Bodu Bala Vs. Mera Bala
By Kasun Adikari -April 9, 2013
Kasun Adikari
“We have still not got over the shock of the traumatic events of last July. It was a tragedy that we failed to avert. It was a tragedy that did the country no good. The duty, an inescapable duty, to the country is to see that another disaster of that nature never overtakes our people.” – S. D. Bandaranaike – reported in the Sunday Observer on 30th October 1983
Introduction
“Adirajyavadi Balavegaya”, “Anthavadeen” are the two Sinhala terms often used by the Regime and its new wing Bala Sena to face any challenges locally as well as internationally. Perhaps these two words are the weapons of the same to deviate people from the truth and to remain in power for decades.
The local as well as international media is replete with accounts of ethnic and religious tension in Sri Lanka. This is hardly the time for unnecessary ethnic posturing when there are other urgent issues in the country crying for our concern and attention. Hence, before organizing public rallies with the intention of creating communal disharmony, before attacking Muslim owned establishments, before pasting posters in places of worship containing abusive words, before harassing Muslim women wearing hijab, before issuing death threats to victims asking them to withdraw legal proceedings from courts of law, I urge this Bala Sena to study the rich history of Sinhala Muslim relationship in addition to the basic principles of Buddhism.
The Bond
The following words of Dr. Lorna Dewaraja, a prominent authority on the history of Sri Lanka, best explains the close bond of friendship and understanding between the Sinhalese and Muslims;
“Historians have traditionally been attracted by wars and rebellions whereas the peaceful co- existence of groups of people over long periods tends to be overlooked… In the history of Sri Lanka few are aware of the harmonious relationship which had developed between the Sinhalese and the Muslims and that both have lived together peacefully for over a thousand years. Perhaps because it was such a peaceful relationship, it has passed unnoticed by the historian.”
The Muslims are peace-loving people. They have lived as a law-abiding people, for centuries, with the Sinhalese. They have, not only, lived among the Sinhalese, but also, with the Sinhalese. The Muslims have never called for the division of Sri Lanka. On the contrary, they have opposed division and stood by the Sinhalese. The close relationship has yielded mutual benefits for both communities. This relationship is now being put to the test.
Buddhist extremists in Sri Lanka demand to ban screening Indian Tamil movies
Mon, Apr 8, 2013
Apr 08, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Sinhala Buddhist extremist organization Ravana Balaya has decided to urge the authorities to ban the screening of Indian Tamil movies in Sri Lanka.The secretary of the Ravana Balaya, Buddhist monk Iththepane Saddhathissa Thero said that a letter urging the ban would be handed over to the Public Performance Board tomorrow.
Ravana Balaya says that the decision has been taken to protest the influence of Tamil Nadu over the island's integrity.
Members of the extremist Buddhist monk group held a protest outside the Sri Lanka Cricket office on April 03 threatening to take action against the players who left for the IPL tournament.
Ravana Balaya launched a protest opposite the Indian High Commission in Colombo on March 20 condemning the attacks on Sri Lankan Buddhist monks in Tamil Nadu.
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