Kithu Handa (Voice of the Catholics) – the national movement to protect the Catholic religion asserts the demand made by Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary, Galagoda Atte Gnanasara for the Pope to apologize to Sri Lankan Buddhists, is part of a plan that is being hatched to disrupt the Pope’s visit to Sri Lanka next year.
In a media statement released over Gnanasara’s comments, Kithu Handa states they have received information to believe that a campaign to undermine and disrupt Pope Francis’s visit to Sri Lanka in January 2015 is being carried out.
According to their release, the following proposals had been made at the Executive Board meeting of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress on February 11, 2014 as measures to be taken in light of the Pope’s visit to Sri Lanka.
· Drafting and passing an act in parliament that would uphold Buddhism in light of the Pope’s arrival
· Prevent Catholics from using phrases and expressions that are associated with Buddhist culture
· Obtaining funds from Catholic churches to restore temples that had been damaged during the Portugese colonial era and to reclaim temple land in which Churches have been built and relocate such Churches
· Urge the Northern Catholics to disown their links with the Tamil diaspora
· Highlighting the stances that have been maintained by the Cardinal and Jaffna Archbishop on the ethnic Tamil issue
· Considering Pope Francis as a state leader and not a religious leader and thereby ordering Buddhist monks to boycott Pope’s welcome event and handing over an official letter to the Pope inclusive of above mentioned proposals.
Kithu Handa has gone on to further criticize Gnanasara’s demand for the Pope to apologize to Sri Lankan Buddhists over the atrocities committed by Catholic/Christian colonialists.
“We regret his statement and we are also appalled at his words, which we believe has negatively impacted the reconciliation that Catholics and Buddhists have maintained over the years,” Kithu Handa media release states.
Furthermore it asserts that it is not the Pope who if at all should apologize to Sri Lankan Buddhists but the state leaders of Portugal, Netherland and England because it was their ancestral leaders who invaded countries and committed killings in the name of Catholicism/ Christianity to justify their ruthless economic and political agendas.
burt / July 11, 2014
Why is Kithu Handa even acknowledging this yellow robed thugs statement. If this statement was made by a Mahanayake it would be a different issue. Who gives a crap about this uneducated street punk?
On the other hand the Pope agreed after many requests by the President, Cardinal, many politicians and the defense sec. and if this idiot acts-up he is not insulting the Pope but the people that invited him.
So please don’t give any more coverage to this idiot and his racial an religious rant.
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Amarasiri / July 11, 2014
Your Holiness: Pope Francis
1. “Kithu Handa (Voice of the Catholics) – the national movement to protect the Catholic religion asserts the demand made by Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary, Galagoda Atte Gnanasara for the Pope to apologize to Sri Lankan Buddhists, is part of a plan that is being hatched to disrupt the Pope’s visit to Sri Lanka next year.”
2. “According to their release, the following proposals had been made at the Executive Board meeting of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress on February 11, 2014 as measures to be taken in light of the Pope’s visit to Sri Lanka.”
3. “Kithu Handa has gone on to further criticize Gnanasara’s demand for the Pope to apologize to Sri Lankan Buddhists over the atrocities committed by Catholic/Christian colonialists.”
What are the facts about the Para-Sinhala Buddhists in Lanka, the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, the Original Natives.
The Sinhala Buddhists are Foreigners,in the Land of Native Veddah. They are called Para-Sinhala. If you test their DNA, it will show that they came from South India in Illegal Boats, just like the Portuguese, who introduced Catholicism, into Lanka.
So, they is a Para-Sinhala Buddhist and Para- Catholic conflict.
We also know that the Para-Catholic Portuguese also committed many crimes, in the Land of Native Veddah. After all, the church apologized to Galileo after 350 years.
The Veddah tribe also asks the Para-Sinhala Buddhists and other Paras to compensate the Native Veddah and the tribe by leaving the Land for South India,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f89NuukY32U
The Vedda Tribe
.
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Amarasiri / July 11, 2014
Your Holiness: Pope Francis
Para- Sinhala Buddhists attacking Tamil Speaking Native Veddah..in the Land of native Veddah..
