Media issued orders not to report Grandpass attack
- Details
- Created On Tuesday, 13 August 2013 06:31
- Category: General
The private electronic and print media in the country have been issued orders by the Rajapaksa government not to report on the attack on a mosque in Grandpass last Saturday.
Soon after reports of the attack reached the media, journalists, photographers and video crew made their way to the Grandpass site.
However, when they returned to their offices with the report, the media personnel were informed that there have been orders not to publicize the mosque attack.
Saturday is the final day for Sunday newspaper stories, the Grandpass mosque attack was not given proper coverage and was only reported in a few paragraphs without giving accurate details.
The media has also received orders to stop reporting on the Weliweriya incident and to downplay the deaths that occurred due to the attack on civilians by the military.
However, when they returned to their offices with the report, the media personnel were informed that there have been orders not to publicize the mosque attack.
Saturday is the final day for Sunday newspaper stories, the Grandpass mosque attack was not given proper coverage and was only reported in a few paragraphs without giving accurate details.
The media has also received orders to stop reporting on the Weliweriya incident and to downplay the deaths that occurred due to the attack on civilians by the military.
President angry over Champika’s intervention in the Grandpass incident
- Details
- Created On Tuesday, 13 August 2013 09:36
- Category: General
The President is displeased over Technology and Research Minister Champika Ranawaka’s intervention to amicably resolve the clash between Sinhala Buddhists and Muslims in Grandpass over a mosque, sources from Temple Trees said.
“There cannot be two heroes in the government. Why does Champika interfere in unwanted matters? I had planned it well through Faizer. I want Faizer to be popular among the people in Colombo Central. But this fellow managed to ruin it,” the President has said in front of several friends.
A group of Muslim ministers in the government like Rauf Hakeem and Athaulla had met at Senior Minister A.H.M Fowzie’s residence on the 11th to discuss this issue. At the outset of the discussion, the Muslim ministers have agreed that the Muslims would not move out of the mosque under any circumstance. However, prior to this decision, Minister Ranawaka had met with the trustees of the mosque and the Muslim people in Grandpass and agreed to cut down and remove the Bo tree next to the old mosque to enable the mosque premises to be expanded. The old mosque was built on a two perch land. The new mosque is being built on a four acre land.
The Muslim people have agreed to Minister Ranawaka’s proposal since the old mosque would receive more land if the Bo tree is removed.
The Muslim ministers who met at Fowzie’s residence were unaware of this development and had informed the President that the Muslims would not move out of the new mosque. After hearing about the agreement reached between Ranawaka and the trustees of the mosque, Hakeem had said that the President would not agree to the cutting down of the Bo tree. Therefore, the Muslim politicians have decided to consult the President before reaching a final decision. Upon being informed of the latest development, an angry President had shouted at Ranawaka in filth. “It is still a Bo tree although it is a wild tree. The cutting down of a Bo tree is a sin a person has to suffer for seven generations. Champika is Buddhist for namesake. I cannot be part of this sinful act. Start holding bodhi poojas at this Bo tree from tomorrow,” the President has said.
It is the President’s short sighted action that prevented the amicable settlement of the Grandpass mosque issue.
A group of Muslim ministers in the government like Rauf Hakeem and Athaulla had met at Senior Minister A.H.M Fowzie’s residence on the 11th to discuss this issue. At the outset of the discussion, the Muslim ministers have agreed that the Muslims would not move out of the mosque under any circumstance. However, prior to this decision, Minister Ranawaka had met with the trustees of the mosque and the Muslim people in Grandpass and agreed to cut down and remove the Bo tree next to the old mosque to enable the mosque premises to be expanded. The old mosque was built on a two perch land. The new mosque is being built on a four acre land.
The Muslim people have agreed to Minister Ranawaka’s proposal since the old mosque would receive more land if the Bo tree is removed.
The Muslim ministers who met at Fowzie’s residence were unaware of this development and had informed the President that the Muslims would not move out of the new mosque. After hearing about the agreement reached between Ranawaka and the trustees of the mosque, Hakeem had said that the President would not agree to the cutting down of the Bo tree. Therefore, the Muslim politicians have decided to consult the President before reaching a final decision. Upon being informed of the latest development, an angry President had shouted at Ranawaka in filth. “It is still a Bo tree although it is a wild tree. The cutting down of a Bo tree is a sin a person has to suffer for seven generations. Champika is Buddhist for namesake. I cannot be part of this sinful act. Start holding bodhi poojas at this Bo tree from tomorrow,” the President has said.
It is the President’s short sighted action that prevented the amicable settlement of the Grandpass mosque issue.
