Sri Lanka: Muslims fear more attacks during Friday prayers

Since violence erupted, allegations have surfaced that security forces are failing to arrest perpetrators of attacks.

8 Mar 2018

Sri Lankan Muslims say they fear being attacked during Friday prayers by Sinhalese Buddhists, amid accusations that security forces are failing to take action against marauding mobs.

Despite a state of emergency and a curfew to curtail violence that broke out last weekend between Muslims and Buddhists in the central district of Kandy, concerns abound that attacks will continue in Sri Lanka.

"I am living in fear and could not sleep the whole night as all the men from my family have gone out to protect us and we are left in the home," Fathima Rizka, a 25-year-old from Kandy, told Al Jazeera.

"The police are not protecting us. They are just standing by while more attacks are being carried out … We don't know what will happen next."

On Thursday, the streets of most towns in Kandy were empty, except for police and soldiers. The violence and heavy security presence are largely limited to Sri Lanka's central hills.

Rizka said word is spreading among the Muslim community in Kandy that Buddhists are planning attacks in the area during Friday prayers.

WATCH: Violence continues in Sri Lanka despite emergency decree (2:40)

"Special arrangements are being made by the community to ensure that there are men who will pray at a different time to ensure that women and children are not left vulnerably alone in their homes," she said.

Enabling the mobs?

The latest communal violence began on Sunday, when a man from the mainly Buddhist Sinhalese majority was beaten to death by Muslim men over a traffic accident, in Teledeniya town in Kandy.
The following day, hundreds of Sinhala Buddhists converged on the district and attacked dozens of Muslim businesses, houses and mosques. Many establishments were set ablaze.

Since the violence erupted, there have been repeated allegations that security forces have failed to arrest the perpetrators of attacks.

"The government is saying that they will do more to crack down against the mobs, but the truth on the ground is that Muslims do not feel protected. We feel that there is someone involved in a high position who is enabling the mobs to get away with the crimes against our community," said Mohamed, 58, who asked that his surname not be published for security reasons.

The husband and father of two told Al Jazeera that Muslim residents are taking security matters into their own hands.

"We cannot let our wives, mothers and sisters cry in fear, watching our livelihoods burn before our eyes while those in authority refuse to sincerely help us," he said.

"We have to take matters into our own hands by standing outside our properties and in our towns to ensure the safety of our families, because the police are simply not keeping law and order intact."

Al Jazeera attempted to contact Kandy's police Inspector-General Pujith Jayasundra for comment, but a person answering the phone at his office said he was "unavailable for comment on the accusations", and to call back on Friday.

Few 'extremists'

Ashar Careem, 36, from Kattunkudy town, said the Buddhist community at large is not to blame for the attacks.

"The majority of the Sinhalese community are peace-loving and kind-hearted, except these few extremists and politicians," he said.

"Muslims generally have been restrained over the years through all the violence and destruction posed against us. Police and the successive governments had more than enough time to crack down on these racist elements and they have had ample evidence, but nothing has been done so far while our lives go up in smoke.

"It is the sheer incompetence of the authorities and I hold them responsible for the situation today. Our love for this country and patriotism is not second to anyone else's," said Careem.
The government has suspended internet services in the area and blocked access to Facebook and other social media - including WhatsApp and Viber - in an attempt to halt organisers from planning more violence and spreading false rumours.

Religious violence is not new to the South Asian island nation of 21 million people. An anti-Muslim campaign was launched by hardline Buddhists following deadly riots in Aluthgama in June 2014.
President Maithripala Siresena had vowed to investigate anti-Muslim crimes after assuming power in 2015, but no significant progress has been reported so far.

Sri Lanka: Save this country from the racist Terrorists

Any form of violence in a country is a national issue and naturally will concern everyone. 

by Mass L. Usuf-Mar 10, 2018

( March 9, 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Our country shamelessly adds one more dark day in its march towards creating an anarchist society. On the one hand it boasts as upholding the noble teachings of Buddha while on the other acting exactly contrary to the Dhamma.  Innocent civilian Muslim population was viciously attacked indiscriminately on 05thMarch 2018 in several places of the Central Province of Sri Lanka including the villages of Digana, Teldeniya, Udispattuwa and Medamahanuwara. The extent of damage has yet to be assessed. So far, the death of a Muslim youth has been reported.  The place resembles a war-torn area with business premises and houses totally burnt down others half burnt.  Muslims mosques vandalised and desecrated. The well organised and planned pogrom was apparently executed in coordination with the support and logistics of a multitude of Sinhala racist organisations.

Notable Monks

The presence of several monks who in the past have had the notoriety of being the architects of violence and disharmony were very conspicuous.  The presence of these monks was a harbinger of what was to come in the evening of 5th March.  It may also be technical to ask if their presence was tacit approval for anything that followed. One of such persons was the Venerable Galaboda Atthe Gnanasara who has close links with Wirathu the terror monk of Burma. Gnanasara thero is widely believed to be the instigator of the death and destruction brought upon the Muslim people in Aluthgama in the South of the island. The BBC headline on 16 June 2014 the day of that massacre was, “Sri Lanka Muslims killed in Aluthgama clashes with Buddhists”.  By the way there are several criminal cases pending against this monk and he is presently on bail.

