Free Education: A letter to the President

| An Open letter to the President Rajapaksa by the Federation of University Teachers

( April 25, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The accolades that Sri Lanka has received since independence for its impressive social indicators has been the result of the establishment and protection of two basic institutions: universal free health and free education services. These two sectors have enabled Sri Lanka to meet two fundamental rights of its citizens without discrimination; many of the putative developed countries are still trying to achieve these despite their wealth. Hence this is an achievement of great distinction and one that needs to be protected at all costs.

However, it is with great dismay, that we observe that the current government under your Excellency’s leadership appears to be gradually destroying one of these pillars of post independent Sri Lankan society: namely, free education. As the Federation of University Teachers (FUTA), our intention is to draw your attention to the damage being wrought on the state university system, which constitutes an important institution within the education sector. While we are equally disturbed by the deterioration of the primary and secondary education sectors, recently epitomized by the Advance Level examination related Z-Score fiasco, in this instance, we will focus only on the state of tertiary education.

Your government and the Minister of Higher Education has made quite clear its intentions of supporting private universities, destroying the autonomy and independence of universities and slowly but surely paralyzing the effective functioning of the state university system. We observe the following with grave concern:      / Read More »

Speeding and danger in Sri Lanka's safari parks

Yala is Sri Lanka's most famous habitat for leopards.

25 April 2012
Sri Lanka's Yala National Park inhabits a remote and wild corner of the south-east, but anarchic behaviour by tourists and drivers desperate to glimpse big game has created dangers for the wildlife there, as the BBC's Charles Haviland experienced.

Yala is a place of magic, of rocky outcrops, big trees, ancient lakes and the rushing sound of the Indian Ocean never far off. It is a place of leopards, elephants, sloth bears, antelopes and a rich bird life of peacocks, hornbills and more.

But conservationists in Sri Lanka are warning that anarchic behaviour in some national parks is endangering the wildlife and the ecology of wilderness areas.

They say safari vehicles are flagrantly breaking speed limits and that marauding behaviour by drivers and tourists is grossly insensitive to fauna and flora.

This is especially the case in Yala in the south-east, the most famous habitat for leopards - the only big cat found on the island.

I experienced this during a recent trip there when we careered through the park at high speed, even though we told our veteran driver that we did not want to go fast and that we were by no means obsessed with seeing a leopard.

At first we were merely jolted, but within about 10 minutes, I had been flung to the hard metal bars running along the ceiling of the safari truck and sustained a serious head injury.

'Jeep jam'   Jeep jams are frequently a problem in Yala     Full Story>>>

TN fishermen condemn Lankan minister's statement

RAMESWARAM: Fishermen's associations here today condemned the reported statement of Sri Lankan Minister Douglas Devananda that he would mobilise Lankan Tamil fishermen and stage a demonstration on IMBL in Palk Straits as their Indian counterparts were damaging fishing equipment.

The Minister had also reportedly stated that Indian fishermen were damaging boats of Sri Lankan fishermen and using banned fishing nets, harming Marine flora and fauna.
Tamil Nadu Mechanised Fishing Boats Owners’ Association secretary N J Bose said the minister could have informed foreign ministry offiicals about the 'violations' and demanded the central and state government officials to take action against the erring fishermen.
He alleged that the minister's reported statement in the Sri Lankan deliberate attempt to paralyse fishing operations of Tamil Nadu fishermen, when they would put out to sea after 45 day fishing holiday next month.
Rameswaram Fishermen's association president Devadoss pointed out that even Sri Lankan fishermen had not made a statement against Indian Fishermen and alleged the minister was playing a double role on the issue.

Indian MPs send strong message to Lankan President

An Indian parliamentary delegation's visit to Sri Lanka [ Images ] sent a clear message to the Sri Lankan government on the need to tackle the political grievances of the Sri Lankan Tamil community. Shubha Singh reports.

The India [ Images ]n parliamentary delegation's visit to Sri Lanka sent a clear message to the Sri Lankan government on the need to tackle the political grievances of the Sri Lankan Tamil community. The delegation led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj [ Images ] conveyed the 'serious' all-party view in India that the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse [ Images ] should take steps towards a political settlement in the country. 

The Indian parliamentarians had a hectic schedule visiting the camps of the Internally Displaced Persons, villages in the battle zone, Indian developmental projects as well as meeting a cross-section of leaders in Colombo including several ministers, the Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wikremasinghe, major political parties, members of parliament and representatives of civil society.

