addition, several youth had joined the security forces and their families were getting a substantial income. This village consists of traditional technical workers, with the tradition going back to ancient times. They however do not own much land. I can’t take what Piyadasa says that seriously, as he was and still is, a loyal SLFP man! But I did not see the desperate looks in people that I witness in the suburbs of Colombo. The war industry is a complete menace to the cosmopolitan suburbs, but it is an income generator for the Sinhala villager. Already around half a million are employed directly or indirectly in war-related activities.” This year too I was invited to the Mangalagama Avurudu festival. I saw the same crowd, with a few additions from the new generations and those outsiders who have come to settle down in the village. But I did not notice the happiness I mentioned last time. Even Piyadasa appeared despondent. Of course the access road is developed with concrete slabs while more houses are reconstructed and modified. But the pressure of rising prices and the jump in interest rates could be seen on all faces. I saw that there was more unity in expressing their anger. They told me that they did not bother to invite any local politician to the event. I was an exception as I am considered to be a villager in the area in spite of my heavy presence in Dehiwela!No income Full Story>>>>
CHENNAI, April 22, 2012Congress MPs see improvement in condition of Sri Lankan Tamils
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT: Congress MPs (from left) M. Krishnassamy, Sudharsana Natchiappan and TNCC president Gnanadesikan addressing the media in Chennai on Saturday. Photo: Ragu
“But there was also lingering fear among them”
The four Congress MPs from Tamil Nadu, who were part of a Parliamentary delegation which concluded its five-day visit to Sri Lanka on Saturday, said here on Saturday that they could see some improvement in the life of Tamils there, but there was also lingering fear among them.
E.M. Sudharsana Natchiappan, M. Krishnassamy, N.S.V. Chitthan and Manicka Tagore were speaking to reporters immediately after their return from the island nation.
It was not a guided tour, as alleged by some parties, the MPs stressed at the press conference held at Sathyamurthi Bhavan, the Congress headquarters here.
“We were able to visit all the places we wanted to and interact with the Tamils in their own places without any army/ police escort,” Mr. Krishnassamy said. However, in some areas, the army could be seen questioning civilians about their movement, even if they visited a temple.
APPEAL MADE
“We have appealed to the Sri Lankan authorities to withdraw the army and they have said that they will look into it,” he said.
Only 6,000 people were now staying at the Manik Farm, a rehabilitation camp that once housed three lakh persons displaced by war. “These people said they wanted to go back to their native villages as they are languishing there for three years. However, Sri Lankan officials said their return was not possible until the United Nations could certify that the areas had been totally demined.”
The MPs said that they had an opportunity to study the ground situation in various areas where there was a substantial Tamil population.
They were definitely in need of infrastructure, including roads, irrigation facilities. School buildings had been demolished in certain areas.
The Indian government, apart from constructing 50,000 houses, had also helped to form women self-help groups.
“We wanted to tell our brethren there that the Indian government is very much with them. At the same time, our major focus was to impress upon Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that implementation of the 13 Amendment, ensuring devolution of political powers and making Tamils equal citizens alone could bring about lasting peace. Besides, we wanted him to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC),” Mr. Natchiappan said.
According to the MPs, Mr. Rajapaksa responded that the issue of devolution would be considered by a Select Committee of Parliament.
He also wanted the representatives of the Tamil National Alliance to take part in the process.
However, when the delegation broached the issue with the Tamil leaders there, one of them wanted the Sri Lankan government to first spell out its stand on devolution before they took a call on whether to join the talks.
Asked how the Congress MPs could feel the visit was a success when the two major political parties in Tamil Nadu had pulled out of the delegation saying the visit would serve no purpose, Mr. Natchiappan said, “It's their opinion.”
Mr. Gnanadesikan said issuing statements sitting in India would be of no help to the Tamils in Sri Lanka. “Our endeavour should be to help them live in peace.”