It may be of interest to refer to a news item in the website of President Maithripala Sirisena. It says, “all must unite together to conquer the challenges against the peace and reconciliation.”  It is indescribable that in the face of a bold and determined statement like this, the President had failed to act decisively on an easily preventable spree of destruction perpetrated yesterday. Funnily enough in the aftermath he issues the bureaucratic statement that he has called for an independent investigation.

Back to Back Attack 

As for the Prime Minister, there is no scarcity for his proclamations.  In his Independence Day Message last month, he stated, “Since being elected to power, our Government has consistently focused on creating the right social and political climate needed to build a society that is indeed free and stable.”  What we witnessed in the past few months hardly reflects on his message.  His statement can now be termed as empty rhetoric.

What is incredible is that these events did not take place between long intervals.  The attack of 5th March was back to back to the attack in Ampara on 27th February which is in the Eastern Province.  Police inaction was reported in the Ampara violence.  Also, Police had underplayed the seriousness of the crimes committed by the suspects, in their report to the courts.  So much so that the Prime Minister ordered a probe into the matter.  (Please read my article in the Sri Lanka Guardian, “The Non-Existent ‘Wanda Pethi’ in Sri Lanka” of 05 March 2018).

Connecting The Dots

The grave crime abstract of the Sri Lanka Police for the year 2017 reported the number of homicides in Sri Lanka as 452.  An average of 1.2 deaths every day.  In how many of these funeral houses did we see Gnanasara Thero, Sumana Ampitiya Thero and several other theros visiting to pay condolences except those who belong to that village temple?

On Jan 16, 2018, the local newspapers reported of a 14-year-old girl gang raped by three young men in Tissamaharama.  The following day, the victim’s family found her hanging from a tree. Did any of these theros come to pay their last respects to this 14-year-old little girl?

On Jan 17, 2018 Police discover the body of young woman from Hambegamuwa sewage pit as reported in one newspaper.  The victim was a 23-year-old woman who is believed to have been killed by her husband.  The body had been recovered from a sewage pit in the Kandiyapita area in Hambegamuwa.  Gruesome indeed are the circumstances.  Did any of these theros come to offer their sympathies on the death of this young 23-year-old woman?

On Feb 27, 2018, the body of a nine-year-old boy from Iranawila, Chilaw, who was missing for two days, was found in a jungle area.  The boy was a grade 04 student from the Iranawila Vidyalaya.  He had been identified as Juwan Jedige Susin Nirmal.  The body of the child had been sexually abused before the murder. Did any of these theros come to commiserate with the parents of this nine-year-old whose pervading brightness was extinguished by this criminal?

Common And Uncommon Denominator 

An analysis of the above clearly indicates that the perpetrators of these ghastly inhuman acts were all Sinhalese people.  Therefore, it does not matter whether it is a woman, a young girl or a little nine-year-old angel.  Since the crimes were committed by Sinhalese irrespective of the type of killing, the age of the victim and the grisly circumstances of the killing are all of lesser consequences.  No Gnanasaras thero, no Ampitiya Sumana thero and no several other theros.  Also, no ‘patriotic’ Sinhala Buddhist racists and other good for nothing jobless fellows.

What happened in Theldeniya was that it was the Muslims who had assaulted the victim who later succumbed to his injuries.  The victim happens to be 41-year-old Sinhalese man.  It has to be emphasised that it was not a racially motivated attack.  The reason was related to a traffic issue – an accident or deliberate obstruction of the right of way as variously alleged. Whatever be the reason these Muslims have no right to take the law into their hands.  By their criminal act an innocent man’s death was caused. From an Islamic point of view, they are answerable to God for this crime which is considered as one of the gravest crime.  In Islam it does not matter if the deceased is a Muslim or non-Muslim, wanton taking of another innocent human being’s life is a crime for which among other legal consideration the punishment is death.  Anyway, the matter is under investigation.

Serious Problem

Any form of violence in a country is a national issue and naturally will concern everyone. Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna Leader Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s spectacular speech in Parliament literally put to shame those in authority who are dragging their feet. He said the National Intelligence Bureau and the Criminal Investigation Department both are under government control.  How could the government plead ignorance that they did not foresee the possibility of a carnage?  It is necessary that the former President Mahinda Rajapakse also comes out with a strong statement condemning this violence.  The Pohottuwa Party also should also express their displeasure at the continuing violence.  It is at a time like this that the Venerable Mahanayakes have a great responsibility to voice their concern and preach to these misguided youths to stop behaving like lunatics.  The venerable Mahanayakes must necessarily emphasise to the Sinhala masses not to follow the gross musa vada (falsehood) that these criminals are spreading on the social media.  By this they incite innocent Sinhala youth towards violence and poison the minds of the people.

Sambandan Aiya of the Tamil National Alliance for the first time made a statement after the Ampara attack.  One more is required for the current situation too. The list does not end there.  There are several civil rights movements, non-governmental organisations and artists groups etc. you cannot afford to remain silent. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka cannot simply be a spectator on the face of criminal activities taking place.  A Godly message of love from the Catholic Archbishop would be welcome too. Most importantly the educated Sinhalese people.  Are you all prisoners of conscience, imprisoned by these racists and their false propaganda?  Surely you all are intelligent enough not to be sucked into the blatant false these unsocial elements are propagating.  Come out of your cocoons and tell these misguided youths that you do not condone their acts.