One member of the delegation described the tour, saying: "The visit was no picnic. We would start in the early hours of the morning and return after midnight to our rooms. We did not even see the sights of Colombo. We had a very serious agenda; we were fully focused on looking at the conditions of the Tamils of Sri Lanka and talking to different sections of opinion."  

While visiting the refugee camps, the MPs found that the majority of the IDPs had been moved out of the camps and there were only about 6,000 IDPs left who were to be rehabilitated in the next few months as de-mining was completed in their areas. The MPs found that "developmental activity was taking place in Sri Lanka. But there was some delays in the Indian aided projects."

Leader of the delegation, Sushma Swaraj told President Rajapakse that his government should take steps to 'persuade' the Tamil National Alliance (the main Tamil party) and the main opposition party, the United National Party to be party to talks on a political resolution.  She also spoke of "phasing out of the involvement of the security forces in civilian activities and restoration of civilian administration in the Northern Province."

The visit was in return to the tour of a Sri Lankan parliamentary delegation to India last year. The Indian MPs were to go earlier in the year but their visit had to be re-scheduled. It took place weeks after India dropped its objections to 'country-specific resolutions' and voted for the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution against Sri Lanka. The run-up to the UNHRC vote resulted in an upsurge of nationalistic feelings in Sri Lanka at what was perceived as a 'western targeting' of the country.  

Indian newspapers had reported the Indian vote against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in Geneva last month was dictated by domestic political compulsions in Tamil Nadu as well as by American pressure. This was a view that was taken up by Sri Lankan commentators to criticise the UPA government even though the official reaction of the government in Colombo was guarded and did not mention India at any time.

However, the Indian vote was the result of the government's increasing exasperation at the Sri Lankan government not showing any signs of moving ahead on the issue of a political settlement of the Tamil minority even three years after the civil war had ended.

New Delhi [ Images ] had backed the Sri Lankan government during the last days of the civil war despite the reports of killings of large number of civilians caught in the cross fire between the rebel Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan security forces. The reports had led to widespread anger and anguish in Tamil Nadu at the plight of the Tamil civilians.

At that time, President Rajapakse had assured the Indian leadership that post-the civil war he would devolve power to the north and eastern provinces. He had termed it '13th Amendment plus', indicating that the political package would go much beyond the 13th Amendment that had been promised by former President J R Jayewardene at the time of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord [ Images ] in 1987. The assurance was never implemented.

The 13th Amendment was to devolve some powers to the local administration in the Tamil minority areas. Many of these powers are already in place in other Sri Lankan provinces but not in the northern and eastern provinces.

Indian leaders have been trying to persuade the Sri Lankan government to begin fulfilling its assurances but there is little visible movement in this regard. President Rajapakse announced that he would set up a parliamentary select committee that would go into the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission but the committee is still to come into existence.

The two main political parties in Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam [ Images ] and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chose to drop out of the parliamentary delegation, but it is indicative of the popular feelings in Tamil Nadu. There is genuine concern over the lack of a political settlement among the people of Tamil Nadu.

There are a sizeable number of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in Tamil Nadu who have not been able to return home as conditions are still very difficult in the Northern Province.

Shubha Singh

Army will be withdrawn, Rajapaksa assures MPs

April 23, 2012
STAFF REPORTER

Sri Lanka upset over Indian UN vote , says MP
Virudhunagar MP Manicka Tagore, who was among the four Congress MPs from Tamil Nadu in the delegation, told reporters here on Sunday that in the North, where the army had been camped in strength, even small events required military approval.Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had given an assurance of withdrawing the army from civilian areas at the earliest to the Indian joint parliamentary delegation, which visited the country between April 16 and 21.

Headed by Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, the committee met several top Sri Lankan Government officials besides Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan and other Tamil leaders.

The main objective of the committee, he said, was to ascertain the progress in implementing programmes being carried out with over Rs. 25,000 crore of Indian assistance. While some progress had been made, he said that there was still a long way to go.

De-mining operations

He said that only 6,500 people were in the internally displaced person (IDP) camps which initially held over 2.90 lakh persons.

The remaining persons would return to their homes once de-mining operations, being carried out with Indian assistance, were completed in the last five villages. The Sri Lankan rehabilitation officials assured that the process would be completed by June 30. While Sri Lanka was still upset over the Indian vote in the United Nations, the Virudhunagar MP said that they understood India's point of view.

