19 March, 2024

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An Aborted University & Squandered Opportunity

By Ameer Ali

Dr. Ameer Ali

About three years ago when passing through Punanai along the arterial road between Habarana and Batticaloa, I noticed a few brick structures appearing in a parched land amid thick shrubs and woody trees. It was almost a desolate spot where I could not see any people living close by. On inquiring from friends, I understood that it was a Saudi funded huge madrasa built by one Muslim parliamentarian and minister from the Batticaloa District. My immediate reaction was to question firstly, the need for such a madrasa and that too in a remote place like Punanai where there is no Muslim catchment population, and secondly, the implications of Saudi funding for a madrasa in Sri Lanka especially at a time when Wahhabism, the Saudi Arabian ultraconservative ideology, was falling under the spotlight of international critics who were trying to link that ideology with Islamist extremism. I warned my friends that the project would face immense difficulties on completion at least from nationalist Buddhists. That exactly what is happening now.

Later on, when reading through an opinion piece by Helum Bandara in Daily Mirror (18 January 2018), it dawned that it was going to be a “fully fledged state-of-the art university approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC)”. Well, if Sri Lanka could have private hospitals and private schools why not private universities? However, after witnessing the controversy over SAITM, critical questions once again arose particularly in relation to the difference that this university was going to make to the fifteen existing ones managed by UGC, the control over its management, and how profitable was it going to be to avoid becoming a white elephant. From information collected from print media and television interviews it appears that this university is going to be one controlled by members of the founder’s family, funded almost totally by Arab sources, while offering some advanced scientific and technical courses within an Islamic ambience.

The financial viability of this institution would obviously depend on fees charged from students, size of enrolment and cost of quality academic staff and administration. The figure Rs. 150,000 per semester per student as mentioned in the article referred to would obviously shut out majority of local students but would attract plenty of foreigners. However, that attraction would depend on the quality of teaching staff and standard and novelty of courses offered, both of which should be internationally competitive. On the contrary, if foreign demand falls and if fees were to reduce to cater to local demand quality of education offered would have to be compromised, which ultimately would jeopardise the financial viability of the project. One is not sure whether any marketing projections were carried out before venturing blindly into the area of higher studies. Running a private school is different from running a quality private university.

The other issue is about the sources of funding. Whether through interest free loans or outright donations, all funds would certainly have some strings attached to them. What do these lenders and donors expect in return? This is where suspicion arises regarding the ultimate objective of this university. Even if all funds are channelled legally and through proper agencies in the country, the fact that the lion share of it is coming from Saudi Arabia leaves room for suspecting that the university would ultimately function as an intellectual centre for spreading Wahhabi ideology. To make the situation worse, the architecture of buildings and the appearance of the front yard planted with date palms add an Arab flavour.

This project is another instance where a Muslim leader has been blinded by his   political clout and personal avarice to ignore ground realities.  A university funded by Arab money with at least one faculty or department to teach Islamic sharia and cultural studies, which would be staffed by Arab scholars at least partially, would certainly be viewed by others as a conduit for religious propaganda. The founder obviously has bitten more than what he could chew.  Not much consultancy with academics and Muslim intellectuals seems to have gone into the academic planning of this university.

Historically, Muslim leaders in this country had built and successfully managed educational institutions without provoking envy and suspicion from others. One could pick two instances where Muslim leaders in the past had built institutions of quality and prestige without inviting criticism from other communities. One was the establishment of Colombo Zahira College and the other was Naleemiya Institute. The first was started at a time when there was a cultural awakening in the country where every community was trying to open educational institutions within its own religious and cultural ethos. Thus, when Muslims understood the national context and embarked on the Zahira project they received not the anger but blessing from other community leaders. Zahira went on to produce hundreds of Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim scholars, many of whom of poor economic background bur went on to serve the country with patriotism and dedication while remembering with pride their debt to Zahira. The second, Naleemiya Institute, although of a different genre and catering entirely to the needs of Muslims, was the brain child of one patriotic local Muslim philanthropist, popularly known as Naleem Hajiar, whose generosity extended even to the government of the country, at a time when the nation as a whole was in dire straits to finance its imports. There was no foreign donation or loan involved in that project, and there was no grumbling from any community when it was opened. Instead, the advice of Naleemiya’s founder was eagerly sought by the then socialist finance minister Dr. N. M. Perera, who ultimately became an admirer of the entrepreneurial spirit and patriotism of that founder. Naleem Hajiar, a businessman when entered the field of education new his limitations, but was never reluctant to entertain with enthusiasm advice from prominent educationists of that time like A. M. A. Azeez and Bdiuddin Mahmud.