Tamil-speaking Veddas of Vaharai await war recovery support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeFCuZwexRw
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Ward / July 11, 2014
This Cardinal dances to the tune of the Rajapakses.
When the country is in a mess, they shouldn’t ask the Pope to come in and drag the world into the mud.
This Cardinal went to Mannar with Gothabaya Rajapakse to ask the people to listen to his terms in settling the land issue!
Not only Catholics but also Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, …… also respect the Pope.
Therefore we should wait for a better time to ask the Pope to come in.
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Punitham / July 11, 2014
Dear all
If and when the Pope comes here, there are some barbaric people who will make a nasty scene.
Therefore the Pope needs to stay away till decency returns to Sri Lanka.
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Amarasiri / July 11, 2014
Punitham
“If and when the Pope comes here, there are some barbaric people who will make a nasty scene. Therefore the Pope needs to stay away till decency returns to Sri Lanka.”
No. The pope should Come. Why?
The Pope is coming because of the decent people, nor because of Barbaric People like Para-Sinhala Buddhist Extremists. Let the Pope be exposed to both types of people, Decent people and Barbaric Para-Snhala Buddhist Extremists, in the Land of Native Veddah for the Whole World to see.
The Veddah Tribe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f89NuukY32U
Tamil-speaking Veddas of Vaharai await war recovery support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeFCuZwexRw
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Rajash / July 11, 2014
The South African Cricket Team currently on tour in Sri Lanka is ably led by Hashim Amla.Hashim is a Muslim and proudly sports a trade mark muslim beard. I am sure GG will sooner or later spot it a may turn his attention on Amla. I am surprised he has not done it yet.
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kaleel / July 12, 2014
“Hashim is a Muslim and proudly sports a trade mark muslim beard. “
A trademark Muslim beard? Pardon me,this is NOT a trademark muslim beard but the trademark beard of a muslim fanatic madman.
There is NOTHING muslim about it.
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Native Vedda / July 11, 2014
burt
Why doesn’t the saffron clad Sinhala/Buddhist BBS thug or for that matter the Sinhala/Buddhist state invite Dalai Lama?
Hope Galagoda Atte Gnanasara could teach Dalai Lama one or two thing about Sinhala/Buddhism.
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abdul cader / July 13, 2014
Better avoid SL visit. Rajeeve Ghandhi was almost attacked and got promoted.
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Spring Koha / July 11, 2014
The article does not mention the trump card that the BBS have; Champika Liyanaarachchi will offer to marry the pope, and Mervyn Silva will give her away at the altar.
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Gon Fonseka / July 11, 2014
A better scenario would be Champika Liyanaarachi [Edited out]
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mike / July 11, 2014
Spring Koha, there is an element of doubt whether Merve will give her away. It appears Merve has plans to have Chimpika Liyanarachichi for himself!
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Park / July 11, 2014
All decent media institutions electronic, print, voice and visual should ignore Gon Sara Thero completely.
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burt / July 11, 2014
DONT GIVE A PLATFORM TO SPREAD HIS HATE.
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Amarasiri / July 11, 2014
Park
“All decent media institutions electronic, print, voice and visual should ignore Gon Sara Thero completely.”
No.
Let Ganasara expose the Para-Sinhala Buddhist Racism yo the whole world.
Who can better expose than Ganasara, The Mahanayakas?
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Javi / July 11, 2014
Oh the lankian monkies have just come off the trees!
Spanish Missionary 1/2 round clay tiles seen world wide and especially USA.
There is nothing called Sihala Ulu but Sihala Boru!
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Perali Murali / July 11, 2014
“There is nothing called Sihala Ulu but Sihala Boru! “
Oh Javi, Javi. Im still rolling on the ground with laughter. Please stop. Cant take it anymore.
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burt / July 11, 2014
I don’t know about the Pope but I think Machan Ganasara major problem is that he is not getting laid. So who is this Champika, can you try introducing her to Muchchan Ganasara.
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AVB / July 11, 2014
It looks like Champika has ugly heart and small brain, but she looks beautiful and sexy. You are doing a big favor to Ganne, he may have already excited if he has seen your suggestion…… G[Edited out]
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navin / July 11, 2014
There is another solution: cut off his walla.
