In October 2013 Buddhist monk Kalyana Tissa of the Seth Sevana Lama Nivasa of Attambagaskanda, Vavuniya was arrested for sexually abusing a 9 year old child. The Buddhist monk was kept in remand custody and medical evidence confirmed the sexual abuse of the child on 12.10.2013. Subsequently the custody of the remaining 22 children of the children’s home was taken by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) on 15.10.2013. Fearing that the remaining children may have also been sexually abused the Vavuniya magistrate requested the medical examination of the 22 children. Through the court order the suspect remained in custody. However on 31.12.2013 the suspected monk was granted a non-conditional bail on the basis that the Attorney General Department (AG), on the instructions of the NCPA has informed court that it has no objections for the suspect to be granted bail. The next hearing is to be on the 11th of February.
Kalyana Tissa
Most of the children at this home are victims of war. These children have been placed in this home to ensure their education, safety and care by family members who are unable to provide the same for these children. Some of these children have lost their fathers in the war, their mothers are daily wage laborers who work in jobs such as stone breaking and barely earn a living. These mothers placed their children hoping they would have a better chance at life through education and hoping for their care and protection. In such a context how far these children’s rights and lives are being protected by the head of this home is a question. Even though the children in the Seth Sevana Lama Nivasa are Tamil, they have been enrolled in Kaatumankulam Govt. Sinhala mixed school. Their right to learn their mother tongue, practice their religion and culture, the protection of their ethnic identity has been violated and they are being compelled to assimilate into a Sinhala Buddhist cultural and ethnic identiy. Upon receipt of complaint from the civil society and others an exhaustive investigation was carried out by Vavuniya NCPA child protection officer, probation officer, public health inspector and the police and they jointly submitted a report on 29.11.2010 to NCPA head office. But due to NCPA’s irresponsible investigation it has risked a group of young vulnerable children continue to suffer emotional and psychological abuses.
In Sri Lanka child protection and care services such as the NCPA, Task force on child protection are under the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. Each province and districts have officers who have been appointed for the care and protection of children. In the current incident the bail was granted due to the report given by the NCPA to the Attorney General. It raises serious concerns as to the evenhandedness of the NCPA in regards to children from minority communities. Because even though complaints in regards to the said Buddhist monk have been made to the NCPA since 2010 actions have only been taken to protect the offender rather than the children. It must be noted that only after the protests of the child protection officers in Vavuniya in regards to the inaction of the NCPA that the arrest was made.
The NCPA’s vision and mission claims to create a child friendly and protective environment for children and to ensure children are free from all forms of abuse. There is a hotline no: 1929 that provides 24 hour service in all three languages. The reluctance of such an institution to push for the arrest of this monk and the subsequent report recommending his release places the actions of the NCPA in doubt.
The Lawyer, Mr. K.S. Ratnavel who is representing the victim states that ‘the AG should have taken further stringent action against the suspect. Requesting the bail of such a suspect places the independence of the AG’s department in question. Instead of protecting victims they are protecting the suspect thus there is a conflict of interest both in the role played by the AG and the NCPA. The NCPA was created for the protection of children. However the NCPA has come out in support of the suspect in this case, it has failed to submit the relevant reports of the 22 children to the court and instead submitted the same to the AG. It has claimed to have completed investigations while investigations are still pending and has thereby misled the court. Consequently it has caused the possibility of the intimidation of witnesses through the release of the suspect. This reflects on the failure of public institutions in working for the people. Instilling the rule of law and justice is difficult when judicial institutions themselves undermine these goals.”
Ensuring the protection of children especially those children who have lost their families due to war and undergone several rights abuses is the paramount obligation of governmental institutions, especially those created for the protection of children. If children are to be refused protection due to their ethnicity and their abuse is to be ignored then the ability and intentions of such government organizations must be questioned.
The increase of violence against women and children has been on the rise since the end of the war. The recent abuse of a 4 year old child in Trincomalee by a person suspected to be a Navy officer who ran and hid in the navy camp reflects the impunity with which such abuses occur against women and children. It is with deep regret that we note that the NCPA has failed to protect children and this trend can be seen across the country through various reports of child abuse and long drawn process in investigation and prosecution of offenders.
As a country that has had a strong policy in regards to protecting children and has passed several laws and set up institutions for the same, the punishment of offenders, proper investigations and protection of children should not be a challenge for Sri Lanka. Especially when there have been officers appointed at the regional and district levels and women and children’s desks in these districts. It is indeed telling that women and children continue to suffer grave abuse and rights violations despite the existence of such officers and institutions.