Sunday, April 22, 2012
MR Asks Coalition Partners For Their Stances By Tomorrow
MR Asks Coalition Partners For Their Stances By Tomorrow
- The Government finally moves on the UNHRC Resolution
By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
The coalition parties in the governing UPFA are to submit in writing tomorrow (23) the position of each party on the implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations.
The 14 coalition parties in the People’s Alliance government have been directed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to hand over in writing to the Presidential Secretariat their stance on the recommendations of the LLRC and its implementation. Rajapaksa had issued this directive at a meeting with the coalition party leaders last Wednesday before the weekly Cabinet meeting.
The President who chaired the meeting had explained that it was necessary for the UPFA to reach a consensus on the LLRC recommendations and its implementations since most coalition parties had diverse views on the matter.
A party leader who attended the meeting told The Sunday Leader that External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris had distributed copies of a summarized version of the LLRC recommendations in point form among the party leaders.
The President had asked the party leaders to go back to their party’s decision making bodies immediately.
Once the Presidential Secretariat receives the official positions of the parties, a final report listing out the position of each party would be prepared to be taken up for discussion at the next party leaders’ meeting.
“The government is looking at implementing the recommendations that receive the consensus of all the parties and subject to discussion any other LLRC recommendations that have received diverse views,” a party leader said.
Meanwhile, the government has also commenced preparing an action plan on the implementation of LLRC recommendations.
The Sunday Leader learns that the Ministries of Defense and External Affairs and the Attorney General’s Department are coordinating the action plan.
The government’s latest moves on the LLRC recommendations comes almost a month after the passage of a US backed Resolution on Sri Lanka at the 19th UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva.
The 14 coalition parties in the People’s Alliance government have been directed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to hand over in writing to the Presidential Secretariat their stance on the recommendations of the LLRC and its implementation. Rajapaksa had issued this directive at a meeting with the coalition party leaders last Wednesday before the weekly Cabinet meeting.
The President who chaired the meeting had explained that it was necessary for the UPFA to reach a consensus on the LLRC recommendations and its implementations since most coalition parties had diverse views on the matter.
A party leader who attended the meeting told The Sunday Leader that External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris had distributed copies of a summarized version of the LLRC recommendations in point form among the party leaders.
The President had asked the party leaders to go back to their party’s decision making bodies immediately.
Once the Presidential Secretariat receives the official positions of the parties, a final report listing out the position of each party would be prepared to be taken up for discussion at the next party leaders’ meeting.
“The government is looking at implementing the recommendations that receive the consensus of all the parties and subject to discussion any other LLRC recommendations that have received diverse views,” a party leader said.
Meanwhile, the government has also commenced preparing an action plan on the implementation of LLRC recommendations.
The Sunday Leader learns that the Ministries of Defense and External Affairs and the Attorney General’s Department are coordinating the action plan.
The government’s latest moves on the LLRC recommendations comes almost a month after the passage of a US backed Resolution on Sri Lanka at the 19th UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
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SATURDAY, 21 APRIL 2012
India very serious about political solution; Swaraj
The Indian parliamentary delegation, upon conclusion of its visit to Sri Lanka , said that India is ‘very serious’ about a political solution to the Tamil national question , and urged the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil National Alliance to resume political dialogue as early as possible. “We are very very serious about a political solution,” she said.
Addressing a packed press conference, India’s opposition leader Sushma Swaraj who led the Indian delegation, said that she asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa to persuade the TNA and the UNP to join the proposed parliamentary select committee.
“We are very very serious about a political solution,” she said.
The opposition leader speaking in response to India’s vote against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council, said that the resolution only asks for the implementation of the recommendations by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission which she called “Sri Lanka’s baby”. She queried as to how asking Sri Lanka to implement recommendations of its own mechanism could be an unfriendly act.
Commenting on the resettlement process of the IDPs Swaraj said that they witnessed an improved situation in the resettlement process of Internally Displaced Persons in the Sri Lanka’s north, but said that there are significant numbers of IDPs in transit camps of host families.
