Water Is Thicker Than Blood…

By Vijitha Herath, MP-Sunday, August 11, 2013

Blood is thicker than water’ is a German proverb. A popular western expression it generally means that the bonds of family and common ancestry are stronger than the bonds between unrelated people such as friendship. However, masses in Weliweriya shed their blood on behalf of water and made blood ‘thinner’ than water. These valiant people were not prepared to withdraw their struggle for clean drinking water. The government deployed its Army to take three innocent lives who were gunned down and injure scores of others who had their heads smashed and limbs broken to take revenge from the courageous people

Water Is Thicker Than Blood… by nelvely

Ode

Ode

Groundviews

Ranil Senanayake-11 Aug, 2013

The following poem was read out to the Sri Lanka parliament by the Hon Lakshman Jayakody and appeared in the Hansard 1998. It was reprinted in the ‘Anthology of the Galle Literary Festival 2007-2009.’ It is very relevant even today.

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ODE

O, Mother Lanka,
in so many ways have I known thee,
in so many ways adored thee

Ode by nelvely

Buddhist extremists attack 30 year old Grandpass mosque and neighboring Muslim house: 8 victims hospitalized: 1 serious: Police curfew impose

(Lanka-e-News-10.Aug.2013, 11.00PM) Following an attack launched by a Buddhist extremist group include monks who came from outside and iron rods wielding armed groups on a Muslim mosque situated at Swarna Chaitya road , Grandpass , and neighboring Muslim houses , 8 persons have been hospitalized . Among them are two police officers. Of those hospitalized , one victim is in a critical condition.

This attack had been launched today (9), the day following the day (8) of the Muslim festival when a special religious ceremony was in progress in the mosque. As always , the police had given security to the attackers and not taken any action to avert the attack . These attackers have even dragged the Muslim women from their homes and assaulted them with iron rods. One of the victims who is admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) has been struck on the head by an iron rod . Several buildings and few vehicles were also damaged

This mosque that came under attack is about 30 years old , and while it was being constructed in a new building in the vicinity after closing the old one , these Buddhist extremists have opposed this , and launched this lethal attack. It is significant to note that the permission of the Buddha Sasana Ministry, the Ministry of Muslim affairs and the Municipal council had been obtained for this construction at the new site.

Though tension had been taut for the last one month in regard to this issue the officials have taken no notice of it ; and when large suspicious groups from outside congregated at this venue today , the police were informed , yet no pre emptive action had been been taken by the police to prevent this attack.

Finally even after these hooligans started attacking fiercely , the police instead of taking appropriate action to quell the violence launched had only given protection to them , it is reported.

By now the army had been summoned. Police curfew has been imposed in the Grandpass police area till 7 am tomorrow

(Mosque after the attack in below)

Reflections Of A Buddhist Intellect: A Light In Dark Times

By Dayan Jayatilleka -August 11, 2013 |

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

A distinguished Sri Lankan, Dr Thakshan Fernando, died last Thursday in New Zealand at the age of 81. A Muslim place of worship was attacked on the day after Eid, in Grandpass, Colombo, on Saturday. What is the connection?

The distinguished Sri Lankan in question, a former student of Ananda College and a Buddhist of Sinhalese ethnic origin, had an understanding of Buddhism and a commitment to interreligious coexistence and cultural fusion that was the complete and explicit anti-thesis of the ideology of intolerant, fundamentalist, fanatical ‘Sinhala Buddhism’. Dr Fernando wove his understanding of the Buddha and the Dhamma in one of the most brilliant trans-cultural presentations I have read on the subject, even during my years at the UNESCO.

Dr Thakshan Fernando retired as Director of Mental Health of the Ministry of Health of New Zealand. Having obtained a fellowship in general medicine to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Paris in the early 1970s, he switched his field to psychiatry and was Senior Lecturer in Psychological Medicine and Consultant Psychiatrist in Wellington, New Zealand.  The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) awarded him somewhere in the 1990s, the College Citation to honour his special contribution to Psychiatry and the RANZCP.

He refused one of New Zealand’s highest honours because it would be from the Queen, and Thakshan had been a principled anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist most of his life. An exceedingly well-read man of the Left, he was the doctor of the Cuban Embassy when it opened in Colombo and had been close to the leaders of the Communist Party. He evolved into a left liberal.Read More

Grandpass: parties agree to settlement All concerned parties including the Buddhist and Muslim clergy have agreed to amicably resolve the issues that led to Saturday night’s attack in Grandpass, where a newly built Muslim praying Centre was damaged. The parties had decided to develop the old Mosque and remove the newly built prayer centre, sources said. The decision has been taken following a meeting held at the Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry, Colombo 02. The meeting was attended by JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka, Western Province governor Alavi Maulana, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister Rishad Badhiutheen, Minister Rauff Hakeem, Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon and Buddhist and Muslim Clergy. Speaking after the meeting, JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka told reporters that the government and authorities would help to develop the old mosque. Parties had also agreed to remove a Bo tree that was near the mosque. Western Province governor Alavi Maulana said an outside gang had attacked an old mosque in Grandpas area making a threat to the harmony between the communities in the area. (YP & LSP) Read more..