At a time when the Sri Lankan government claims to be on a path of peace and development post war and calls Sri Lanka the wonder of Asia in international forums, it is imperative that the violence that is taking place against women and children is stopped, especially violence against women and children from minority communities.
* Filed by Women’s Action Network (A network consisting of 8 women’s organizations based in the north and east of Sri Lanka
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Native Vedda / January 6, 2014
J.Muthu
“Ado mukkal you know veddah…muslims chop their top knop.just like jews”
In this day in age this comment by M Sivananthan is unacceptable. I would not know sex without foreskin is good or bad. I haven’t met a women who had experienced both. By the way it could be another myth like “size matters”.
“Sivananthan is stupid murderer pottus ahampadiyan caste. all ahampadiyan stupid brainless idiots…”
Ahampadiyan is supposed to be the descendants of warrior caste. Do you still judge a person by his caste? If true, Tamils must be a strange people like their equally stupid Sinhalese brethren.
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Qassim / January 6, 2014
Thanks @NV & J.M. ,
don’t waste your precious time and bandwidth on Sivananthan , who is a covered hiding under the Name of Tamil Hindu , I challenge him to meet face to face to answer his Question anything anywhere ,,
He is trying his best to get me to Insult the Tamil Himdus ,he thinks everyone is as Low as him ,
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Qassim / January 6, 2014
Why I posted this Article below is simply to show people who are not biased that this is the typical way Islam has come under attack picking at random various past Muslim traditionalist opinions and interpretations of the religion.
All religions are mixed with traditions always according to the culture of the people of various geographical areas , just one look at the way people in Pakistan dress , it would be hard to say who is a Muslim ,Christian or even a Hindu according to the country’s culture.
If people feel offended when I generalized the orthodox Jews of Israel (Zionist) based on the article below , then the same goes with Islam too, not all who follow Islam agree to all the traditions narrated about the age of The Prophet’s wife or marrying child brides not all Muslims believe or follow Female circumcision , or
covering the females completely , to form an opinion and pass judgment on any religion based on random articles portraying the opinion of various tradition and cultures mixed with whatever religion is wrong , you need to also understand that every follower of every religion have in the past and present mixed tradition , culture and personal opinions to fulfill whatever they wanted and whatever they thought and think is true ,I can produce tons of articles of almost from every people of all faiths that has been mixed with traditions that will have the very same issues which is used to attack Islam everyday , in fact it is also wrong to generalize the entire Buddhist community based on the above article of a particular Monk’s action
This is why I asked Sivananthan to prove to me what religion, race and culture he is from so I can answer him accordingly.
I do not wish to drag a community unfairly into this conflict by assuming on the nick Sivanthan is using ,probably he may be using the nick of another community because he is ashamed of his own religion and race .
I believe no matter what nick you may use online ,especially when it comes to penning on subjects related to religion , race and culture one must not hide their religion or race , even if they are atheist they must still accept their past roots , it is not bravery to become completely anonymous when debating online ..
———— Next time when people think of bashing Islam ,please stop and remember your religion too can be bashed the same way .. ——
PEDOPHILIA: THE TALMUD’S DIRTY SECRET By Rev. Ted Pike http://www.icke.comBTW am sure some of the readers must have thought of me real antisemitic after reading the article …
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Qassim / January 6, 2014
don’t waste your precious time and bandwidth on Sivananthan , who is a coward has covered his true religious & Racial id hiding under the Name of Tamil Hindu , I challenge him to meet face to face to answer his Question anything anywhere ,, He is trying his best to get me to Insult the Tamil Hindus ,he thinks everyone is as Low as him ,
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M.Sivananthan / January 10, 2014
You are a convert but you claim you came from Arabia but speaking Tamil. That kind of frauds are muslims.
Where do you want to meet me? I am in Toronto.
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QASSIM / January 7, 2014
The Life of the Buddha As Pieced Together from the Pali Canon
Alexander Berzin, August 2010
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The Life of the Buddha As Pieced Together from the Pali Canon
http://www.berzinarchives.com › … › Spiritual Teachers
Shortly after the birth of his son, Buddha left Kapilavatthu at the age of …. first wife, the sister of the Magadha King Bimbisara, apparently bore him no children.
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QASSIM / January 7, 2014
@Native Veda- J Muthu is a brave & Proud Tamil he is neither afraid or shamed to make aware he is what he is ,while Sivanthan is a “Puff” who hides behind a Hindu Tamil name and is throwing stones at all others not aware it is utter stupidity to do so when you live in a glass building.
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aNTHONIO / January 11, 2014
@M.Sivananthan hiding in Toronto . LTTE fund raiser?