“Our task will not be complete till they return to their orginal homes.” Swaraj said at a news conference held at the Taj Samudra Hotel, in Colombo. (Kelum Bandara)
WATCH
WATCH
Indian High Commission in Colombo issued the follwing statement
Statement by Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha, India and Leader of All-Party Parliamentary Delegation to Sri Lanka at a media interaction on 21 April 2012
Distinguished representatives of the media,
I am happy to lead the All-Party delegation of Parliamentarians from India on this important visit to Sri Lanka. We are happy to meet you and share our impressions from this visit. I would like to start by introducing my colleagues from the delegation.
2. The purpose of our visit was to see for ourselves the progress made in Sri Lanka since the end of the armed conflict in May 2009. We wanted to interact with a wide cross-section of political parties, members of civil society and the public at large, and get a sense of the situation, especially with regard to rehabilitation, resettlement and the way forward to achieving a lasting and broad-based peace in Sri Lanka.
3. As you are aware, India has been unstinting in its assistance in supporting efforts to resettle and rehabilitate internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka and to reconstruct the infrastructure and facilities of northern Sri Lanka. In this context, we also wanted to get a first-hand glimpse of the status of the development projects being implemented with India's assistance in different parts of Sri Lanka, and the impact they were having on the ground.
4. My delegation and I had the opportunity to call on His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning. We had extensive discussions with several Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, key leaders of major political parties, Members of Parliament and representatives of civil society. We travelled to different parts of Sri Lanka, a fact that testifies to the pan-Island footprint of our engagement with this country. Our immediate focus, however, was on the North and the East, as they recover from the trauma of nearly three decades of armed conflict.
5. We have noted the improved situation regarding the resettlement of IDPs. However, a significant number of them continue to be in transit situations or with host families. Our task will not be complete until they return to their original homes. Similarly, while there has been substantial progress in the area of rehabilitation and reconstruction, a lot remains to be done. We are prepared to assist in whatever way possible, in a spirit of partnership and cooperation.
6. The end of the armed conflict has provided a historic opportunity for moving towards national reconciliation and political settlement. The report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has underlined this and has made a number of constructive recommendations for addressing issues related to healing the wounds of the conflict and fostering a process of lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. It is important that these are pursued with a sense of urgency. This is the message we have conveyed to our Sri Lankan friends during the course of this visit.
7. Our discussions over the last four days have brought out clearly the need for expeditious implementation of the measures proposed by the LLRC with regard to information on missing persons and detainees, investigation of cases of disappearances and abductions, promotion of a trilingual policy, reduction of high security zones, return of private lands by the military and demilitarization, including phasing out of the involvement of the security forces in civilian activities and restoration of civilian administration in the Northern Province. We have noted the assurance given by the Government of Sri Lanka in Parliament that it will ensure the withdrawal of security forces from community life and confine their role to security matters.
8. Above all, it is our sincere hope that the Government of Sri Lanka will seize this window of opportunity and follow an enlightened approach to reach a genuine political reconciliation, based on a meaningful devolution of powers, which takes into account the legitimate needs of the Tamil people for equality, dignity, justice and self-respect. We have been assured in the past that this will be done within the framework of “Thirteenth Amendment – Plus”. We would urge the Government of Sri Lanka and other stakeholders, including the Tamil National Alliance, to resume dialogue and move towards an early political settlement. We would earnestly suggest urgent consultations to create conditions for launching of the Parliamentary Select Committee.
9. During our stay in Sri Lanka, we were able to visit several of sites of Indian-aided projects, including railway projects in the North and the South, the housing project, Kankesanthurai Harbour, and some of the schools, hospitals and vocational training centres being revived with our assistance. We were happy to witness the handover of some of the completed projects. Several others are on track to be completed in the coming months. These projects gave us some satisfaction that India's assistance, especially in the areas of humanitarian assistance, temporary shelter, housing, de-mining, education and vocational training, public health, connectivity, and revival of agriculture and other livelihood activities, has been able to make a difference to the lives of the people.