Sri Lanka Buddhist mob attacks Colombo mosque

11 August 2013 

Hardline Buddhist groups have mounted a campaign against Muslim and Christian targets

Continue reading the main story

A Buddhist mob has attacked a mosque in the Grandpass area of the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, leaving at least five people injured.

Buddhists and Muslims clashed after the attack, and police imposed a curfew in the area.

Last month, a group of Buddhist monks had protested near the mosque, demanding it be relocated.

In recent months, hardline Buddhist groups have mounted a campaign against Muslim and Christian targets.

Several houses were also damaged in Saturday's clashes. Two of the injured were policemen guarding the mosque.

A Muslim resident of the area said that a mob threw stones at the mosque when worshippers were performing evening prayers, the BBC's Azzam Ameen reports from Colombo.

The police and special task force commandos were dispatched to the area and have been able to bring the situation under control, a police spokesman told the BBC.

Buddhists monks had reportedly protested against the presence of the mosque but had agreed to allow Muslims to continue praying there until the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

Several houses were also damaged in Saturday's clashes

But area Muslims says Sri Lanka's religious affairs ministry had given them permission to continue using the site and had also provided special police security due to the threat of possible attacks.

Fears of persecution

The past year has seen mounting religious tension in the country as hardline Buddhist groups have attacked mosques and Muslim-owned businesses, as well as churches and clergy.

In February, one group also called for the abolition of the Muslim halal system of certifying foods and other goods.

Buddhist hardliners accuse Muslims and Christians of promoting extremism and trying to convert Buddhists to their own faiths.

Both Muslims and Christians have denied the accusations, correspondents report.

The Buddhist Sinhalese community makes up three-quarters of Sri Lanka's population of 20 million.

During Sri Lanka's bitter civil war, the Muslims - a small Tamil-speaking minority, about 9% of the population - kept a low profile, but many now fear that ethnic majority hardliners are trying to target them.

Lay community, Buddhism, and the role of virtuous monks in Sri Lanka

Lay community, Buddhism, and the role of virtuous monks in Sri Lanka

Image courtesy chosinhvien.info

Groundviews 

Thrishantha Nanayakkara-11 Aug, 2013I threw the pot containing my father’s ash to the sea and watched how it drifted away in the current. I had already made up my mind. He was 81 years old, he did his best to serve the society as a teacher, and he saw the fruits of his dedication to raise us. 

Lay Community, Buddhism, And the Role of Virtuous Monks in Sri Lanka by nelvely

U.S. Embassy Concerned over Grandpass Mosque Attack

August 11, 2013

The United States Embassy is concerned by the attack on Grandpass Mosque on August 10.  This incident is particularly troubling in light of a number of recent attacks against the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. Targeting any place of worship should never be permitted and we urge calm from all sides.  We call for prosecution of perpetrators in this attack and an end to religious-based violence.  The right of all Sri Lankans to practice the religion of their choice should be protected.

MUSLIM COUNCIL OF SRI LANKA CONDEMNS ATTACK ON GRANDPASS MOSQUE

August 11, 2013 

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) today condemned the attack carried out on a mosque in Grandpass by “some racist elements” while Muslims had been engaging in prayers last night. 

The organization called upon the President to immediately order the Police and the defense authorities to maintain law and order and to bring the perpetrators to justice without prejudice or favor. 

It claimed that the attack on the mosque had taken place in the presence of a large number of Police personnel including some senior police officials and that their “failure to intervene” is a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of Muslims in Sri Lanka.

“This can also set a dangerous precedent for future violence and lawlessness in the country,” said the President of MCSL, N.M. Ameen, in statement issued today.

It is regrettable that the hate speeches and hate campaigns continue to grow unabated, he said. 

The MCSL, an umbrella organisation of Muslim civil society groups, said Muslims and their leadership have shown great restraint amidst numerous provocations by a number of extremist groups in Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Balangoda, Mahiyangana and several other locations during the past several months. 

The MCSL said it has brought this to the attention of the President, the Defense Secretary, the Inspector General of Police, and other defense officials on numerous occasions in the past. 