India had recently supported a United States-sponsored resolution at the U.N.'s top human rights body censuring Sri Lanka for its alleged rights violations during the war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

When the committee took up the issue of implementing the 13 Amendment, Mr. Rajapaksa had said that it was being taken up by the Parliamentary Select Committee, which the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had so far been reluctant to join.

Devolution of political powers was stressed during the meeting, he said as the TNA leaders had raised the issue of holding elections in North.

On the issue of attacks on Indian fishermen, Mr. Tagore said that they had met Sri Lankan fishermen, who claimed that, their Indian counterparts were trespassing and using sophisticated equipment for deep sea fishing.

“The Indian and Sri Lankan Governments are trying to evolve a mechanism in which the fishermen on both sides could sit together and sort out this issue,” he added.

Madurai Airport

In order to improve people-to-people contacts between the two countries, the Sri Lankan President had also assured the Indian MPs that a flight between Colombo and Madurai would be launched soon.

220 Tamils arrested in SLA combing in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2012, 17:53 GMT]
The occupying Sri Lanka Army and Police, backed by special teams of the ‘Terrorist Investigation Department’ from Colombo, have been entering selected houses in the villages of Trincomalee district, detaining ex-LTTE members since Saturday evening. The SL forces have detained around 220 Tamil males and females from their houses. The detained men have been taken to Welikande and the females have been taken to Poonthoaddam in Vavuniyaa, informed sources told TamilNet Wednesday. Ex-LTTE members who had left the movement more than 10 years ago have also been detained. The arrested also include returnees from Tamil Nadu and those who have been detained earlier and released for reunification with their families. While India and the West talk only about the North nowadays, the operations of genocidal Colombo in the East largely go unnoticed. 

The SL Police said 160 persons have been detained, but civil sources said at least 220 persons have been taken from their houses in Cheanapuram, Ki'liveddi welfare centre, Paddimeadu, Kumpu'rup-piddi, Thampalakaamam, Anpu-vazhi-puram, Paalaiyoottu, Nilaave'li, Panku'lam and Eechchilam-pattu. The search operations have been going on during nights. 

The ‘arrested’ men have been sent to Sevanapitya SLA camp in Welikanda and the women have been sent to Vavuniyaa Poonthoaddam camp, police officials said. 

In the meantime, the SL police sources in Trincomalee said they had received strict orders from Colombo to nab former LTTE members and send them off to ‘rehabilitation programme’. 

Anyone who have ‘failed’ to go through the SL government ‘rehabilitation programme’ would be sent to welfare centres and would be registered as former cadres of LTTE, the SL police sources further said. But, the civil sources said the members who have earlier undergone such programmes have also been detained once again. Only some of the families have received, ‘confirming’ the detention of their family members. Even such papers are said to be ‘unofficial’ and cannot be used in legal context, according to the affected families. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan officials in Colombo have recently gone on record saying that if they were to adhere to the LLRC recommendations, they would have to again detain all the former LTTE members and subject them to ‘rehabilitation programmes’. 

Tamil politicians in the East blame the international community for not voicing for the rights of the Tamil people. 

India and the West purposefully exclude the East in order to divide the country of Eezham Tamils and are engaged in a campaign that return of normalcy and ‘civilian rule’ are problems only of the North, they said.

TNA M Ps travel to see the regime’s Kovil and mosque destruction rampage : will not allow to destroy – Thurai Ratnasingham M P vows

(Lanka-e-News-25.April.2012, 11.45PM) Three TNA M Ps have left yesterday to inspect the Pulayar Kovil in Trincomalee which is the latest target of attack in the series of destructive attacks launched on Kovils and mosques by the Rajapakse regime, according to reports reaching Lanka e news.

The City development Authority under Gotabaya Rajapakse had issued a notice on the 23rd to the 60 year old Kovil situated near the Trincomalee general Hospital that it shall be shifted from there immediately . 

The three TNA MPs , R Sambanthan , Marvai Senadhiraja and Thurai Ratnasingham who visited the Kovil yesterday had held discussions with the Kovil incumbents .

Thurai Ratnasingham M P speaking to Lanka e news said, discussions are being held with the relevant Govt. officials. He added that , it cannot be allowed to destroy a Kovil which is 60 years old and which has attracted numerous devotees. This will not definitely be allowed , he observed.