Arrest Them, Even If It Be a Thousand

The commitment towards peace, reconciliation and co-existence of the President, Prime Minister cum Minister for Law and Order and, the Inspector general of Police are questionable.  They are collectively wearing three stars for their stellar performance in Gintota, Ampara and now Digana.  They must take full responsibility for not taking decisive action to prevent an easily preventable disaster. This is a dereliction of duty. These incumbents must address this issue seriously and take real positive steps towards eliminating the curse of racism.

Most of these activists who are creating chaos are on conditional bail.  They have already violated their bail conditions and could be easily taken into custody.  Why is that not happening?  How come despite the curfew these thugs are going around various places and causing damage to properties?  The Muslims are asking if the curfew is imposed only for the Muslims.  First and foremost, urgently establish the RULE OF LAW.  If a thousand people have to be arrested, arrest them.  The law of the land is supreme.

Save this country and its people from going down the slippery slope.

On Kandy: How Myths about Minorities Underlie Violence

Featured image from Colombo Gazette

SHAMARA WETTIMUNY-03/09/2018

A man belonging to the majority ethnic group was attacked by a youth from the minority ethnic group. Two days later, the mortally wounded man succumbed to his injuries and dies. Within hours, angry mobs physically attacked members of the minority community, looting their businesses, and setting fire to their homes and places of worship. This was Kristallnacht, or the Night of the Broken Glass in Nazi Germany, 9-10 November 1938. Sound familiar?

On 22 February 2018, a Sinhalese man was seriously injured in an attack by a group of Muslim men in Kandy. The victim passed away due to his injuries on 3 March. By the evening of 4 March, violent mobs began to target Muslim-owned homes, businesses and mosques. Attacks against Muslim-owned properties and mosques, and outpourings of speech inciting violence against Muslims on social media continued for a number of days. One week prior to the events in Kandy, violence targeting Muslim-owned businesses in Ampara broke out in response to rumours that Muslim restaurants served food containing ‘sterilisation pills’ to Sinhalese patrons. The instigators of the violence claimed that Muslims were attempting to prevent Sinhalese from procreation, and insinuated that Muslims aimed to out-populate the Sinhalese.

It is important not to overstate parallels. Scapegoating of minorities often takes place on a spectrum – with the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany at the extreme end of that spectrum. However, comparing the scapegoating of Jews in Germany and Muslims in Sri Lanka may be important if we are to recognise that Sri Lanka is on a slippery slope towards that extreme end. Besides, let us not forget that in 1915 – the same year a nationwide anti-Muslim pogrom took place in Ceylon – Sinhala-Buddhist ideologue Anagarika Dharmapala described Muslims as ‘Shylockian’ in their methods to become ‘prosperous like Jews’.

The major difference between the events of Kandy and Kristallnacht concerned the role of the state. The Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels made a speech in response to the death of the German citizen on 9 November, claiming ‘the Führer has decided that … demonstrations should not be prepared or organized by the Party, but insofar as they erupt spontaneously, they are not to be hampered.’ This was taken as carte blanche for Nazi loyalists as well ordinary citizens to take their revenge on Jews across Germany (as well as in Austria and the Sudetenland). We do not see such blatant carte blanche in Sri Lanka today. But we have in the past – during the anti-Tamil pogrom of 1983, and to a large extent, during the anti-Muslim riots of 2014.

The major similarities between Kandy and Kristallnacht, however, are worth noting. Apart from the factual similarities in the trigger events, the wider social phenomenon of scapegoating is strikingly similar. The first similarity concerns economic scapegoating of the targeted minority community. The second involves racist population politics.

First, Muslims are scapegoated in Sri Lanka by representing them as a threat to Sinhala-Buddhist economic dominance. Muslims are resented for their perceived economic success particularly in times of economic hardship. Ahilan Kadirgamar, in an article published a few years ago, discusses precisely this tendency to target economically successful minorities during times of economic recession. Similarly, Jews were widely resented in Nazi Germany (and previously during the Weimar Era) for their economic strength, and for being relatively unscathed by the impacts of the financial crisis that rocked Germany between 1929 and 1933.

Second, the Muslim population in Sri Lanka is perceived to have grown disproportionately compared to other ethno-religious groups, thereby presenting a numerical threat to the demographic dominance of the Sinhala-Buddhist community. As seen in Ampara, this perceived threat is exploited by militant groups that have spread propaganda on Muslim plans to ‘sterilise’ the Sinhalese. Population politics were also significant in Nazi Germany, but they were clearly more extreme. Marriages between Aryans and Jews were prohibited by law in 1935 to ensure the ‘purity’ of the Aryan race. Moreover, programmes were designed to reduce the Jewish population – first through forced emigration, and eventually through extermination. While it is easy to dismiss these comparisons as overstated, it is not difficult to imagine Muslims being compelled to flee Sri Lanka in the future should violence against them continue with impunity.

