By Ameer Ali –
Dr. Ameer Ali
Sri Lanka has reached a cross road. The parliament has been prorogued because president Maithripala Sirisena did not like an elected prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. He has appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as interim prime minister in whose previous cabinet MS served before betraying MR. In between MS-MR re-marriage and divorcee RW, the third dignitary, the speaker of the parliament speaker, Karu Jayasuriya is facing a mutiny from his officials in support of the reunited couple. In the fray are also foreign powers trying to fish in troubled waters. In short, the parliament has lost its dignity, the country its sovereignty and democracy its meaning. It has become a laughing stock. Does an elected prime mister hold power at the will and pleasure of the president? MS said that he offered the position to two others before giving it to MR. Therefore MR is the third option. What guarantee is there that he will also not be dismissed when MS falls in love with another? It is time the country save the constitution and reject the unconstitutionality of this whimsical president.
The essence of the saga is that the country is going back to its post-independent Sinhalese factionalism, one championed by UNP and the other by SLFP. From this factional contest the Tamil leaders withdrew long ago and still they are unwilling to join either of the factions. While their demands still remain unresolved even after a bloody civil war, the Muslim leaders on the other hand, except one or two, right from the beginning took a businesslike approach to politics by joining either of the factions that promised them more favours. The constitutional changes from the Westminster and Colvin and to JR models gradually narrowed the opportunities for Muslim politicians to play that game. Realising this, Asharf created his SLMC monster in 1990 expecting to bring Muslim politicians under his umbrella so that there can be bulk bargaining with the struggling factions. That eventually worsened the situation for the Muslim community who fell prey to the predatory forces within the Sinhalese and Tamil communities.
The present impasse provides a golden opportunity for both Tamil and Muslim leaders to join hands with patriotic Sinhalese to save the constitution, democracy and the country. I appeal to Muslim leaders to remain patriotic and save the dignity of the parliament and Muslim community. It is sickening to see a few Muslim parliamentarians, one or two them entered that iconic precinct, through the backdoor are now stampeding to support the president’s actions in return for personal favours. They should be ashamed of their behaviour and should remember that even though they are welcomed by one faction at the moment that faction will have no permanent trust on them, because they can be bought by the other faction for a better price at any time. Above all their political opportunism is leaving an indelible scar on the national image of the Muslim community.
This is one moment which demands the two minorities to throw their united support with the patriotic majority from the Sinhalese community. That unity will open a new chapter in the politics of Sri Lanka and will be remembered forever. As a friend of mine just reminded me “when the going gets tough the tough gets going”.
Rizwan / November 7, 2018
The ‘Muslims’ politicians have forgotten that God exists, and though they plan and scheme, God is the best of planners, and eventually they will all be held to account.
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Native Vedda / November 7, 2018
Rizwan
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Leave the god alone.
God is a only bystander watching killing of innocent people and their never ending suffering including good Muslims.
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Only yesterday UN reported the existence of 200 mass graves and said “as many as 12,000 bodies could be buried across 202 sites, including thousands of Isis victims dumped in a sinkhole south of Mosul”.
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If he/she created (its always been he) all of you and me, let him/her deal with everything that is unacceptable in this world, and lets do nothing, sit tight, …… silently watch despicable fascists take over and destroy people, their tireless efforts, ……………. under various nasty pretext, be it religion, nationalism, …………… regionalism, economic schism, ideology, ………….. and in the name of god.
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Probably God didn’t know exactly what he/she was doing when he let the genie first out in the form of Humans.
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Native Vedda / November 7, 2018
Rizwan
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Now it seems the armed forces have nationalised or probably privatised the Hindu gods and temples.
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Al-faqurlah / November 7, 2018
If you say that Muslim politicians have forgotten that God exists, they are not alone as Muslims world over had forgotten about existence of God 1600 years ago and started believing in a non-existent entity called Allah.
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Rizwan / November 7, 2018
The Arabic word for God is ‘Allah’.
Or, if you prefer, the English translation of the word ‘Allah’ is God.
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Ayathuray Rajasingam / November 7, 2018
Rizwan,
God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent i.e. he is all pervading. Others founders are all prophets. God is immortal and beyond time and existence. The letters in the English word GOD denote the following.
G – Generator
O – Operator
D – Destroyer
How do you fit all these prophets within GOD?
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Uthungan / November 8, 2018
‘God is omnipotent,omniscient and omnipresent i.e.he is all pervading”.
But. God cannot be a ‘he’ or ‘she’.
God is a mystery combination of both.
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Al-faqurlah / November 8, 2018
Originally Arabic word “Allah” was for the moon. Islamic day starts with rise of the moon in the evening. Islamic month starts with appearance of first moon. Latin word for moon is Luna and hence those who follow the moon are lunatics.
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Amarasiri / November 8, 2018
Al-faqurlah,
“Latin word for moon is Luna and hence those who follow the moon are lunatics.”
The Buddhists follow the moon, too, . like others, especially the Full Moon, and called Poya Day,, and all the Lunatics celebrate that day, and go to the temples.