10. These projects serve to underline India's commitment, as a stakeholder in peace, stability and harmony in Sri Lanka, to addressing the pressing needs of the war-affected people and the restoration of normalcy to their lives.
11. We are happy to note that our relations are moving ahead in a comprehensive manner. It is a relationship based on deep civilizational and cultural bonds and shared interests. As a close and friendly neighbour, we have strong stakes in the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and in the preservation of peace, harmony and prosperity of this country. We are committed to taking the relationship forward.
12. As India and Sri Lanka are immediate neighbours with an extensive interface, there are naturally some bilateral issues that need to be addressed, for example, the issue of fishermen. I would like to emphasize that this is an emotive issue which must be handled with care on both sides. As we explore possible solutions, both sides must ensure that there is no use of force against the fishermen and that they are treated in a humane manner. We were happy to learn that the Joint Working Group on Fisheries which met in January this year was able to look at various options to address this issue in a larger framework. We hope the fishermen on both sides can meet again and talk directly to each other.
13. India and Sri Lanka are bound by ties of history, geography and culture. Our partnership must therefore progress in the spirit of being the closest of neighbours and friends whose destinies are intertwined. As democracies, we understand that we may occasionally have differences but these will be dealt with through dialogue and on the basis of mutual respect. I am confident that our shared heritage and common interests will take us forward together.
Thank you
2. The purpose of our visit was to see for ourselves the progress made in Sri Lanka since the end of the armed conflict in May 2009. We wanted to interact with a wide cross-section of political parties, members of civil society and the public at large, and get a sense of the situation, especially with regard to rehabilitation, resettlement and the way forward to achieving a lasting and broad-based peace in Sri Lanka.
3. As you are aware, India has been unstinting in its assistance in supporting efforts to resettle and rehabilitate internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka and to reconstruct the infrastructure and facilities of northern Sri Lanka. In this context, we also wanted to get a first-hand glimpse of the status of the development projects being implemented with India's assistance in different parts of Sri Lanka, and the impact they were having on the ground.
4. My delegation and I had the opportunity to call on His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning. We had extensive discussions with several Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, key leaders of major political parties, Members of Parliament and representatives of civil society. We travelled to different parts of Sri Lanka, a fact that testifies to the pan-Island footprint of our engagement with this country. Our immediate focus, however, was on the North and the East, as they recover from the trauma of nearly three decades of armed conflict.
5. We have noted the improved situation regarding the resettlement of IDPs. However, a significant number of them continue to be in transit situations or with host families. Our task will not be complete until they return to their original homes. Similarly, while there has been substantial progress in the area of rehabilitation and reconstruction, a lot remains to be done. We are prepared to assist in whatever way possible, in a spirit of partnership and cooperation.
6. The end of the armed conflict has provided a historic opportunity for moving towards national reconciliation and political settlement. The report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has underlined this and has made a number of constructive recommendations for addressing issues related to healing the wounds of the conflict and fostering a process of lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. It is important that these are pursued with a sense of urgency. This is the message we have conveyed to our Sri Lankan friends during the course of this visit.
7. Our discussions over the last four days have brought out clearly the need for expeditious implementation of the measures proposed by the LLRC with regard to information on missing persons and detainees, investigation of cases of disappearances and abductions, promotion of a trilingual policy, reduction of high security zones, return of private lands by the military and demilitarization, including phasing out of the involvement of the security forces in civilian activities and restoration of civilian administration in the Northern Province. We have noted the assurance given by the Government of Sri Lanka in Parliament that it will ensure the withdrawal of security forces from community life and confine their role to security matters.
8. Above all, it is our sincere hope that the Government of Sri Lanka will seize this window of opportunity and follow an enlightened approach to reach a genuine political reconciliation, based on a meaningful devolution of powers, which takes into account the legitimate needs of the Tamil people for equality, dignity, justice and self-respect. We have been assured in the past that this will be done within the framework of “Thirteenth Amendment – Plus”. We would urge the Government of Sri Lanka and other stakeholders, including the Tamil National Alliance, to resume dialogue and move towards an early political settlement. We would earnestly suggest urgent consultations to create conditions for launching of the Parliamentary Select Committee.