These were two instances where Muslim leaders worked within the national ethos while serving their own community.  More importantly, both Zahira and Naleemiya, unlike the aborted Punanai University, were not institutions intended to make private profit. In a sense, those two icons bear silent testimony to the quality of leadership which Muslims were able to produce in the past.

The question now is what should be done with this aborted project? Its founder argues that the university cannot be taken over by the government legally.  With reasonable compensation the government should be able to acquire it and utilise the facilities and preferably for educational purposes.

Why not turn into an international institute of research and postgraduate studies in agricultural and veterinary sciences? The land is part of the Mahaveli Development Scheme and the area is suitable for agriculture and cattle farming. Hence, a research centre in that field will be apt.  It can be an entirely independent institution or part of another existing university.

Having said that, there is still a need for an ‘Islamic’ university of a different type. Why not this aborted project be converted to such an institution in Sri Lanka? There had been a spurt of Islamic universities operating in various parts of the Muslim world. These universities are products of a petro-dollar era. Even though they are called Islamic there is hardly any difference between them and other non-Islamic universities particularly in respect of curricula taught and courses offered, except may be in the coverage of Arabic and Islamic studies. Even in those studies they are unable break the hold of Islamic orthodoxy. Yet, not one of them so far had been able to attain a place within the top one hundred universities in the world. Why therefore an ‘Islamic’ university and that too in Sri Lanka?

I want to refer to the thoughts of a Muslim internationalist, activist, thinker  and intellectual, Eqbal Ahmad (1933/4-1999), whose proposed Khaldun University, named after Abdul-Rahman Ibn Khaldun, a fourteenth century historian and sociologist, and a secular and scientific figure, received international support from Muslim intellectuals who even wanted to work for this secular institution pro bono. After showing some initial enthusiasm and support by the Government of Pakistan under Benazir Bhuto, she and the forces of Business and religious conservatism jointly sabotaged that project. I concur with his view that, “the Muslim people, or for that matter any people in the world, will not make a passage from a pre-industrial traditional culture and economy to a modern culture and economy without finding a linkage within finding forms and relationships that are congruent between modernity and inherited traditions … My argument is that we will not be able to fight fundamentalism  until we produce a modern progressive secular educated class of people who know the traditions and take the best of it”  (Eqbal Ahmad, Confronting Empire, Interviews with David Barsamian, Cambridge, Massachusetts: South End Press, 2000, p.22. Emphasis added).

A modern Muslim university to realise this vision of Eqbal somewhere in the world is an absolute need of our time. It will be a sound first step to reform even the madrasas eventually. However, given the prevailing climate of ultra-conservative Wahhabi hold on educational institutions, the very forces that sabotaged Khaldun University in Pakistan would do the same in any Muslim country. That is why had the politician and minister of the aborted Punanai project taken the bold step to establish from the outset a secular university based on Islamic rational tradition, he would have at least garnered support from intellectuals around the world to counter the criticisms that he is facing now. Sri Lanka could have pioneered this venture and contributed immensely to restart a tradition lost by Muslims centuries ago. Such a university would have won a unique status and earned an unparalleled prestige to this country in the Muslim world.  Unfortunately, the entire Muslim political leadership in Sri Lanka lacks that progressive vision. The aborted university project was a golden opportunity squandered by abuse of political power, subservience to Wahhabism and hunger for profit.

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  • 17
    1

    Very true Dr.Amir Ali.