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QA=S=S=I=M / January 11, 2014
M.Sivananthan- WHERE HAVE I EVER SAID THAT I AM FROM ARABIA ,AND BTW ARABIA IS A LARGE PLACE , WHICH PART? AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM ? CHERIE OF TAMIL NADU? OR HUME PIPE HOMES? OR BACK STREETS OF BANGALA? OR ARE YOU ONE OF THE THOSE FEW WHO STILL IN YOUR HALLUCINATION THAT YOUR ANCESTORS WERE ARYAN WITH BLUE EYES AND WHITE SKIN ? WONDER IF THAT IS THE CASE IF YOUR MAMA GIRL SPEND TO MUCH OF SUN BATHING IN POLUNARUWA PARAKARAMA SAMUDARE THAT YOU ENDED UP DIRTY BROWN BOY..
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QA=S=S=I=M / January 11, 2014
@ M.Sivananthan-
Squirril You are a typical LTTE moron. That is why you cry like a fool. Supporting GOSL never qualify any one to be a Sinhala but it qualify me as a Sri Lankan. What is your nationality now? English? hahahaha
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@M.Sivananthan- what about you? Coward, traitor, ether side of the coin you are a traitor – if a Tamil fabricated enough lies against Sri Lanka and claimed Asylum , if a Sinhalese Sold your Motherland =to selling your own Mother and claimed Asylum – talking big and pointing fingers at others .
Get lot,, you bloody foreigner, bloody traitor do not dare talk of my race or where I come from, am better than you am more faithful to Sri Lanka unlike you just to get a Canadian PP you sold your own mother freak .
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QA=S=S=I=M / January 11, 2014
LONG LIVE OUR BELOVED KING MAHINDA 1 A RIGHTEOUS KING – JUSTICE TO ALL WITHOUT PREJUDICE OR FAVOR !
YOU HAVE THE BLESSING OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SINCERE.
MA RAK KE LAY -THE BLOOD THAT SAVED THE PAST SINHALA KING -WILL NOT THINK TWICE TO SACRIFICE OUR BLOOD FOR YOU YOUR MAJESTY !
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QA=S=S=I=M / January 11, 2014
SRI LANKAN MUSLIM CITIZEN RIGHTS –
SO LITTLE WE ASK WHICH IS OUR BIRTH RIGHTS
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ALL WE WANT IS OUR RIGHTFUL DIETARY, OUR RIGHT TO CONDUCT OUR DAILY PRAYERS SO THAT ,SUCH A STRUGGLE MAY HELP US GUIDE US ON THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, MAY HELP US AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP AWAY FROM WHAT IS WRONG , AND TO HELP US ENGAGE IN LEGAL RIGHTFUL WORK TO EARN AND TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES .
THE RIGHT FOR OUR LADIES TO BE DRESSED IN A NONE CULTURE CONFLICTING ATTIRE SO THEY MAY FEEL RELATIVELY SECURED AND EMOTIONALLY COMFORTABLE.
AM SURE THIS IS NOT ASKING FOR THE WORLD ..
MAY PEACE PREVAIL..
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QA=S=S=I=M / January 11, 2014
Educating those frogs in the deepest wells of Sri Lanka
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To All The Silly Lankan Forgs in the deep wells who mock Muslim ladies as gony Bilas and believe only Muslim women cover their faces and also claim they are subjugated either by their male relatives or husbands , where else it is opposite they choose to wear it as their right of choice to dress what they want and there are many amazing Muslim Ladies with the veil who are well employed and also going about attending to their daily chore uninterrupted most of the times more efficient than men.
While ,in some parts of North India the HINDU women are openly subjugated to wear the veil all the time and are confided behind walls and are practically slaves serving not only their husbands but the entire family members of the Husband .
Nobody talks of this , after all they are not Muslims , in some parts of India Hindu terrorist are engaging in terrorism no one talks of it ,why they are not Muslims, in Ireland , south America and many more , this is the problem , in many cases sickness of the body if can not be fully cured at least it can be contained , same with the brain , but the filthy sickness of the heart known as prejudice has no cure until they are consumed by the fire they themselves fuel .
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Ghoonghat – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoonghat
In ghungat, a woman will veil her face from all men to whom she’s related by … There is a small minority of women that use the fabric to cover their whole face, chest, … This type of veiling is still popular with Hindu brides and is observed on the … of northern India, especially in Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, ..
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Note;
I am sure those who follow The Hindi Serial dubbed in Sinhala would have seen how Sapana and other women were treated and forced to cover their faces..
Time to jump out of your deep wells.
Live nd Let live..
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