The current context in Sri Lanka suggests that, as in Nazi Germany, the rhetoric of ultra-nationalist militant groups resonates with large segments of the population. Meanwhile, politicians and law enforcement actors in Sri Lanka have failed to take decisive action against perpetrators of violence. Moreover, militant nationalist groups such as the Bodu Bala Sena and Sinhala Ravaya might well be emboldened to incite ethno-religious violence in light of the impunity they have enjoyed since the Aluthgama riots of 2014. Sri Lanka has not deteriorated into the blatantly fascist milieu that was witnessed in Nazi Germany. Yet if we are not aware of what lies ahead at the extreme end of the spectrum, we risk reaching a point of no return.


Editor’s Note: Also read “Smart Phones and stupid Governments: Blocking Social Media as Sri Lanka burns” and “The Beast Rides Again“

Buddhist Monk Spreads Anti-Muslim Venom Amid Social Media Ban

MARCH 9, 2018

Even though the Sri Lankan government has banned social media, Islamophobes are still spreading anti-Muslim venom on various social media platforms, Colombo Telegraph observed.

For instance a Buddhist monk called Budhdha Rakkhitha has yesterday uploaded the following video clip on his Facebook page and threatened Muslims again. The racist video clip, full of anti-Muslim rhetoric, is currently going viral in certain social media circles.

On 7th March, the Government has moved to clamp down on social media, presumably as a measure to curb rumor-mongering following the inter-communal clashes in the Kandy District.

President Maithripala Sirisena has directed the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission to enforce this block for three days.

Accordingly, Facebook access has been withdrawn while group chats in Whatsapp have been blocked. Video and audio messages cannot be sent on Whatsapp.

Meanwhile a 14-day detention order on the 10 suspects arrested on charges of inciting violence in Kandy, had been issued using emergency regulations that are in place at present.

The detention order was issued by the DIG of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID). The suspects were brought to Colombo for questioning, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera told media. The curfew would be re-imposed in the Kandy District except in the Kandy Municipality areas from 8 p.m today till 5 a.m. tomorrow. So far no monk has been arrested, Colombo Telegraph learns.

Read More

MR’s performance sparked new wave of racial violence- Bimal

Disna Mudalige and Camelia Nathaniel-Saturday, March 10, 2018

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s success at the Local Government Elections gave the physical power to the new wave of racial violence in the country, JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake charged.

When Parliament took up the Regulations under the Merchant Shipping Act, the MP digressed from the topic to speak on the prevailing communal tensions in the country.

He said it was no coincidence that a wave of anti-Muslim sentiments erupted in the country on the Halal issue just after the 2010 Presidential Election results and the same occurred after the recently concluded Local Government elections.

“The vote base of former President Rajapaksa is constituted of hard-core racists, religious extremists and those with a deep-seated war mentality. This is the absolute truth. If not, why did the so called heroes of Sinhala Buddhists not show the concern they had on ‘sterilization pill’ when a temple in the East which was about to be declared an archaeological site was bulldozed?” he questioned.

He pointed out the racial extremist groups mushroomed in the country after 2010 with the blessings of the then rulers and an anti-Muslim sentiment was created since 2011.

“There is a Muslim extremist faction also that aids this mission. However, Muslim community itself suffers due to Muslim extremism than the other communities,” he observed.

He pointed out the fear psychosis created among the Sinhalese on the dangers of country getting divided and the shrinking Sinhala population was a result of continuously feeding such terror into the minds of people over the past five years. “Those who make such allegations have got no concrete evidence for their claims,” MP Rathnayake added.

He pointed out no youth in Ambala, the village where an individual succumbed to injuries after being a victim of assault, has been arrested for involving in any violent act that ensued. “The violent acts happened in Digana which is 20 Kilometres away from Ambala. Racism was fed into the people’s heads. I request the Government to expose the naked truth of racism. The Facebook page titled ‘UPFA for a brighter future’ posted pictures taken in Tamil Nadu misleading the people as if those were taken in the North. I ask the Government to act against such groups. I also appeal to the Muslim leaders to stand up against Muslim extremism,” he noted.

HRC writes to Prime Minister expressing its deep concern over; Recent violent events based on religious division and hatred

 2018-03-09

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka wishes to express its deep concern and dismay at the recent violent events that took place in the town of Theldeniya and its surroundings over the past couple of days.  

We wish to express our deep sorrow at the loss of human life caused by this cycle of religious intolerance and hatred orchestrated by certain prejudiced and violent elements in the country.  

According to preliminary investigations carried out by the Human Rights Commission, it is observed that the Muslim and Sinhala communities in Digana, the area in which the tragic death of a person occurred due to the incident on 22nd February, appear to co-exist amicably and peacefully. The violence appears to be instigated by external elements in an organized manner causing communal division, death and destruction of property.  

The Commission notes that the most recent cycle of violence based on religious intolerance is symptomatic of a series of similar incidents of hatred based violence that we have witnessed since the Aluthgama riots that took place in 2014. The more recent examples of religious violence took place in Gintota (in the South) and Ampara (in the East). In such instances a random incident appears to spark off sectarian violence with the involvement of outside elements. So also in the current spate of violence in the Theldeniya Town and surrounding areas. These sporadic incidents of violence are also occurring in the backdrop of sustained hate campaigning against certain religious groups on social media.  

Hence, we call on you to take decisive action under the law to bring to book elements which are responsible for instigating religious hatred and violence in the Kandy District and also in other areas. We emphasize the need to take action not only against those who directly participate in such violence, but in particular, against those who instigate and provide organizational strength for such violence.  