    M.L.A.M. Hisbullah the man behind this University[?] project in Punanai with just a handful pf people and more of wildlife is widely seen as as an Anti-Tamil politician.He began his political journey with the Srilanka Muslim Congress led by the late M.H.M.Ashroff. Ashroff was a little uncomfortable with him for several reasons and he had him suspended from the party. The present leader of the SLMC Rauff Hakeem too had his reservations and now Hisbullah is a fully fledged member of the SLFP. His anti Tamil stand helped him to lease out Mahaweli land and obtain Saudi funding for an Islamic University to teach Sharia Law to an exclusive Muslim student university. After the defeat of the LTTE THE DOORS OPENED FOR HIS CHERISHED DREAM OF MAKING THE Eastern Province as the Homeland of the Muslims over the years.
    This project of his, in the secluded place of Punanai was the vehicle through which he hoped to achieve Islamisation of the East! Unfortunately for him his village mate from Kattankudy threw open the flood gates and Hisbullah has to answer many questions: Not just Sharia Law but also the Financial side of the project with his son being,ostensibly, the CEO.
    Most people may not know other hidden issues of this saga but certainly there is much more to this than meets the eye!

  • 3
    2

    Full permission would have been obtained, main construction work Didn’t the authorities did not know when the foundation stone from where money came from only after the easter incident that is was on screening mode if there was any connection to it. Now all involved are on probe , They would have a planed to invite foreign students let the government and a sri lank have the intelligent on monitoring mode viewing that university should only profit to the extent that they make all peoples lives better.

    • 5
      0

      Religious education should be imparted only through government controlled courses of study in schools and universities and certainly not through madarasas. As a first step, government should close all madarasas which are misinterpreting Islam thereby preaching hatred against other religions. This particular institution needs to be investigated thoroughly. Since Mahaveli lands had been granted for a non agricultural project, there is a strong suspicion that big sum of money has changed hands between the convenor of the project and authorities at the very top in Mahaveli ministry. All foreign donors (Individuals and organizations), must be exposed about their connection to Islamic extremism or terrorism. Who authorized the building plan with Arabic architecture. Unfortunately we have spineless, corrupt and power hungry politicians on both sides due to whom Muslims are doing these.

  • 14
    4

    “a secular university based on Islamic rational tradition” ? Sounds funny. Oxymoronic. Red herring!

  • 8
    4

    There is no neutral Muslim Places of Learning.

    The muslims have “The Axe” on all non-muslim religions. Period.

    Jayantha Pathberiya.

    • 8
      0

      ” There is no neutral Muslim Places of Learning. “ That is not all about it.

      Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/) was started by a Bengali boy who sought to give tuition for friends and relatives, for extra income, probably. Then he quit his date time job and running this Academy. Now his reported income is $800,000. Now world’s most popular NFP tuition house is Khan Academy. Google, Williams Gates, Carlos, At&T …many big guys donated money for it.

      Now it is a controversy Academy well deep entered into schools. Educationists show the same fear they showed toward Wikipedia, one time, by this casual, amateur, powerful education institution. Millions and million dollar worth of Math, science, computer…. and many other field education materials, in many international languages are just free like that. It is going to make kids cheat on Textbooks. Textbook writers are going to complain sooner or later.

      I know a little about these NFPs. Donors are walking around with money to give, but first you have to prove your good intentions and management skill. Donor, as they are in the field, knows well about racketeering. They put conditions. Donations come in three types. Unrestricted, temporarily restricted or semi restricted and permanently restricted. These are the funds Academies and Universities get and invest and use to look after their expenses. Donor money cannot be converted to private investment. If happen IRS will go after that institute and, for at least up to six years, collect taxes and break the institution’s back bone. This Hezbollah racketeering is big a game, uncomprehend-able. If it is donation, he cannot claim the university; If his pocket money, he has to show the income for that amount. Until Ranil, New King, Old King, the Trios, the master racketeers are there, the truth will never come out.

      • 4
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        Mallaiyuran

        What us the story of jaffna library.

  • 7
    0

    “Historically, Muslim leaders in this country had built and successfully managed educational institutions without provoking envy and suspicion from others. “
    But they operated under less suspicious circumstances and free of less suspicious patrons like Saudi Arabia.
    *
    “…prominent educationists of that time like A. M. A. Azeez and Bdiuddin Mahmud”
    The two were decades apart.
    Azeez was a great scholar and much respected educationist who acted to promote Muslim education in ways that educators from other communities cheered.
    Badiuddin Mahmud was a sectarian politician, some of whose improper actions caused offence. He was a prominent politician of sorts— rejected by Muslims at the polls,
    An educationist? Ask someone who knows about something about education.
    *
    W Dahanayake did much for the education of Muslims during 1956-1959 and nobody even talks about him.