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RICHARD / July 11, 2014
Well, this is the result of cardinal Ranjith bum-sucking Rajapakses and towing their line. Cardinal has kept silent over every disaster affecting humanitarian and economic issues in Sri Lanka as a result of this government. He has not even vociferously condemned in public the attacks on churches, other religions and communities by govt sponsored Buddhist extremists groups. Only time I heard him say something is when he told the Tamils in Jaffna to forgive and forget the past HR violations of MR and GR and the UN not to interfere in Sri Lanka’s HR violations so as to save MR and GR duo from investigation of HR violations and charges. Is he in anyway connected to Mrs. MR?
He has arranged for GR and other govt ministers including Mervin to have private audiences with the Popo when they visited Rome. So all I can say is the Cardinal is just like the Mahanayakes, want to ingratiating himself and maintain his pompous position by sucking up to MR and GR and to hell with what happens to anything and everything else.
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Disenchanted Muslim / July 11, 2014
Well done ‘Voice of Catholics’ for standing up against the bullying and belittling your Most Holy Pope, that is now taking place. Invite all the international media attention to expose the bluff of these racist monks. You cannot expect unbiased and fair exposure from the local media, going by what we have already experienced from recent past incidents. These stooges will stoop to any low levels to induce chaos, disorder and mayhem, and thereafter tell blatant lies just to distort and disclaim any involvement in any turbulent incidents. They are a bunch of gangsters wrapped up in saffron robes and provided super luxury vehicles including STF security, nurtured and cared for by Defence Sec. Gota to carry out his bidding in his ‘Chaos’ agenda. No one can ever be trusted anymore, except your own flock.
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ramona therese fernando / July 11, 2014
Very true all that BBS is asking for! quite cool of them actually…….if only it was in America or some other place. Trouble is, in Sri Lanka, this types of freedom of speech has the grave potential of stirring up violence with little ability of armed forces to control it. I greatly fear the Pope’s safety if he comes to Sri Lanka. I hope he will not come in the end.
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Marwan / July 12, 2014
What? Freedom of speech in silly Lanka? My hat. This is freedom for only the favored. Anyone opposing by crossing their path are bound to get arrested, threatened, harassed and if lucky, get away with their life spared. What happened to Lasantha of Sunday Leader fame? What made all those top writers and opinion makers to leave the country in a hurry? Or may be you are not living in SL, or may even be amongst the favored. Don’t you know of banned websites for freely expressing their opinions? Don’t you know all news media, both electronic and print can operate without attacks only if they promote government propaganda? It is the Chinese way of mass control and have now shared their expertise with our folks in SL.
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ramona therese fernando / July 12, 2014
What use has Sri Lanka with freedom of speech inspired by foreign thoughts? BBS’s talk is truly from the heart of Sri Lanka. However, they mustn’t be allowed to inspire violence.
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EW Golding / July 11, 2014
Forget about these saffron robed thugs.
Every rightminded person welcomes the Holy Father’s visit.
But there is something else the Catholics of Lanka must take note of.
The government is trying to use the visit as an election gimmik.
It will for obvious reasons call elections soon after the Pope leaves.
It would be better if the visit takes place after elections (whoever wins is beside the point).
If this rearrangement is not possible the Catholic laity must do everything possible to prevent the visit being hijacked by the government as a propoganda stunt.
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MirakRajBanda / July 11, 2014
Kithu Handa- Were you not appalled by the Gnanasara’sabusive, racist language 100 times more vigorous towards Muslims?
Or simply it’s non of my problem????
Welcome to Sri Lanka dear Pope!
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Ranjith / July 11, 2014
Pope should not come to Srilanka in the first place. In my opinion a World celebrity like Pope visiting a Country which Presided by a War criminal means giving recognition to that regime. In other words, the regime will use this visit to wash off all the blood from its hands.
What Boru Balu Sena trying to do here is to get media attention by calling for an apology from Pope for European invader’s crimes against Sinhala Buddhists. If Pope got to apologize for their crimes, who is going to apologize for the crimes against Tamils and Muslims by Sinhala Buddhists ? Will Modasara and his Boru Blau Sena monks will do that ?