“We once again urge the relevant authorities to take immediate action to reign in these elements who have taken the law into their hands.” Failure on the part of the Police to ensure law and order will result in further violence and drag the country in to another period of turmoil, the statement said. 

The MCSL also assured the President its full cooperation and support in his attempt to create a peaceful Sri Lanka for all her citizens.

Attacked Mosque Released The Original Letter Of Permission For Relocation

The Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs authorised the functioning of the ‘new’ mosque premises that was attacked last night in a letter dated as recently as 8 August 2013, the Colombo Telegraph learns.

Despite attempts by violent mobs led by Buddhist monks who attacked the prayer centre during sunset prayers last evening to claim the three storey structure on Swarna Chaithya Road in Grandpass was an unauthorised building, a letter from the Ministry claims that it had permitted the functioning of the mosque at its new premises at NO 158 after the old Molawatte mosque on No 166 of the same road had been acquired by order of the UDA.

The letter signed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs M.K. Dissanayake explicitly says that following the UDA takeover, the mosque situated at 166 Swarna Chaithya Road is permitted to continue its functions at the new premises at No. 158 of the same road.

Read More

For Whom The Bell Tolls – Anti Buddhist Behaviour

By Gotamini Hathurusinghe -

The Current Issue-August 11, 2013 

Sri Lanka has seen yet another incident of violent behavior motivated by hate, greed and arrogance. Theattack on the Masjid (Prayer Centre) on Swarna Chaitya Road, Grandpass, during prayers no less and just after the Holy month of Ramadan is a despicable act by one of the so called Buddhist armies, formed to protect “Sinhala Buddhism”, as the Buddhist “temple” bell rang out..

New Kind Of Buddhism

One needs to look for this new kind of Buddhism, which is a hybrid of ethno religious nonsense. Why do real Buddhist feel apologetic? Why do “real” moderate Buddhists feel that the behavior of Bodu Bala Sena, Ravana Balaya  and Sihala Ravaya is highly unacceptable? It is simply because the very names are anti Buddhist as there is no force in Buddhism. Let us call them the Buddhist Armies as that is exactly their behavior. Very similar to the wars of crosses in the past. Ironically Buddhism which was never given at the point of a sword, today sees this great philosophy being used by force to practically ethnic cleanse areas to gain territory for the Sinhala Buddhist cause, calling it the protection and restoration of sacred areas, protection of Buddhists against exploitation of halal certification and citing various other reasons.

Sihala Ravaya exchanging words with members of the Muslim community in Grandpass last week.

The attack on this mosque in Grandpass and surrounding houses could not have been done with the fervor of protecting the Sinhalese Buddhists. Nor could these activities be done  without state patronage and support, with blatant disregard for communities who live alongside each other. It is quite clear therefore that the Buddhists, a majority who are moderates need to raise our VOICES – loud!

Incidents Against Muslims And Religions Other Than Buddhism

This incident brings the count to over 160 incidents against Muslims by the Buddhist Armies, in the last six months.  The  incidents are a mix, most being attacks on religious places of worship, business establishments, houses and personal attacks. The Centre for Policy Alternatives has compiled another report on Attacks on Places of Religious Worship (only), which collates the descriptions of the attacks on mosques, churches and kovils, totaling 65 since the end of the war from 2009 to March 2013.

The Story Of The Water War                               Read More

Flinging the gauntlet down to the Sinhala people

Sunday, August 11, 2013

As the full facts of the mayhem at Weliweriya came to light this week, the brutalities inflicted by the army on protestors and bystanders caught in the melee, was horrifyingly inevitable. It was a natural culmination of all that we had allowed to happen in the preceding years through clear complicity in applauding a Government bloated with arrogance and through equally clear omission coupled with a blind refusal to acknowledge the monster for what it has become.

‘Did they not know of the laws of war?’

Flinging the Gauntlet Down to the Sinhala People by nelvely

HAKEEM CONCERNED OVER INACTION ON MOSQUE ATTACKS

August 11, 2013 

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem has expressed concern over the lack of action that has been taken so far regarding repeated attacks on mosques, a spokesman said.

A violent mob had attacked a mosque in the Grandpass area last night, leaving at least five people injured and damaging several nearby houses.

Police curfew imposed in Grandpass was lifted this morning as scores of police, including anti-riot squads and elite Special Task Force commandos, continue to remain on alert in the area.

Minister Rauf Hakeen had been engaging in election campaigning in Kandy at the time of the incident in Grandpass, the SLMC leader’s media spokesman Dr. A. R. A. Hafeez told Ada Derana.