    • 1
      0

      Correction
      But they operated under less suspicious circumstances and free of rather suspicious patrons like Saudi Arabia.

  • 7
    0

    Dear Ameer,
    As an educationist and an Academic, I believe that more and more opportunities should be provided for the youth of Sri Lanka to horn their skills and better their knowledge through either vocational schools, Polytechnics or/and even Universities.
    However, such opportunities should be best calibrated by skill, talent, and least by religion, caste or creed or any other social bias.

    Whilst I support any institute that caters for the betterment of the education of the youth, I despise the social biases applied as part of the eligibility criteria for any institute of higher education,even a private entity.
    I lecture @ four of the state Universities for post grad, and doctoral students, and I see no particular bias in selection, thus reflecting a pure merit based evaluation for entry @ the higher levels of the academia.
    Whilst I am not a good journalist ( thus my sporadic comments on selected articles), yet I strongly believe in a good academia (far beyond the Knowledge Hub as prescribed by the previous / present governments).

    I am eager to contribute the cause in any way that I can.

    Cheers!

  • 1
    0

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  • 2
    0

    Dr. Ameer Ali,

    RE: An Aborted University & Squandered Opportunity

    “That is why had the politician and minister of the aborted Punanai project taken the bold step to establish from the outset a secular university based on Islamic rational tradition, he would have at least garnered support from intellectuals around the world to counter the criticisms that he is facing now. Sri Lanka could have pioneered this venture and contributed immensely to restart a tradition lost by Muslims centuries ago. Such a university would have won a unique status and earned an unparalleled prestige to this country in the Muslim world. The aborted university project was a golden opportunity squandered by abuse of political power, subservience to Wahhabism and hunger for profit.”

    Thanks for your article. The Muslim intellectuals like you are becoming an endangered species, courtesy of Wahhabi-Salafism, the madrassas funded by Saudi Petrodollars, the Ulama and Moulavis trained by them, and further brainwashing of the students in Wahhabism and Orthodoxy, with very little science, philosophy and critical thinking skills.

    Even before Kaldun, there was Ibn Rushd, aka Averroes, who was hounded by the Orthodoxy and the Ulama, as Rushd claimed that the Ulama are the not the people of knowledge but the philosophers are. He was exiled and his works burned, including philosophy works.

    Ibn Rushd in his darkest hour

    https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/artsandculture/2015/4/9/ibn-rushd-in-his-darkest-hour

    This Punanai project is a curse for the Muslims of Sri Lanka in particular from Wahhabies, and Sri Lanka in general.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadith_of_Najd

    “There (in Najd) will occur earthquakes, trials and tribulations, and from there appears the Horn of Satan.”

    According to the Hadith of Najd, the Wahhaabi-Salafis, who follow Satan, will end up in Hell-Fire along with Satan. Will they teach the Hadith of Najd? No!

  • 9
    2

    This is a “dirty money laundry” which has been built in the jungle with hideous architecture by those who are trying hard to destroy Sinhala-Buddhist and make Sri Lanka a Muslim hell hole.
    /
    After Muslims killed more than 250 innocent people, Muslims injured more than 500 innocent people, Muslims ……………, Sinhalese have had enough with anything Muslim or 1slam.
    /
    So, the government must confiscate the buildings, change its hideous architecture, and make it a military camp.
    /
    Saudi, with their money, must build houses, schools, hospitals, etc with in Saudi Arabia for Muslim refugees from SL.
    /
    By the way Amir, how many Buddhist temples are in Saudi Arabia??????????