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Lapatiya / July 11, 2014
Actually what this Gaanu 5 Galagoda Gandasara doing is to read the script given to him by the Grease piya in consultation with Hela karuma Boss. Don’t take them serious. Now Mrs. Plaster of Paris/Gold Lady must be furious and pulling Jet Black hairs of Sri Rohana manaranjana because of dirty mouth of Bebadu Gandasara.
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JimSofty / July 11, 2014
Unlike other Popes who are Europeans this LAtin American Pope has apologized to most.
what happens if he apologizes to Sinhala- buddhists.
He can not apologize means he is cheap and not a leader.
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Lapatiya / July 11, 2014
@JimSofty,
Machan Jimmy now we have to start a new Strategy as Galagoda Gandasara gave us a good start. (Just please don’t utter a word about the theory of Hon. keheliya Rambukwella that investigating LTTE crimes are unnecessary as now they are gone)
We should request our Hon.Gota to investigate about “Kithunu Hada” as Kithunu hada may be another NGO. we should not stop at that and request our CID and Anura Senanayaka to Investigate how they issued a statement to the Press without approval from offence Secretary as releasing statements are prohibited by Mr. Disanayaka under the instruction of Hon.Gota.
We also should ask Galagoda Gandasara of BBS(pvt)ltd and Cheap CEO and other pure sinhala Budddhists to surround the “Kithunu hada” office and force them to apologize us as they were trying to teach us about our Lord Buddha’s Buddhism and our own history. Probably they have forgotten that we pure Sinhala Buddhists are sole owners of both.
Thorough investigation should be carried out weather anyone connected to ‘Kithunu Hada” or relation of kithunu hada staff or friend of kithunu hada or friends of friend has any connection with western country or living in a western country as now a days lot of conspiracies are coming from western countries.
Finally we pure sinhala Buddhists should request our Sri Rohana Manaranaja, Sri Rajawansabidana 3 sinhaladeeshwara, Saddarmadveepa Chakrawarthi not to Issue Visa for Pope as he did for Madam Pillays Crime Investigation Panel. In case if the need arises he can ask the Parliament about issuing visas as always he use to do.
Also Machan Jimmy, we should request our Saddarmadveepa Chakrawarwarthi to Investigate weather Catholic Church or Pope has any hand in Organizing Night Car Races in Kandy near Dalada Maligawa and who brought those prostitutes. Also machan don’t forget about Tamil Diaspora and Madam Pillay as they may be behind Popes visit in Sri Lanka.
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Bensen Burner / July 11, 2014
The holy father should call off the visit for the time being Bensen
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Disenchanted / July 11, 2014
A sincere apology is an expression of remorse for something you’ve done wrong, and occasionally serves as a request for forgiveness, as well. Apologizing for a mistake might seem like an impossible task, but you can get through it by swallowing your pride and putting your best foot forward.
In the case of the His Holiness the Pope, what justice will it serve by apologizing for alleged crimes committed against local citizens by occupying forces throughout history, for which the Vatican had no say nor any control. This doesn’t make any sense.
In my view. this is just a gimmick by these despotic fringe groups who have run amok and ruined their reputation and respect, both locally and internationally. They now try to shore up on lost prestige by riding on trumped up charges against an internationally recognized figure, a great ambassador of peace, being asked to humble himself before the nation as retribution for some historical events, allegedly carried out against the inhabitants at that time. This they feel will fulfill their own selfish agenda to climb the local popularity charts by championing their cause along nationalistic lines, thus winning over any stragglers and doubters towards their own racist vote bank.
In short, these racists are also mentally sick as well. They require physiological help, since they have proved to be dangerous and have blood of innocents on their hands. Our own ‘Boko Haram’ style thugs, What is missing is their AK47 firearms and ammunition for them to go truly ballistic, but that is provided selectively through association by government forces, which by itself is in NO short supply.
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Holy Mess / July 11, 2014
In my mind The Pope deserves to be treated this way for coming to Sri Lanka at a time like this. His visit will only strengthen the hands of the dictators ruling this country. If he is willing to white wash the undemocratic activities taking place here by accepting an invitation at this time, Kithu Handa has nothing to grieve about.