Discovering The White Van In A Troubled Democracy

April 25, 2012By JC Weliamuna -

JC Weliamuna

In a country that has achieved so much in literacy, education and social development, is it not indeed unfortunate that “White Van” has frightened the entire nation? Appearance of a white van assures a disappearance of some one.  If you Google or do any other internet search  (or any media that is not controlled by the Government) on Sri Lanka, “White Van” resembles the Defence Authorities of our country.  Are we not ashamed of it?

“White van operation” is the most used mode of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka at present. Enforced disappearance violates a range of human rights including  the right to security and dignity of a person, right to a legal personality, humane conditions of detention, right to fair trial, right to a family life and when killed, the right to life. The disappeared person is often tortured and in constant fear for life, removed from the protection of the law, deprived of all their rights and is at the mercy of the captors. Do you respect these rights seriously?  What would you do if you or a family member experiences abduction?

Disappearances are not new to Sri Lankan post-independence history. Between 1970’s and now, there were several insurgencies in the country and most of the disappearances were observed during those insurgencies. The present trend, however, is different. At present, there is neither an insurgency nor an emergency in the country,  but disappearances do take place.  Under whatever the circumstances, there is no legal, social or any other justification to forcefully abduct a person and destroy him/her.  In this article I attempt to analyze a few key governance issues revolving around the “white van culture” in Sri Lanka.

Present trend of abductions       Read More

External Affairs Ministry attacks Rajiva for pointing out failures

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

The internal conflict in the External Affairs Ministry has once again being exposed by its attack on special Presidential envoy, MP Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha for pointing out weaknesses of the Ministry.

Part of an interview given by Wijesinha to the Daily News newspaper had been published in the newspaper.

Casting aside all diplomatic protocol, Additional Secretary of the Ministry, Kshenuka Seneviratne has responded to Wijesinha’s comments on a directive by the supervising MP of the External Affairs Ministry, Sajin Vass Gunawardena.

A senior Ministry official said that the External Affairs Ministry has never issued aggressive public statements in response to critical statements made by members of parliament or any other public representative about the Ministry or its affairs.

Seneviratne has already attacked several governing party members using the powers of MP Namal Rajapaksa and Gunawardena.

On a directive by Gunawradena, Seneviratne also called for explanation from Sri Lanka’s ambassador to France, Dr. Dayan Jayathileke recently and is also scheduled to call for explanation from Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, Tamara Kunanayagam as well.

However, as stated by Wijesinha and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, affairs at the External Affairs Ministry are in a mess.

Muslim mosque at Dambulla cannot be shifted from there now -Lands Minister Janaka Tennekoon

Those who damaged the mosque still scot free – Mujibur Rahman

(Lanka-e-News-25.April.2012, 11.45PM) Minister for land and land development Janaka Bandara Tennekoon said today , that a situation has arisen now where the Muslim mosque situated in the Dambulla ‘sacred area’ cannot be shifted from there. Addressing a special media briefing convened today, the Minister made this revelation . If peaceful discussions had been held preliminarily , this religious place of worship could have been moved out from there , but this issue has been muddled and mucked up now by rabble rousers by their unwarranted misconduct , the Minister stated. The Minister said, he was not associated with the construction or anything else of the mosque , and it was made known by the gazette notification. While a meeting was to be held between the Govt. officials and the other party on this subject on the 23rd , Inamaluwe Thero leading a violent gang attacked the mosque on the 20th , and deprived the chances of resolving this issue amicably , the Minister regretted. The Minister also charged that the police could have easily controlled the ugly and violent situation triggered by these marauders , but the police dismally failed in its duty. Meanwhile , UNP provincial Council member Mujibur Rahman addressing the media at Dambulla said, those who damaged the mosque are still scot free. While no legal action is being taken against the wrongdoers which is primary and paramount , just holding discussions on moving the mosque here and there is meaningless, he pointed out. ‘It is a big question mark as to which garbage bin the rule of law has been thrown into by the rulers if those who even destroy places of religious worship wantonly can live freely without being apprehended and punished.  This Govt. is setting an extremely bad example to society’, he noted . The Muslim Congress political Council is to take a decision on this issue after its

Karunanidhi wants Centre to back ‘Eelam' campaign

CHENNAI, April 26, 2012
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
FRESH SALVO: DMK president M .Karunanidhi, party treasurer M. K. Stalin and former Law Minister M Duraimurugan at a public meeting in Chennai on Wednesday. Photo: A. Muralitharan

Seeks to revive Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation

Stepping up his campaign for carving out a separate ‘Tamil Eelam' in Sri Lanka, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday sought the revival of the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO), an outfit he was associated with in the 1980s, to fight for a separate State for Tamils on Gandhian lines.