In this regard we wish to urge the Government to take action against such elements under section 3 of the International Covenant, on Civil and Political Rights Act No. 56 of 2007 which recognizes that anyone who propagates war or advocates national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence or aids or abets such acts is guilty of an offence.  

The Commission is firmly of the view that if swift and decisive action is not taken against those responsible for sectarian violence, such incidents will not only continue but will escalate.
- Dr. N. D. Udagama
Chairperson 
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka  

GTF CALLS FOR STERN ACTION AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR PERPETRATING ANTI-MUSLIM VIOLENCE IN SRI LANKA

09/03/2018

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) is dismayed that a concerted effort is being made by extremist elements from the Sinhala Buddhist community to spread falsehood and hatred, and to instigate destruction and violence against the Muslim community of Sri Lanka. The violence occurred in the Ampara and Kandy districts during the last two weeks, which involved deaths, and destruction to properties and places of worship of the Muslim community, is a reflection and an outcome of the alarming Islamophobia developing in Sri Lanka over several years now.

While expressing our solidarity with the Muslim people of Sri Lanka, we are conscious of the parallels between the struggles the Muslim community faces today and what the Tamil community was subjected to over several decades – systematic vilification of a minority community, unscrupulous exploitation of the situation by power hungry politicians and religious leaders, unwillingness of the security establishment to act in a timely and impartial manner, and the inability of the government leaders to show unwavering commitment to protect minorities without resorting to self-serving political considerations.

It is precisely these conditions culminating in periodic anti-Tamil pogroms, which ultimately led to the three-decade long civil war, the effects of which the country is still struggling to overcome. In this context, Sri Lanka once again going down the same path, vis-a-vis the Muslim community, can only spell disaster and potentially take the country backwards by decades.

Therefore, GTF calls upon the Sri Lankan leaders to take stern action, with full force of the law, not only against those directly involved in the violence but also targeting those instigating falsehood and hatred. It is equally important that the political and religious leaders of all communities, particularly those of the Sinhala Buddhist community, strongly articulate against religious prejudices and communal violence. Finally, the international community has to impress upon Sri Lanka in no uncertain terms that the country will never achieve its full potential without settling its ethnic and religious differences in a peaceful and just manner.

-ENDS-

Is Sri Lanka At The Cusp Of A Second Ethnic Conflict?

By Sharmil Ghouse –MARCH 10, 2018

Sharmil Ghouse

Root causes and what can be done to change trajectory

The on-going sectarian violence is a result of frustrations that have been building over time boiling over. A few trigger points were required to bring the economically disenfranchised youth onto the roads. The extremely unfortunate death of a Sinhala youth, the Wandha Pethi saga and the recent election result which has been interpreted as a sign for the extremist Buddhists to take back control have all contributed to the tipping point. The rural Sinhalese youth are frustrated because they have very minimal economic opportunities. And they have been continually let down by successive corrupt and incompetent governments. The highly coordinated and organised way the riots are taking place suggests that these misguided youths are being strategically exploited by segments such as the BBS and the Mahason Balakaya to further their own divisive and bigoted goals.

For some time now, extremists on the Sinhala side have exploited social media to portray Sri Lankan Muslims as a conniving and deceitful group whose main aim is to turn Sri Lanka into an Arabesque state. What has compounded matters is the relatively recent transformation of Muslim attire across the group in general. From a Muslim perspective this transformation, where large swathes of Women are seeing donning a hijab or a niqab and Men sporting a long beard are viewed as a renaissance in faith and an upliftment in levels of spirituality towards their creator. In a liberal and progressive world such signs of outwardly devotion should be admired as a pursuit of religious liberty.

However, the dichotomy of Sri Lanka is such that there is a highly disproportionate number of people across all societal levels who take significant offense to this outwardly display of religious piety. Some see it as a regressive, impractical and non-contemporaneous mode of attire. The danger is when such views are extended to fuel racist and bigoted views which then turn militant where the economically disenfranchised youths take to violence. Therefore, Sri Lankan Muslims should be more cognisant of the social context and the potential pitfalls even though their intentions are purely religious in nature and with no ulterior motives.

Racism, prejudice and intolerance are certainly not unique social dimensions to Sri Lanka. However, what stands out is the sheer proportion of people with racists views who are likely to take to physical violence. Just look at the comments on the numerous Facebook threads and WhatsApp chat groups that call for violent action against Muslims. Most of the perpetrators are likely to be keyboard warriors, however, the profanities and language used provides a glimpse into their thinking and mindsets. The takeaway here is that Sri Lanka is a very polarised society with a very disproportionate number of racists who are willing to take to violence and where the fundamentals have not changed since ’83.

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Editorial: State of Ethnocracy

09Mar 2018

Villages in Sri Lanka were once again in flames this week as the government declared a state of emergency. More than 100 years after the first anti-Muslim riots in 1915, Sinhala mobs led by Buddhist monks have again gone on a rampage, destroying mosques, businesses and homes. A curfew has been put in place and Sri Lankan security presence beefed up. Yet, with reports that security officials have stood idly by, the violence has continued and only after several days shows signs of simmering down. Amidst the calls for calm and restraint, Sri Lanka’s leaders have glaringly failed to call out the perpetrators behind the violence and the ideology that drives them - a deeply entrenched and toxic Sinhala Buddhist nationalism that has spurred conflict on the island for decades.