9. During our stay in Sri Lanka, we were able to visit several of sites of Indian-aided projects, including railway projects in the North and the South, the housing project, Kankesanthurai Harbour, and some of the schools, hospitals and vocational training centres being revived with our assistance. We were happy to witness the handover of some of the completed projects. Several others are on track to be completed in the coming months. These projects gave us some satisfaction that India's assistance, especially in the areas of humanitarian assistance, temporary shelter, housing, de-mining, education and vocational training, public health, connectivity, and revival of agriculture and other livelihood activities, has been able to make a difference to the lives of the people.
10. These projects serve to underline India's commitment, as a stakeholder in peace, stability and harmony in Sri Lanka, to addressing the pressing needs of the war-affected people and the restoration of normalcy to their lives.
11. We are happy to note that our relations are moving ahead in a comprehensive manner. It is a relationship based on deep civilizational and cultural bonds and shared interests. As a close and friendly neighbour, we have strong stakes in the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and in the preservation of peace, harmony and prosperity of this country. We are committed to taking the relationship forward.
12. As India and Sri Lanka are immediate neighbours with an extensive interface, there are naturally some bilateral issues that need to be addressed, for example, the issue of fishermen. I would like to emphasize that this is an emotive issue which must be handled with care on both sides. As we explore possible solutions, both sides must ensure that there is no use of force against the fishermen and that they are treated in a humane manner. We were happy to learn that the Joint Working Group on Fisheries which met in January this year was able to look at various options to address this issue in a larger framework. We hope the fishermen on both sides can meet again and talk directly to each other.
13. India and Sri Lanka are bound by ties of history, geography and culture. Our partnership must therefore progress in the spirit of being the closest of neighbours and friends whose destinies are intertwined. As democracies, we understand that we may occasionally have differences but these will be dealt with through dialogue and on the basis of mutual respect. I am confident that our shared heritage and common interests will take us forward together.
Thank you
Mosque attack : Those in top rungs of Govt. behind it – Muslim Congress Secretary and M.P. Hassen Ali
| (Lanka-e-News-20.April.2012, 11.50PM) Muslim Congress Secretary and M .P Hassen Ali told Lanka e News that the Muslim mosque which had been in existence for the last 50 years at Dambulla coming under attack while the army and police officers were standing idle and watching is clearly because they are being supported by those at high places in the Govt. Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero who had been arousing communal hatred for the last one week , had gone with about 500 persons and chased away the Muslim devotees while they were at Jumma prayers today (20), Friday , and caused damage to the mosque. Even the goods inside the mosque had been damaged. While all this attack and damage were being inflicted , the police and army around had taken no action to halt the violence and amused themselves . Later the police had acted only to seal the mosque premises. Subsequently , the police had made a public announcement that the Kovil and the mosque in Dambulla shall be evacuated. This directive is from the top, the police had further openly stated. Hassen Ali pinpointed that if the places of religious worship of the minorities are being attacked while the police and army are idly watching , it implies that they are supporting the marauders and providing security to them , instead of the law abiding people.Speaking further , Hassen Ali lamented that the Govt. received the support of the Muslim countries in respect of the US resolutions presented against the SL Govt, at the Geneva conference. His party as well as the Muslims made a great contribution by speaking to those Muslim countries and inducing them to vote in favor of the SL Govt, at the Geneva conference.. Hence it is very strange that the Govt. is behaving in this manner despite all those actions taken supporting the Govt. He charged the Govt. of protecting and supporting these marauders and racialists . Another Muslim M.P. whose name cannot be revealed speaking to Lanka e News said, the Govt. which is in utter desperation being unable to solve the dire problems , economical and otherwise , is trying to score plus points by stoking communal and religious animosity to earn cheap popularity and political gains. He added that all High Commissioners of all Diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka of Muslim countries were summoned this evening ,and informed of this perilous situation. |
Mahinda sandwiched between two siblings
by A Special Correspondent in Colombo
( April 21, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The rift between President Mahinda Percy Rajapakse’s siblings Basil Rajapakse and Gotabaya Rajapakse is said to be widening to an irreconcilable position since the Geneva resolution against Sri Lanka on the implementation of the President’s LLRC report.