    • 7
      1

      There was no Sinhalese Buddhist culture in the east. It was Tamil Saivitie or Tamil Buddhist. Sinhalese only arrived in the east after independence , starting with the colonisation schemes by DS Senanayake , however most of them only arrived in the past 30-40 years and are now claiming everything in the east as Sinhalese and Buddhist and this includes ancient Hindu temples. This includes the disgraceful destruction of the ancient Hindu temple at Kinniya. This should be reported to the UN that the Sri Lankan government , archaeological department that is full of Sinhalese Buddhist Fascists, the Forestry department and the racist occupying Sinhalese armed forces all in conjunction with each other are forcibly taking over Tamil peoples lands and Hindu temples and converting the Buddhist shrines. Heard that President who shameless came to power because of the Tamil votes and the speaker were also behind the destruction of this ancient Hindu temple and Sinhalese politicians from all parties are surreptitiously visiting a Buddhist shrine that is being built on the premised of a another ancient Hindu temple in Mullaitivu . The Muslims are trying to do the same after the LTTE both people are trying to steal Tamil peoples lands and destroy their history and claim it as theirs , as they feel that the Tamils are now weak after the defeat of the LTTE and there is no one to protect them. The western, Indian governments that helped the Sri Lankan government to defeat LTTE have a lot to answer, as they have not left the Tamils destitute , with no protection . If they had helped the Sinhalese to defeat the LTTE , they should have seen to it that a just federal solution to the Tamils should have been granted , with their lands, language , history and heritage protected. They have done nothing but have allowed China and Islamic Salafists extremists to take over and racist Sinhalese Buddhist Fascism grow both of which are dangerous to them and the region.

    • 0
      0

      John

      When we believe in god not only buddhist christians all world & messengers inside it so they are more accommodative than others

  • 1
    0

    I don’t see any problem of having private universities alongside public universities as long a the profit making is not the goal. However, the idea of the religious identity, I think, is absurd. If there is a demand for Muslim studies then any university should be able provide necessary courses in the same way it is done with languages & Buddhism.
    In any case, I strongly believe that Ameer Ali is absolutely wrong to put the sole blame for keeping a blind eye on the introduction of Muslim sectarian conflict into SL on Muslim political leaders & profit mongers alone. Politicians, by nature, are bounded by public opinion & therefore, it is very difficult for them to go against the wind. Rather, the first to speak out must be the intellectual community b’cos they are trained to make valid prediction for the future based on the current trends. I think that people like Ameer Ali missed completely the danger of ISIS influence getting into young minds particularly when Muslims communities began to face threats from Buddhist extremists which are small in numbers but supported by opportunistic politics. Now, Muslim intellectuals must try to correct the mistake they have made by talking directly to the their own political, religious & community leaders on how to share life in a multi-ethnic society.

    • 1
      0

      There is a Buddhist & Pali University in existence.
      The Universities of Kelaniya & sri J’pura had threir origins in two Pirivenas that were declared universities.
      Therte was a call for a Hindu University as opposed tio a tamil university in the 1950s and a little after.
      Private universities are there to make money by selling degrees. They compromise on standards. In the West, it is only in the US that there are so many private Universities.
      Europe and UK are much in favour of state run universities. In India private colleges have wrecked standards.
      Our tragedy is that state investment in higher education has been poor and there has been no HE policy based on development prospects.
      There are more private universities doing business on the high street in Colombo than cafes I am tempted to think. What do they produce?

      • 2
        0

        Mr. SJ,
        “Private universities are there to make money by selling degrees”.
        You shouldn’t tar all private unis with the same brush. The quality of most graduates from state unis is doubtful. For ex. the guy who issued that order on proper dress for govt servants.
        About Indian uni standards, even if they produce a lot of rubbish, they do produce many Abdul Kalams or the two “rocket ladies” running their moon lander project. What do we have?

        • 3
          0

          L.A. Buddhadasa

          “What do we have?”

          We have multitasking Chana Jayasumana, Wimal Sangili Karuppan Weerawansa, Udhaya Ganapathipillai, Hopper Sirisena, Navin Nayaka, Namal Baby, …. 21 Millions.

          • 2
            0

            And we have a lousy Kalaveddah commenting on things he hardly understands.

      • 1
        0

        The private universities produce graduates who are employable and the state sector universities other than medical schools and engineering faculties produce unemployable graduates.

        That is the main difference between the two. There are no unemployed graduates who have studied in the fee levying private sector universities. What a shame that we don’t have fee levying medical schools !!!