The most recent anti-Muslim violence, in Amparai as well as Kandy, comes as no surprise. Since coming into power in 2015, the Sri Lankan government has been unwilling to hold prominent Buddhist leaders who have been implicated in stirring anti-Muslim sentiment to account. Members of the ultra-nationalist BBS (Buddhist Power Force) roam free, a demonstration of the widespread support they receive amongst the Sinhala polity. Indeed, the government’s attempts to shut down social media point to the extensive and easily gained traction anti-Muslim hate speech has throughout the South. As the recent local election results illustrate, the Sinhala electorate endorses the ruthless safeguarding of a Sinhala majoritarian Sri Lanka.  These mobs are not being led by outsiders. Militant nationalist groups, who freely function across the island are agitating long running chauvinist sentiments into deadly action.

The scale of the violence has shocked many, including those within the Muslim community. As military officials themselves have acknowledged, Muslims have been particular loyal to the Sri Lankan state, playing a pivotal front line role during the armed conflict. They provided steadfast military intelligence, Muslim Home Guards were armed and Tamil-Muslim animosity was actively stoked by Colombo, as successive Sinhala regimes focused on crushing Tamil resistance. Almost 9 years since Colombo ended the Tamil armed movement with massacres at Mullivaikkal, Sinhala nationalism has been strengthened,  left unchecked and has set its sights on the Muslims. The illiberal and supremacist nature of such an ideology means that no community in Sri Lanka will remain secure. And as these attacks have shown, no amount of appeasement will provide any protection from it.

This failure to ensure the safety of all communities on the island is symptomatic of a unitary state constructed around a dogmatic obedience to Sinhala nationalism. The Sinhala Buddhist state-building project sees all others on the island as a threat to its supremacist position. Successive governments, including the incumbent one, have pandered to it, openly engaging in ethnic majoritarianism. Despite the unfettered support this government has received from the Tamil National Alliance leadership and the numerous concessions made during the constitutional reform process to avoid provoking the ire of Sinhala nationalists, the process has stalled with the Buddhist clergy being reassured that no power will be ceded outside of the centre. It is this crippling appeasement by all spectrums of Sri Lanka’s political and institutional establishments that has kept the island in a virulent cycle of ethnic violence for 7 decades.

The past two years of waning international pressure on Sri Lanka has allowed the unity government to shirk its responsibility of implementing structural reform, genuine accountability and an equitable power sharing solution, all of which could only have been achieved by tackling Sinhala-Buddhist majoritarianism head on.

Whilst international condemnation of the most recent bout of violence has been swift, jolting Colombo into reportedly making some arrests, this must not lead to a waiving of pressure on Sri Lanka. The perpetrators of previous riots, from the massive anti-Tamil Black July pogrom of 1983 to the 2012 anti-Muslim violence at Aluthgama, are yet to face justice. Sri Lanka’s emboldened culture of impunity allowed them to walk free and for these riots to continue throughout the week. If these constant cycles of violence are to ever end, Colombo must be made to go further. All those that took part in and instigated the violence must be held accountable. Appeasement of ethnic majoritarianism can no longer be an option. Aside from the island’s own long history of bloodshed, the continued ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar serves as a constant reminder to the harrowing effects that pandering to this type of toxic racism can lead to. If even Sri Lanka’s most liberal elements remain incapable of reckoning with the state’s Sinhala nationalist core, it will only fester. An unchecked Sinhala ethnocracy will continue to be the root source of the island’s instability.

Muslims pray under military protection in Sri Lanka after riots

A Sri Lankan army soldier guards a mosque in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo. -AFP

 Friday Mar 09 2018

COLOMBO: Soldiers and police guarded mosques across Sri Lanka during Friday prayers amid fears of new anti-Muslim attacks after four days of riots that have left at least three dead.

Most Muslim-owned businesses in the island nation remained shut in protest at attacks by mainly Buddhist Sinhalese groups concentrated around the central city of Kandy.

Armed troops and constables patrolled outside mosques while in Kandy, prayers were said in open grounds in many places because mosques had been burnt or vandalised.

"There were no incidents during the Friday prayers," a police official in Colombo said, adding that investigators had stepped up the search for those who took part in the violence.

At least 140 people, including the main instigator, have been arrested over the unrest, police said. They named the main suspect as Amith Weerasinghe, a Sinhalese known for anti-Muslim activism and outspoken social media posts. He was held Thursday.

Internet blocked

The riots, which began Monday after a man from the Sinhalese majority died from injuries sustained in an attack by Muslims last week, have left nearly 200 Muslim businesses and homes destroyed. Eleven mosques were attacked.

Nine of the damaged mosques were in the picturesque tea-growing Kandy district, a draw for international tourists now suffering widespread cancellations.

Kandy residents said shops and offices were open on Friday and life was slowly returning to normal. Muslims were seen inspecting the damage to their burnt-out businesses.

Troops guarded every junction while security personnel carried out patrols on motorcycles and in armoured personnel carriers.

Internet services, which were blocked across Kandy, were restored on Friday, but access to social media sites such as Facebook remained blocked across Sri Lanka.