He stated that the minister had immediately contacted the OIC of the Grandpass Police Station to inquire regarding the incident and steps taken to control it.

Minister Rauf Hakeem also called the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to request for tight security for the mosque in Grandpass as well as nearby homes and an extensive investigation into the attack.   

The IGP in turn had assured that necessary police protection will be provided to the area and that a ‘peace committee’ would convene in Grandpass today to discuss the issue and prevent such incidents from happening in the future. 

Hekeem’s spokesman further said that the SLMC leader had cut short campaign activities for the upcoming Provincial Council election and had travelled back to Colombo last night, however was unable to visit Grandpass due to the curfew imposed by police.

The minister has also temporarily canceled SLMC campaign activities and is expected to hold talks with all Muslim Ministers in the country, Dr. Hafeez said.

Aiming At The Wrong Target: BBS On “Unfortunate Attack On Grandpass”

August 11, 2013 |

“After the unfortunate incident took place in Grandpass some media institutes published to show that indirectly Bodu Bala Sena has some link to this situation. Even it was said that Bodu Bala Sena has a practice of deny of such attacks after the incidents.” says Dilanthe Withanage, the Chief Executive Officer of the Bodu Bala Sena.

Sending an email to the Colombo Telegraph he said; “We were highlighted with incidents such as No Limit, Fashion Bug etc. Now we are targeting with Grandpass incident in Colombo.”

We published below the email in full;

After the unfortunate incident took place in Grandpass some media institutes published to show that indirectly Bodu Bala Sena has some link to this situation. Even it was said that Bodu Bala Sena has a practice of deny of such attacks after the incidents.

Dilanthe Vithanage and a BBS monk

We feel it is very wrong to aim at us in media in such situations without proper evidence . At the same time it prevents public to know about the real culprits. In the past in international media it was reported that BBS was involved in attacking Muslims and mosques in Kandy, Dambulla, Anuradhapura etc. Destroying Churches in Madakalapuwa  and other places. Then we were highlighted with incidents such as No Limit, Fashion Bug etc. Now we are targeting with Grandpass incident in Colombo.

We have to say that we never promote or involved in Violence. We never got involved in any of the above mentioned attacks. What Bodu Bala Sena did in the past and doing in the present are all public activities. We never hide and fight. We struggle always openly. We criticize things openly. We criticize government leaders and opposition leaders, we criticize Buddhist Leaders as well as Other Religious leaders when the lie or doing wrong things. We always struggle against any form of extremism. We do not worry whether it is Sinhala or Tamil or Muslim extremism.Read More

Gota orders Grandpass clash

Details

 

Created On Sunday, 11 August 2013 12:24

Category: General

The clash between Muslims and Sinhala Biuddhists in Grandpass was caused by a message sent by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to a monk affiliated to the Sihala Ravaya organization.

The Defence Secretary in his message has stated that his brother, the President has in writing to Deputy Minister Faizer Musthapha given permission to operate the old and new mosque in Grandpass. The message has also stated that necessary support would be given for the organization to carry out appropriate steps with regard to the decision.
Delighted by the message, the chief incumbent of the Grandpass temple who is also a member of the Sihala Ravaya had rung the temple bell to summon the dayakas (devotees) of the temple. The group had then pelted stones at the mosque causing damage to the premises.
Several people were injured in the clash and police curfew was imposed till Sunday morning. Sources say that over 40 properties in the area have been damaged by the clash.
Following is the background story to the clash:
A new Muslim mosque has been set up between the old Muslim mosque in Grandpass and the Buddhist temple. The temple had opposed the setting up of the new mosque. The Muslims have informed that the mosque would be removed soon after the end of Ramazan. However, Deputy Minister Faizer Musthapha has got a written approval from the President to operate both mosques and he had handed over the letter to the mosque on the day of the Ramazan festival. The deputy minister had got the letter in a bid to get the support of the Muslims in the Colombo Central electorate.
Angered by the move, the Defence Secretary had sent out the message to Sihala Ravaya. A group of extremist Buddhists had then started to pelt stones at the mosque and cause damage to it with the support of Sihala Ravaya and the Defence Secretary’s blessings.
Colombo Mayor, A.J.M. Muzammil had spoken to the Defence Secretary to get the situation under control. However, the Defence Secretary has said that he had no control over the matter or even the chief incumbent of the temple. The mayor was asked to find an alternative solution.
While the Sihala Ravaya is supported by the Defence Secretary to engage in the clash on behalf of the Sinhala Buddhist extremists, Deputy Minister Faizer Musthapha with the backing of the President is supporting the Muslim groups in Grandpass.
According to political analysts, the Rajapaksas adre trying to use this clash in Grandpass to overcome issues like the Weliweriya incident, the milk powder issue, the increased electricity tariffs and other problems faced by the country.