Addressing a public meeting, organised by the party in Kolathur constituency, Mr. Karunanidhi, a key partner in the ruling United Progressive Alliance, appealed for the Centre's support for creating Tamil Eelam.

Foreseeing a new rising there, he said the struggle should be peaceful and in the path of non-violence adhered to by S J V Chelvanayakam, or Thanthai Selva, founder of the Federal Party in Sri Lanka.

LIFE'S MISSION

“The Sri Lankan President may reject the idea, but it will be my life's mission hereafter,” the DMK leader said.

Tamils here should raise support for ‘Eelam' by reviving the TESO, of which he was a founder, with the help of leaders such as Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani.

Critical of the way the Opposition was treated in the legislature, Mr. Karunanidhi said that the ruling party should respect and guarantee the freedom to raise peoples' issues in the Assembly.

Earlier, the DMK treasurer, M.K. Stalin, said that the government was resorting to eviction of Opposition members from the Assembly, frequently denying them the opportunity to raise issues or even seek clarifications in the House.

He says that struggle should be peaceful

Critical of ill-treatment of Opposition in Assembly

Sri Lanka seeks fresh probe on NGO massacre

2012-04-24 COLOMBO, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka is to launch a fresh investigation into the massacre of 17 aid workers of a French Non Government Organization (NGO) during the war in 2006, a government official said on Tuesday.

The official from the government legal department, who wished to remain anonymous as he is not authorized to comment on the matter, told Xinhua that the government is awaiting a report from the Attorney General's Department in Sri Lanka before commencing the investigations.

The 17 local aid workers attached to the French humanitarian agency Action Conter la Faim (ACF) were found killed in the eastern town of Muttur soon after the Sri Lankan army launched fresh military operations against the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The rebels blamed the military for the killings but the government denied the claims and blamed the Tamil Tigers over the incident.

A local commission which subsequently investigated the incident concluded that it was hard to determine who was responsible as both the rebels and the military were in that location at the time.

"We are now keen to have a second look at the investigations and re-start preliminary inquiries. The commission report has been given to the Attorney General for a determination on how we can proceed with a judicial inquiry," the government official said.

He said that once the Attorney General issues advice then committee proceedings will begin and testimonials will be recorded on the incident.

ACF was quoted as saying on Monday that it was submitting a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council in advance of a review on Sri Lanka's human rights practices in October this year.

The report highlights that there was political interference in the judicial process of the investigations soon after the massacre and that there was also a lack of transparency in the previous probe.

ACF is calling on the UN Human Rights Council to launch a full international and independent investigation to obtain the truth and identify the perpetrators of the brutal massacre and officially recognize Sri Lanka's violations of its international obligations.

"We would have done a lot by October with regards to the investigations in this case. You must understand it is difficult to reach a conclusion in cases like this soon but we will address this issue," the government official said.

Muslims To Declare An “All Island Black Friday” With A Full Day “Hartal”

April 24, 2012 

By Colombo Telegraph-

At a meeting organised by Muslim Rights Organization in Colombo on April 23 participated by All Ceylon jam Iyyahthul Ulama ( Council of Theologians) (ACJU) President, Ulamas & Muslim politicians of UPFA, UNP and SLMC on the issue of Dambulla Mosque attack,  has been agreed that this Friday the 27^th  to be declared as an “All Island Black Friday” with full day Hartal and protest to be carried out from Dewatagaha Jummah Masjid soon after Jummah Prayers.

Muslim activists, religious and political leaders to meet today (28th) at Hotel Nipon to take the final decision against religious harassments in Sri Lanka organise under new banner. Meanwhile Colombo Telegraph learnt that the government is doing everything to stop the Island wide Hartal.

Tensions flare between religious groups in Sri Lanka over mosque

ABC Radio Australia

Updated 25 April 2012, 14:09 AEST

Sri Lanka's Muslim community has accused radical Buddhists of trying to damage peaceful relations between the country's religious communities.