Police said Sinhalese extremists were using social media sites and messaging applications to spread hate speech and instigate attacks on the Muslim minority.

The government declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as the unrest escalated when a Muslim man was found dead in a burnt out building.

Army chief Mahesh Senanayake visited Kandy on Thursday and promised an increased military presence near mosques.

Despite a security alert across the country, three boats belonging to a Muslim businessman just outside the Kandy district were torched early Friday, police said. There were no casualties.

The official Tourist Board said it was safe for foreign tourists to visit Kandy, but hotel operators say they have suffered large-scale cancellations.

"We had 80 percent occupancy, but it has now dropped to about 30 percent," a deluxe hotel operator in the town of Kandy said Friday, asking not to be named.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Thursday night that the riots had been a huge blow to Sri Lanka´s efforts to bolster tourism after ending a 37-year-old ethnic civil war.

Sri Lanka received about half a million tourists in 2009, but the numbers shot up to 2.1 million in 2017, with nearly half a million visiting the island in the first two months of this year.

There have been several communal clashes in recent years in Sri Lanka. Sinhalese Buddhists make up 75 percent of the country´s 21 million people, and 10 percent are Muslims.

Sinhalese and Muslim groups staged a demonstration outside the Colombo railway station on Thursday, demanding tougher action against the attackers.

Sirisena at the crossroads: Sri Lanka government moves to control Sinhala-Muslim tensions by declaring emergency

R Hariharan-March 8, 2018,

President Maithripala Sirisena has declared a nationwide state of emergency for 10 days, after rioting mobs destroyed Muslim houses and businesses in the Digana and Teldeniya areas in Kandy on March 4. Sinhala-Muslim relations have always been on a short fuse. In such confrontations, both the administration and the police have invariably been accused of acting in a partisan way. The Kandy riots also appear to conform to this pattern, though an inquiry is underway.

Uday Deb

The communal situation had been simmering in Teldeniya after a local Buddhist was seriously injured on February 22, in a confrontation with Muslim youth after a car accident. Local Sinhala and Muslim elders intervened and amicably settled the matter, paying compensation to the victim.

However, after the injured man succumbed to his injuries on March 3, Muslims closed the shops and stayed home as advised by the police, anticipating a worsening of communal tension. Angry mobs went on an attacking spree, damaging Muslim property in Teldeniya and Digana. Only the inquiry will reveal whether Buddhist fringe elements were involved in the riot.

According to local media reports 27 Muslim-owned shops, businesses and several houses were set on fire by the rioting mobs. At least one mosque was damaged. Police have arrested 24 persons for suspected involvement in the incident. Police have deployed the Special Task Force in strength and 200 army personnel have also been inducted to reinforce the police.

It is significant that Sirisena has taken the extreme measure of imposing a state of emergency only after the government was accused of failing to take timely measures to control the situation after trouble broke out. He has also issued a stern warning to those who indulge in violence, indicating his apprehension of involvement of Buddhist fringe elements in the Kandy incidents. To be fair, Sirisena did manage to control a minor incident in Gintota in southern Sri Lanka in December 2017, keeping it from turning into a communal riot. However, the government has not been able to control hate speech.

The Kandy communal flareup is reminiscent of the Aluthgama anti-Muslim riots in 2014, when Buddhist extremist organisations, the Bodhu Bala Sena led by Buddhist monk Gnanasara Thero and the Ravana Balaya, turned an altercation between a Muslim youth and the driver of a vehicle carrying a Bhikku into an occasion to rouse Sinhala passions. It triggered largescale anti-Muslim riots in the towns of Aluthgama, Beruwala and Dharga in the Kalutara district.

At least four people were killed and 80 injured. Ten thousand people of both communities were displaced and sought shelter in schools. A large amount of Muslim property and houses worth millions of rupees were destroyed. Police had failed to take preventive action before the riots, when Gnanasara Thero egged on a restive crowd, with incendiary anti-Muslim rhetoric, to act against Muslims.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, then in power, lost the trust of minority communities after the Aluthgama riots, as the extremist monk continued his free run during most of Rajapaksa’s rule. Indeed the Aluthgama riots cost Rajapaksa dearly in the presidential elections, when Muslim and Tamil minorities voted en masse to elect challenger Sirisena as president.

However, in the just concluded local body elections, Rajapaksa used the latent fear of Tamil extremism to rouse the passions of Sinhala rural masses and garner support for his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). Apparently, it all worked out well for him as their support ensured SLPP coming out on top. So, SLPP playing the communal card in future elections cannot be ruled out.

The ruling Sirisena-Wickremesinghe unity coalition performed poorly in these local body polls, so Sirisena needs to retain the minority Tamil and Muslim support now, more than ever before. Unless he demonstrates his ability to control Buddhist extremists, minority support may not be forthcoming in the future. It is a tricky task, because the fundamentalist slogan “Buddhism under siege” feeding anti-Muslim rhetoric, is embedded in the body politic of not only Sri Lanka but also in Myanmar and to a lesser extent in Thailand.

There is also an international dimension to the anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka. The Aluthgama riots brought a lot of adverse global publicity. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the government to halt the violence and bring the perpetrators to book. The US followed suit. The EU sent a delegation along with Norwegian, Swiss and Turkish embassies to urge the government to uphold the rule of law. Nearer home, in Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath organised a protest outside the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner’s office, taking advantage of the local anti-Sri Lanka environment.