MUSLIM MINISTERS CONDEMN ‘ANTI-NATIONAL’ ACT OF VIOLENCE IN GRANDPASS

August 11, 2013 

Muslim Minister of the Sri Lankan Government today expressed their unequivocal condemnation of the “premeditated and planned” attack on a mosque in Grandpass and called for an independent investigation.

Issuing a joint statement the Ministers urged the President to immediately conduct an independent investigation into this “sad and dastardly act of violence” inflicted on a peaceful congregation of devotees assembled in the sacred sanctuary of a mosque.

They called upon the President to instruct law enforcement agencies to apprehend and punish the perpetrators of this “anti-national act.”

The Muslim Ministers also stated that yesterday’s incident is views as the most recent sequel to a chain of events that have occurred in the country for several months.

“The lukewarm and ineffective measures taken by the law enforcement agencies on previous occasions when Muslim communities and their mosques were deliberately attacked seem to have emboldened some extremist groups who seem determined to create chaos in the country that is still in search of national reconciliation after a prolonged war,” the statement said.

They called on the President and the government to take decisive action to halt the trend of “openly espousing religious hatred” towards the Muslim community and also to set up a credible institutional mechanism to ensure inter religious harmony.

The joint statement was signed by Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, Minister Rauf Hakeem, Minister Rishad Bathiyutheen, Minister A.L.M. Athaulla, Minister Basheer Segu Dawood, Deputy Minister M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha and Deputy Minister A.R.M. Abdul Cader.

Joint Statement of the Muslim Ministers of the Government of Sri Lanka

Well-Planned Attack With Police Connivance Launched Against Molawatte Mosque in Grandpass During Maghrib Prayers

11 August 2013, 11:21 am

ByD.B.S.JEYARAJ

pic courtesy of: BBC Sinhala

Muslim Youths Rally to Defend their “Abode of Allah”.

A well –planned dastardly attack was launched by armed Buddhist extremists against an Islamic Mosque in the Sri Lankan Capital of Colombo on Saturday August 10th 2013 while “Maghrib”(After Sunset) prayers were in progress

The attack conducted with Police connivance against the Mosque and some Muslim residences in the vicinity came just one day after adherents of the Islamic faith celebrated “Eid Ul Fitr” (feast of the breaking the fast) known generally in Tamil as “Nonbupperunaal”.

Well-Planned Attack With Police Connivance Launched Against Molawatte Mosque in Grandpass During Maghrib Pr... by nelvely

From The Hartal Of 1953 To Weliweriya Bala Tampoe And The Inspiration For Struggle

Bala Tampoe

By Ahilan Kadirgamar -August 11, 2013 

Ahilan Kadirgamar

“The government raised the price of rice in the confidence that this measure would meet with no real resistance from the people, even though they may protest against it… On 12 August the workers and rural poor took to the streets, smashed buses, uprooted railway lines and telegraph posts, stopped railway trains, blocked roads, fought the police in numerous places, and demonstrated their power and anger in a hundred other ways. The government, struck with terror, proclaimed a State of Emergency, and then sent the price of rice tumbling down. This was not all. Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake, shaken out of his senses, resigned soon after… The Hartal taught other and no less important lessons. It taught the urban working class that their brothers and sisters of the village are indeed mighty allies in any direct struggle. It taught both the workers and the rural poor that, together, they are fully capable of challenging and even smashing the forces of the capitalist state. … The masses will enter the next great struggle with the confidence they have gained from the Hartal. But the next struggle will be against a more experienced and better prepared enemy.” — Bala Tampoe, ‘Some Lessons of the Hartal’ written in 1956

On a recent morning, I met again with ninety one year old Bala Tampoe, General Secretary of Ceylon Mercantile Union (CMU) at his seaside office. I was meeting Bala to learn about the challenges facing trade unions and to understand the history of the labour movement. Some of us, activists and researchers, belonging to the recently formed voluntary Collective for Economic Democratisation, which strives for political economic analysis in solidarity with progressive struggles, have been engaging the legacy of the Great Hartal sixty years ago and its relevance today. In the interview, Bala spoke of the anti-colonial struggle and decolonisation, his entry into the LSSP underground in 1941, his early career as a lecturer in agriculture, his emergence as a trade union leader in 1948 and his decades of organising the working class which continues to this day. He articulated the historical challenges for the trade union movement, their problematic relationship to political parties and the manner in which parliamentarianism serves an exploitative capitalist system.

Rice and Water                              Read More