To listen click here;

Audio 

Tensions flare between religious groups in Sri Lanka over mosque (Credit: ABC) 

A group of Buddhist monks has threatened to demolish a mosque in a sacred area of Dambulla, in central Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister has backed the monks, ordering the mosque's removal.

It's raised concerns the government is pushing a nationalist Sinhalese agenda to divert attention away from the island's troubled economy,

Correspondent: Kara Douglas

Speakers: Dr Ameer Ali, Vice President of the Regional Islamic Council of South East Asia and the Pacific; Lakshman Kiriella, Sri Lankan opposition MP; Dr Jehan Perera, National Peace Council spokesman.

DOUGLAS: Tensions between some members of the Buddhist and Muslim communities in central Sri Lanka came to a head when about two thousand Budhhists, including monks, marched to the Dambulla mosque last week, demanding its demolition. The mosque was later fire bombed. Prayers were cancelled but no one was hurt.

ALI: This threat to demolish the mosque by a group of arch conservative monks is something that is concerning all right minded people in this country and if the government doesn't act soon on this, it's going to escalate.

DOUGLAS: Dr Ameer Ali is Vice President of the Regional Islamic Council of South East Asia and the Pacific. The Sri Lankan expat and Murdoch University academic believes the attack on the Dambulla mosque is part of a wider trend.

ALI: There is a small group of people who are very fanatical and they are claiming that the country belongs to them and that no other community has a legitimate right to exist in this country, and the government should put its foot down and tell these monks that it's not the way. It's a plural society and every community, every religion, every icon must be respected.

DOUGLAS: The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, DM Jayaratne, has ordered the mosque's removal, claiming it's an illegal building. But mosque officials say it's been there for more than 50 years, well before the area was declared a sacred zone 20 years ago. The Sri Lankan opposition MP Lakshman Kiriella has accused the government of supporting extremists.

KIRIELLA: This is not Buddhist activity, these are fascists.

DOUGLAS: Mr Kiriella says if the mosque was built illegally the government should resolve the issue in court.

KIRIELLA: The government must go through the papers and first see if this construction is illegal and if it is so, then they must file papers in court. You can't take the law into your own hands.

DOUGLAS: While most of Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority are Buddhists, Muslims are regarded as the third ethnic group, after the mainly Hindu Tamils. Doctor Jehan Perera from Sri Lanka's National Peace Council believes the government is promoting a Sinhalese nationalist agenda to divert attention away from the country's economic woes.

PERERA: The government distracts the people with Sinhala nationalism and that gives pace to extremist groups among the Sinhalese people. It's just small because they don't do very well in the elections especially when they are not aligned to the government. When they contest by themselves they get less than 5 per cent of the vote, but it gives these Sinhalese extremist groups a special power so that they have a certain licence to do what they want and get away with it.

DOUGLAS: Dr Ameer Ali says Muslims also believe the government's motivation is political.

ALI: They are facing elections very soon so they want to divert the attention of the Buddhist community from the economic difficulties the country is facing. The economics of the country are in serious trouble, so they want to divert the attention on issues like religion so they can win the support.

DOUGLAS: The Sri Lankan Prime Minister issued a statement saying the removal of the Dambulla mosque had the support of local Muslim MP's. But they've rejected the claim. Doctor Jehan Perera says the government risks losing the support of the Muslim community.

PERERA: They are putting a lot of pressure on the Muslim politicians who are in alliance with the government, who are part of the government, to take action. Unless the government takes some sort of remedial action, the government is going to have to pay a price because its support base among the muslims, who have been supportive of this government by and large, is going to erode.

DOUGLAS: Dr Ameer Ali says the issue could have a broader impact on peace in Sri Lanka, just three years after the end of the civil war.

ALI: It's a concern because we thought after the victory the Budhist, the majority community, will be magnaminous and they would approach the minority communities and solve their problems amicably and have serious negotiations, and that is not happening.

DOUGLAS: Sri Lanka's Muslim community has typically shied away from confrontations with the government. But Doctor Ali says the situation at the Dambulla mosque should concern all Sri Lankans.

ALI: I think the Tamils, the Muslims, the Christians, the Muslims, the Hindus and the neutral Budhists must join together and raise their voice against this policy of the government and make them not to promote this sort of fanatical situation in the country.

DOUGLAS: Radio Australia was unable to contact Sri Lanka's Federation of Buddhist Organisations for comment.