The relationship between the two siblings has reached the stage of both attempting to score points against the other. President’s son Namal Rajapakse is said to be siding Gotabaya Rajapakse, thus putting the President more in an awkward position.
Gotabaya Rajapakse’s anti-Indian ranting and un-mitigating pro-China stand since the Geneva resolution, has further estranged the relationship between the siblings and Gotabaya is demanding that his brother must tow his line and this has caused serious consternation for the President.
Both brothers are holding senior ministerial positions in the government and the battle is said to be dividing the government bureaucracy. The extreme nationalist elements are backing Gota, as they are claiming that he is the man who won the war against the LTTE.
The President’s attempts to mediate between the two so far has failed, as he is said to be chickened out in the internecine fight. Due to the infighting, conflicting reports and claims are being released by the departments taking allegiance to any one of the brothers.
The External Affairs Ministry is said to be Basil pro whilst Gota is promoting Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to undertake more of the important diplomatic work. Gota is fully backed by the right wing Jathika Hela Urumaya, Wimal Weerawansa and other Sinhala extremist in the government coalition.
The outright control of the Colombo municipality by Gotabaya Rajapakse has annoyed Basil, as he has argued with the President that the Colombo local authority must be allowed to function independently.
According to a close contact of Minister Basil Rajapakse, he has asked the President to influence his rival brother Gota to put an end to the arbitrary conduct of the Defence Ministry. He is said to have specifically asked for an end to the white van abductions by the Defence Ministry.
Sword theft at the National Museum forgotten
Angered by comments made by some CID officials to a group of journalists that politicians and government officials were involved in the National Museum theft, the President has ordered the IGP to inform the CID officers not to level baseless allegations against his friends.
A CID officer told us that statements about the theft were to be recorded by Minister Ranjith Siyamabalapitiya, wife of National Heritage Minister Jagath Balasuriya, Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasuriya and assistant directors of the National Museum, but had to be stopped on a directive by the IGP. He added that a large amount of details related to the theft could have been uncovered if the statements were recorded from these people.
Saturday 21 of April 2012
Inamaluwa Thero incites religious hatred : ‘don’t make my blood boil’ says he; Dambulla mosque damaged
(Lanka-e-News-20.April.2012, 11.50PM) The Muslim mosque situated at the center of the Dambulla Town was subject to a petrol bomb attack this early morning.(20). Though there had been no harm done to lives of people the mosque has been slightly damaged.
A request had been made by Matale district UPFA M . P. Lakshman Perera to move the mosque from the place where it is now situated , and that another place will be found for it , which had been rejected by the mosque Board of administrators. It is after this , the attack had been launched.
The police had met the mosque administrators on the 19th and requested not to hold the Friday (today ) congregation. The mosque Board had refused to abide by this instruction as Friday Jummah prayers is very important for the Muslims. Later when the Muslims were holding their prayers , Ven. Inamaluwa Sumangala Thero with a crowd of about 500 persons have gone and conducted themselves in a most unruly manner hindering the Muslims in their prayer activities and damaging a part of the mosque. Consequently the Muslim devotees who were inside the mosque had been subjected to grave fears of potential attack. This violent group had damaged the goods within the mosque. The Police and army who were around had made no attempt to avert the attack.
Sumangala Thero had claimed that on the 300 acres land which was given to the Govt. , places of worship of other religions are being erected . He had warned ‘don’t make my blood boil’.
Meanwhile All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulema Organization had addressed a letter to the President Mahinda Rajapakse condemning the forcible entry of the group of intruders into the mosque premises , which can result in a breach of peace . The letter had therefore urged the President to take appropriate action to avert this potentially disastrous situation whose authors are the Sumangala Thero and the group.
