Evidence Of Rajapaksa (State) Sponsorship Of Hate
By Hilmy Ahamed –June 18, 2016
Hilmy Ahamed
Two years have passed since the pogrom of Aluthgama, the black June for the Muslims in Sri Lanka. The government of President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe (Yahapalanaya) has done sweet nothing for those affected by extremist violence in Aluthgama and Beruwela. Demands for a commission of inquiry on religious hate and to punish the perpetrators have fallen on deaf years. The government is only interested in appeasing the international community in Geneva with regard to the conflict in the North. The culprits of Aluthgama continue to roam freely, and are beginning to regroup. They will unleash hate once more.
Harin Fernando, the Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure revealed in parliament that the convener of the Ravana Balaya Ven. Iththakande Saddhatissa Thero, had been provided three vehicles by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s Ministry of Housing Development. This was at a cost of Rs. 2 million a year. He said this in parliament during the debate on the no confidence motion against Hon. Ravi Karunanayake. These perks and privileges had been given to these extremists from our tax money, paid without a doubt through dubious means. What were Ven. Iththakande Saddhatissa Thero’s responsibilities at the Ministry of Housing Development to merit three vehicles?
Ven. Iththakande Saddhatissa Thero is one of the most militant and extremist Buddhist monks in the hate campaign against the Evangelical Christians and Muslims. The Defense Ministry during the Rajapaksa era too has been accused of providing land rovers and other high end luxury vehicles to the instigators of the Aluthgama violence, the Bodu Bala Sena and Ven. Galagoda Atete Gnanasara Thero. Two Muslims lost their lives, hundreds were injured and hospitalized, and billions worth of business and property were destroyed in this violence two years ago. The government has not taken any initiatives to inquire and arrest those responsible for this communal violence.
Buddhist religious leaders and their places of worship probably need state patronage where true Buddhism is preached and practiced. What right do these extremist Monks who unleashed so much violence against the minorities have, to enjoy perks and privileges from state institutions? Is it not time for the government of Yahapalanaya to investigate these excesses committed by politicians or government officials and punish them for financial irregularities? Have they followed financial policy guidelines? If they cannot prove with evidence as to how they provided these facilities from state institutions to those who were not directly involved with the administration, they would be guilty as charged. What was the service these monks rendered to government institutions? There would not be a need for extensive investigations or proof of misuse by the FCID, CID or other investigating mechanisms. The evidence would be there in black and white. Money and services have been extended to private persons without any service rendered in return. The politicians of the previous regime seems to have done well in hiding their tracks and now fingers are pointed at the public officials who had approved and made illegal payments from various government institutions. For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, there is the possibility of punishing public servants for being political stooges. If enforced, this would ensure that future public servants would not be party to politicking with public funds.