In the past, Sri Lanka has handled anti-Muslim riots merely as a routine law and order issue. Sirisena, who got elected with the promise of good governance, will have to make a difference in the follow up action after the riots. Whether he can do it without causing Buddhist backlash is a question waiting to be answered.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Corruption: The main enemy of the nation

2018-03-10 

Corruption is rampant all over like the air we breathe. The development and reputation of the country depend on the impact of the corrupt regime which has a direct impact of law and order and rule of law.  

There is no room for law and order with corrupt rulers, corruption and nepotism. 

Sri Lanka was ranked 4th in the globe in law and order. Sri Lanka was also ranked very much below, also ranked as a hub for drug peddling with daylight robberies and crimes increasing by the day. 
President Sirisena has launched his war against corruption by appointing three Ministers headed by the Health Minister who is also questioned over accusations of misuse of public funds in rent, shipping scams and other shady transactions (Which are in the public domain.)   

Incidentally the Prime Minister-who is alleged to be also involved in the CBSL Bond Scam by inviting and defending Arjuna Mahendran- too have launched a vigorous campaign against bribery and corruption in the recent past by appointing a committee to carry out the programme under his personal supervision. This is despite other programmes.

Sri Lanka was ranked 4th in the globe in law and order. Sri Lanka was also ranked very much below, also ranked as a hub for drug peddling with daylight robberies and crimes increasing by the day.

It is an open secret that politicians are directly or indirectly  involved in corrupt activities and carrying on the criminal acts against the State without being investigated.   

Only a few members of the Government are inquired into and these too are over petty incidents, when accusations amounting to millions and trillions on the Ministers are shelved.   

Accusations against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa of siphoning USD 18 billion and banking them in Dubai-as alleged by Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne- are also shelved with no inquiry or further proceedings.   

Against a  President  in office, allegations can emerge only after he/she relinquished the post as a President is protected by Immunity under the Constitution.   

Bribery Commission should take notice of complaints via media and take immediate steps or exonerate the accused person to be fair by him.  

Bribery is an offence against the State punishable jointly under the Bribery Act and the Penal Code with a special procedure by a Commission appointed by the Constitutional Council and headed by a Director General. A reputed and experienced lawyer is also appointed by the President.   With the limited staff and the resources it is not possible to net the countrywide bribe takers unless other methods such as education, name-and-shame methods with the help of the media, recognizing and rewarding the complainants and the informants, appointment of dedicated officers in the public sector, are used.  But using traditional investigation methods it is hard to find millions of indirect/direct bribing in business transactions and Government dealings.  

Bribery is an offence against the State punishable jointly under the Bribery Act and the Penal Code with a special procedure by a Commission appointed by the Constitutional Council and headed by a Director General. A reputed and experienced lawyer is also appointed by the President.

a hot Topic 
Because it is currently a hot topic two seminars were organized at the Organization of Professionals Associations (OPA) on February 15 and 16 by ‘Sri Lanka 2050.’

The seminars were organized and moderated by the former Ambassador Sarath Wijesinghe. Speakers were D. E. W. Gunasekera- former Minister, Rusiripala Tennekoon, former BOC Chairman, Nanagananda Kodituwakku, activist lawyer. Sham Nuwan Ganawatte, journalist the author of Kawada Hora (Who is the Thief ) in the Bond Scam. 

The second day was jointly organized by the BASL and OPA on Bribery and Good Governance addressed by Sarath Jayamanne, Director General Bribery Commission, S. C. Mayadunne, former Auditor General, and Yasantha Kodagoda Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel. 
The first day was lively while the second seminar was somewhat academic.  

The seminars indicated the interest and activism in the field of bribery and corruption and deliberations were extremely useful on planning war on bribery and corruption and planning out short and long term strategies for eradication of the menace.   

We do not find fault with the Director General and the Commission as it is not our culture as in USA where the sitting President was rigorously interrogated by the special prosecutor, when in Sri Lanka the Prime Minister who invited Mahendran to Sri Lanka and defended him in the Parliament was soft peddled by giving few questions in advance, contrary to the professional way the other witness were interrogated.   

In India and many countries, Members of Parliament had been found guilty on charges of bribery and corruption, but in Sri Lanka despite the public knowledge and information corruption is rampant from the top downwards.   

eradication impossible 
Eradication of bribery and corruption is impossible. The attempts should be to minimize and to introduce a bribery/corruption free culture in the society.   

Is it possible in the current political and economic climate of poverty struggle corruption, with easy black money and disappearance of social values?

Director General of BC Sarath Jayamanna compared the situation in the West as culturally anti-bribe. He appears to be working hard within his mandate which is an impossible task to achieve alone, unless legal structure is strengthened and new strategies adopted with honest, dedicated and committed leadership. Dilrukshi de Silva started the job as DG of BC with enthusiasm and funfair. However  she was compelled to leave and services of Lacille Silva was abruptly discontinued by a powerful, invisible hand.  

The rule of law and equality before law should be rigorously implemented to clamp down on bribery and corruption 
The writer is a former Ambassador to the
UAE and Israel