Incidentally ,about four months ago another mosque in Anuradhapura was similarly attacked and destroyed.
Although inciting racial and religious hatred is barred by the SL constitution , and those found guilty are punishable under the penal code , so far these prohibitions have not been effective against the majority group.
Inamaluwa Thero incites religious hatred : ‘don’t make my blood boil’ says he; Dambulla mosque damaged
(Lanka-e-News-20.April.2012, 11.50PM) The Muslim mosque situated at the center of the Dambulla Town was subject to a petrol bomb attack this early morning.(20). Though there had been no harm done to lives of people the mosque has been slightly damaged.A request had been made by Matale district UPFA M . P. Lakshman Perera to move the mosque from the place where it is now situated , and that another place will be found for it , which had been rejected by the mosque Board of administrators. It is after this , the attack had been launched.
The police had met the mosque administrators on the 19th and requested not to hold the Friday (today ) congregation. The mosque Board had refused to abide by this instruction as Friday Jummah prayers is very important for the Muslims. Later when the Muslims were holding their prayers , Ven. Inamaluwa Sumangala Thero with a crowd of about 500 persons have gone and conducted themselves in a most unruly manner hindering the Muslims in their prayer activities and damaging a part of the mosque. Consequently the Muslim devotees who were inside the mosque had been subjected to grave fears of potential attack. This violent group had damaged the goods within the mosque. The Police and army who were around had made no attempt to avert the attack.
Sumangala Thero had claimed that on the 300 acres land which was given to the Govt. , places of worship of other religions are being erected . He had warned ‘don’t make my blood boil’.
Meanwhile All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulema Organization had addressed a letter to the President Mahinda Rajapakse condemning the forcible entry of the group of intruders into the mosque premises , which can result in a breach of peace . The letter had therefore urged the President to take appropriate action to avert this potentially disastrous situation whose authors are the Sumangala Thero and the group.
Incidentally ,about four months ago another mosque in Anuradhapura was similarly attacked and destroyed.
Although inciting racial and religious hatred is barred by the SL constitution , and those found guilty are punishable under the penal code , so far these prohibitions have not been effective against the majority group.
President instigates Inamaluwe Thero against Muslims
The Thero had summoned several donors to the temple and said that the protest was being organized on a Presidential directive.
A senior official from the Presidential Secretariat has requested Matale District Secretary to ensure that Samurdhi recipients cooperated in organizing the protest.
The Muslim mosque in question is over 40 years old and had been completely renovated recently.
Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero who is organizing the protest is closely affiliated to the President. The Thero make statements in support of the President whenever required and the President has in turn shown his gratitude by giving him a radio and television license.
The Thero first came into the limelight after protesting against the construction of a luxury hotel by the side of the Kandalama tank. However, it has been alleged that the protest campaign stopped midway after the management of the Kandalama Hotel had given the Thero several lakhs of rupees.
Also, it is the Kandalama Hotel and its staff that sometimes provide the Thero with alms.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Sri Lankan mosque forced to abandon prayers by protesters
20 April 2012Buddhist monks were also involved in the protest
A mosque in Sri Lanka has been forced to abandon Friday prayers amid community tensions in the central town of Dambulla.
About 2,000 Buddhists, including monks, marched to the mosque and held a demonstration demanding its demolition.
A mosque official told the BBC he and several dozen companions were trapped inside and feared the crowd would destroy the building.
Overnight the mosque had been targeted by a fire-bombing - no-one was hurt.
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says the tensions have been growing in the neighbourhood.
Shortly after the protest the mosque was evacuated and its Friday prayers cancelled.
Many Buddhists regard Dambulla as a sacred town and in recent months there had been other sectarian tensions in this part of Sri Lanka, our correspondent says.
Last September a monk led a crowd to demolish a Muslim shrine in Anuradhapura, not far from Dambulla.
Buddhism is the religion of the majority of the population in Sri Lanka.
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