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Sujeewa Devarani / July 12, 2014
This is a Sinhala Buddhist country. The Pope has no business here.
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holynoughty / July 12, 2014
sujeewa devarani. this is a buddhist country. my foot! contradiction and lies have become part and parcel of buddhists it seems. if this is the buddhist country what religion keweni belonged to. and whut teligion u belong to. if u say . the mutt ,are a buddhist change your name devarani. devas have nothing to do with buddhism. and y calling meya budunge deshayayi. do u say that sri lanka is a part of india where the lord buddha wa born. mind you. even tamil in line houses in up country who wrre given citizenship by jr has more right in this country than lord buddha who was just a visitor. they have equal right as everybody in this country
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Nimal / July 12, 2014
Jesus said (as mentioned in John 18:36) “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”
Should anyone fight to safeguard the Kingdom of God? Jesus said “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. If these people have realized the importance of having an organization to protect Catholic religion, then it means that it(the Catholic religion) does not belong to that Kingdom of God, because Jesus did not want anyone from this world to fight for His Kingdom. By totally disregarding the Word of God and the promises of Christ, these people have volunteered to safeguard Catholic religion!!
There is no need to be surprised if very soon there will be another organization titled “National Catholic Movement for protection of Jesus Christ” with the blessings of the Catholic hierarchy, similar to this, in Sri Lanka.
What a joke!
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Gamarala / July 13, 2014
Sujeewa Devarani, with all due respect to you, Sri Lanka is not a Sinhala Buddhist country. It is a multi ethnic, multi religious country where the majority are Sinhalese and Buddhist but that does not mean it is a ‘Sinhala Buddhist country’ or that non Sinhalese and non Buddhists have no place in it or must regard themselves as second class citizens.
If you think the Pope has no business visiting a ‘Sinhala Buddhist country’, why do you welcome all the non Buddhist foreign visitors to the island on whom the country depends in large part for its foreign exchange earnings?.. What business do they have here, according to your logic?
Nimal makes a valid point about there being no need for any organisation to protect the Catholic religion. In fact, there is no need for any organisation to protect any religion or to accord it a special status. Religious faith resides in the hearts and minds of people and that cannot be protected by external means. All that an organisation or the state can do is to help protect the temporal assets of the religious organisations – not the religion itself. Adherents of all religions should have enough faith in their respective faiths to know that the truths they profess are good enough to endure without the need for external protection.
Some adverse reaction to the news of the Pope’s intended visit was to be expected. So, the clamour of the BBS for the Pope to apologise for the atrocities committed by the colonial powers in SL, comes as no surprise. What is surprising is that it took so long to come. And, if I may add, I am also a little surprised this time we have not heard the usual demand for a debate with the Pope!
The Pope is due in SL in response to an invitation from the Government and the Catholics. For the Catholics of SL, the visit will be a joyous occasion, something worthy of special celebration. And I would imagine that all people of goodwill, whatever their faith or even if they have no belief in any faith, will welcome the Pope warmly and will wish to extend to him in full measure the hospitality and kindness that the country has traditionally offered its visitors, something which, incidentally, we never tire of telling the whole world about.
If the efforts of those like the BBS succeed in marring the Pope’s visit or making it unpopular or a huge security nightmare or if the Pope is made to feel less than welcome, I believe he should be advised to not come. And the Catholics of SL, disappointed though they may be, if that had to happen, should have the good sense to know that their faith will not be affected by it. They’d rightly be embarrassed that they and their country could not afford the Pope a decent welcome. And if the Pope is made to feel unwelcome or unsafe to come, it will not reflect on him but on SL and its people. SL’s battered international image can ill afford that.
But then, that image is so tarnished now, a cynic might well ask, what more real impact will another ‘blunder’ make?
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kalu Banda / July 14, 2014
All Sri lankans know that Cardinal Ranjith was a political supporter of M R. We Catholics should now demand that our Cardinal gets the President whose wife is a devout catholic to ensure that the Popes visit to Sri Lanka goes ahead as planned.
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