  • 0
    0

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  • 3
    1

    Why Islamic Universities are needed. It would be troublesome but perhaps acceptable for the House of Saud to promote the intolerant and extremist Wahhabi creed just domestically. But, unfortunately, for decades the Saudis have also lavishly financed its propagation abroad. Exact numbers are not known, but it is thought that more than $100 billion have been spent on exporting fanatical Wahhabism to various much poorer Muslim nations worldwide over the past three decades. It might well be twice that number. Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide.” She continues: “More needs to be done since Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaeda, the Taliban, LeT and other terrorist groups.” And it’s not just the Saudis: Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are also implicated in the memo. Other cables released by Wikileaks outline how Saudi front companies are also used to fund terrorism abroad.

    • 0
      0

      JD
      Saudi front companies are also used to fund terrorism abroad.

      US is monitoring and saudi is not band to visit US why is that.

    • 0
      0

      Jimmy/ JD,
      It seems that a guy called Yousuf Butt has written exactly what you wrote above, on the Huffpost website. You should sue him for plagiarism. Please remember me when you get the money.

  • 1
    4

    Sajith’s father President Ranasinghe Premadasa is responsible for the pathetic situation native Sinhalayo have gotten into today. When the Proportional Representation system was introduced the initial cut off point for any party to qualify for parliamentary representation was 12.5% but Ranasinghe Premadasa reduced the cut-off point to 5% on a request made by M H M Ashraff of the SLMC before the 1988 elections. The reduction was with political intent and resulted in ethnic-based political parties with ethnic-based agendas to enter parliament and legislatively weaken and destabilize Sri Lanka incrementally to what it is today. The guy who did this to this country should rot in hell.

  • 0
    0

    Mr Ameer, in your ongoing attempts to ‘rationalise’ Islamic arrogance, plots, and bombings in Sri Lanka you say, “A modern Muslim university to realise this vision of Eqbal somewhere in the world is an absolute need of our time.”
    /
    Can you take it and stick in some other place in the middle east dessert or somewhere, instead of trying to bring it to this Buddhist country that believes in a different, non-violence based religion.
    /
    Down with Hisbulla and his corrupt dream. Take the buildings to the government and estab;lish an army camp there.

  • 3
    0

    Don’t go behind other peoples money – and sell your dignity and self respect.
    Stop all Saudi funding in Sri Lanka

    Stop sending Sri Lankan women (including Muslim women) as slaves to work in Saudi Arabia and
    Other Toxic Islamic states.

    Sri Lanka should steer away from inviting investment at any cost and be more sensible and prudent when it comes to foreign investments and foreign donations.

    Government should stop sending women overseas for menial jobs.

    Generate proper jobs for Sri Lankans in Sri Lanka – This is the primary responsibility of the government

  • 1
    1

    A well balanced and well presented article. But alas! The psyche of the average has thrown off balance completely with the Easter Sunday explosion. Because of the incessant expressions by social leaders the average man has come to terms that the aggressors did not represent the average Muslim. The society in general is vigilant and is mindful not to let any flareup take place along ethnic or religious lines. Still, Muslims are in a state of anxiety as to what may happen next and Non-Muslims are wondering what trick may be folded up in the sleeves of terrorists. Whatever our political leaders may claim about normalcy the business community in general whisper that it has yet not reached the pre-Easter Sunday levels of economic activity. In that context an analysis on the “Hizbullah” University is meaningless and any positive approach towards it will not fall into the minds of the average. What must be appreciated in this article is the theme that any activity should be done without offending the society in general and that should stand as an icon displaying benefit to the society. The tactful approach of the Muslim leaders in the past must be commended.

    • 0
      0

      Good Sense is a
      Another Wahabi Lacky

  • 0
    0

    JD

    All Schools and Universities are from christian and it has promoted and fostering development
    same in United states, The Islamic education main purpose is to educate Muslim students in the United States , same International students continue to seek out the chance to enroll in Islamic universities and colleges in the US.There are several Islamic colleges and universities spread throughout the United States.

  • 2
    0

    A university is a need to develop the specific aspects of a country. In a Sinhala buddhist majority country in which buddhism and Sinhala are intertwined with the culture and the civilization studying islam or Or islamic University is a disaster to the majority and their culture. Not every sinhala buddhist is watching this. Sinhala politicians will not definitely talk against this as it costs votes and much needed humongous Political donations. But, interested Sinhala people and bhikkus need to watch. There should not be a Islamic university in Sri lanka. When, there are 52 majority Islamic countries why Sri lanka should have a Islamic university.
    Even some Islamic countries understand that extremist Islam is destroying those countries. Extremism, violence and Expansion may be good for Weapon merchants who are selling weapons for both sides but not for a developing country.

  • 4
    1

    Sri Lanka wont prosper as sodamizing monks are above the law. 900-1500 recorded cases of children abused in temples. police dont take statements from children. Ranjan Ramanayaka. MP

    • 1
      0

      JEHAN,

      Ranjan, State Minister says a handful of monks. Some say majority of monks.

      http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/I-only-referred-to-a-%E2%80%98handful-of-monks%E2%80%99:-Ranjan/108-171158

      The fact is that most of those monks are abused as trainee monks, Samaneras, and grow up to be *****d up monks, not only in their backs, but also in their heads.

      The result, many politicians Are afraid to tell the truth.

      So we have this Asgiriya monk who lies, and the BBS monks who lie too. This is Para-Sinhala- Para Buddhism in a nutshell , that is the curse of the land of Native Veddah Aethho, and an insult to Buddhism and to The Buddha.

      Similarly, Wahhabism is an Insult to Islam and Prophet Mohamed, per the prescient Hadith of Najd, reference in an earlier post by Amarasiri.

    • 1
      0

      President Sirisena should dress up like a beutiful sexy woman and go to the Buddhist temples to check the “”seela””.

      This is how kings of old maintained the Sasana.

      The King was the “”Buddhi Anse “” he did not rely on this one and that one
      because He or She knew that most of them are ‘”mandha buddhika”

  • 2
    0

    Ver simply like Poland did, for every Mosque, madrasa or school built here with Saudimoney we should be able to build Temples, Churches, and Kovils in Saudi, If not they can use that money to improve the conditions of the slave labour from Sri Lanka

  • 1
    2

    Do not worry too much about this new university. We all know there is politics behind it ..
    But; consider the quality of education in many of our universities..
    So bad.
    No innovation in many areas of academic studies in Arts and humanities .
    So; why we need more.
    Had it been in Colombo I would have supported this for many obvious reasons.
    Dr Hibulllah has good intention ..
    But got it wrong to locate it in this remote areas of Sri Lanka..
    I do not agree with him on the areas of elected courses.
    We Sri Lankans must enrich our human resources that is the best way to develop our economy ..
    But idiots are on top level of government.
    No place for experts .
    How many experts he must have consulted before he goes for this universities.
    What advice he can get from children of camel in Saudi Arabia.
    Wasabi/ salafi have no idea about this modern world ???

    • 4
      2

      Was he also having good intentions when he was illegally stealing Hindu temple and private Tamil lands for his Islamisation agenda? Deliberately marginalising the Tamils in the east and making them third rates in their own lands , that even alarmed many Sinhalese Buddhist monks to speak out, whilst the TNA had gone on a deep slumber. Tamils and the Tamilised Hindu Vedda re the indigenous population of the east. Not others both the Sinhalese and Muslims are recent arrivals but a claiming and trying to steal the east from its Tamil owners , using the resources of the state, funds from Islamic nations and all sorts of fake history. Everything about the east is Tamil . The history place names , its ancient rulers and population . Not Sinhalese nor Muslim.

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    Saudis, like many Arab Muslims, suffer from low IQ due to frequent inbreeding (marriage of first cousins). It is a scientific fact that inbreeding results in mental degradation. That is why Saudi Arabia sponsors the construction of madrassas and even “universities” dedicated entirely to the study of a primitive form of Islam called “Wahhabism.” Children in radical madrassas study only one subject: Quran. Their time is spent memorizing the entire Quran. So you can see, these are not normal schools in the traditional sense. These are religious schools, designed to breed idealogues. SL Muslims should avoid getting mixed up in this kind of radicalization, as radicalization of children will take the whole society down. Groups like the Nazis and LTTE were focused on indoctrination of children, as they knew the latter could be used to control any dissent from the elders.

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