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Mohamed / November 8, 2018
Al-faqurlah,
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Boy, Long time no see? Forgetfulness creates lots of issues in the world, you’re right. See your dad forgot to pick a johnny bag, now we have to deal with another dumb scumbag
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Al-faqurlah / November 8, 2018
Mohamed the mad man, it is you like all Muslims need to pick up the johnny bags which they removed in the name of religion. As per verdict by Pakistani judges, there is no crime in insulting prophet Mohamed.
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Hussain Jawid / November 9, 2018
Rotten Al-faqurlah, if you see a dead Jesus statue it’s god for you, if you see a dead Indian Buddha’s statue it is god for you or if see hundreds of mythical god statues they are gods for you. These are existing material entities for you but non-material existence also can be an entity. Allah means non-material all powerful omnipotent creator having no gender, death or birth and responsible for all creations. Scientist believe in a original particle from which matter and universe came into existence. They call it god particle and all trying their best to discover it. We Muslim discovered it 1600 years ago and we call it Allah the omnipotent, ever existing intelligent power responsible for the existence of universe and living things. If you can comment intelligent and acceptable way then do it, otherwise don’t be a Mee Arakka.
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Al-faqurlah / November 10, 2018
Allah the omnipotent ! My foot. See how the Muslims are getting shot dead when they shout Allahu Akbar. Stop insulting Buddha who is the greatest human being in the world far superior to that lunatic, pedophile instigator of violence.
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Rizwan / November 7, 2018
All things are from God, good and bad.
And no: God is not a bystander as it is only due to His presence that the universe exists in the here and now, and time marches forward.
Even if you did not know it by instinct, the logical proofs in Thomas Aquinas’s “Five Ways” explains clearly why the above must be so.
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Amarasiri / November 10, 2018
Rizwan,
Thomas Acqinas learned from Ibn Rushd, in the 12th century, the geatest Islamic Philosopher And Jurist, whom the Ulama got punished and got his books burned. Google Ibn Rushd, aka Averie’s, who showed how wrong Ghazali and the Ashatites were.
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K.Anaga / November 7, 2018
Native Vedda!
You have said it well. God has no time to look into deaths and destruction. To the probable 12,000 bodies add approximately 200 bodies already discovered in Mannar not in the graves, but while digging to lay foundation for some buildings. It is useless saying that god will punish the wrong doers after the damage is done.God must adopt some preventive measures before the damage.
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Mohamed / November 7, 2018
K. Anaga,
They say, “Arasan andru kolvaan, Deivan Nindru Kollum”
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Native Vedda / November 8, 2018
Mohamed
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“They say, “Arasan andru kolvaan, Deivan Nindru Kollum”
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Whatever that maybe, the question is why does the god cause premature death of children and babies? We could go into theosophical arguments until the cows come home yet we may not agree on each others believes.
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Please leave the god alone.
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K.Anaga / November 8, 2018
Mohamed.!
Andavan (GOD) nintru kollulm pothu irreprable damage would have been done.\
ie When god takes his/her own time to kill/punish severe damage would have been inflicted on the innocent. ( perhaps you are referring to retribution?)
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Raja Senanayake / November 8, 2018
God granted freedom of thought and action to people which means the freedom to decide to do evil as well as good. He seems to want people to learn from their free actions
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mohomad / November 9, 2018
So Native Vedda everything that comes out of Western Media is Bible words for you. No wonder without knowingly or knowingly you are calling yourself Vedda.
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Amarasiri / November 8, 2018
Dr. Ameer Ali,
RE: An Appeal To Muslims Of Sri Lanka: Save The Dignity Of Parliament, Country & Community
“The present impasse provides a golden opportunity for both Tamil and Muslim leaders to join hands with patriotic Sinhalese to save the constitution, democracy and the country. I appeal to Muslim leaders to remain patriotic and save the dignity of the parliament and Muslim community. It is sickening to see a few Muslim parliamentarians, one or two them entered that iconic precinct, through the backdoor are now stampeding to support the president’s actions in return for personal favours. “
Yes. All, Tamils Muslims and Sinhala should uphold that the Constitution is supreme, and the Parliament is supreme, independent of who holds the President’s, Prime Minster’s or Speaker’s office. Unfortunately, there will be some Quislings, among the Tamils Muslims and Sinhala who will sell themselves, and disappoint those who elected them.
ACJU, the un-elected “Leaders” of the Sri Lankan Muslims must come forward and say, that the constitution and the democracy proves must be preserved in the Democracy Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka But will ACJU say that?
The Catholic Cardinal Rajit has already prostituted himself, not a surprise for catholic cardinals and Popes
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Amarasiri / November 8, 2018
Dr. Ameer Ali,
RE: An Appeal To Muslims Of Sri Lanka: Save The Dignity Of Parliament, Country & Community
“The Catholic Cardinal Rajit has already prostituted himself, not a surprise for catholic cardinals and Popes”
The Buddhist monks have also been prostituting themselves
Got threatening call to join Govt: Hirunika
http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Got-threatening-call-to-join-Govt-Hirunika-158023.html
“She said she had been made many offers to join the new Government by many individuals.”
“I have recorded all phone calls given to be offering various things but I don’t want to reveal them to the public now as the true face of some Buddhist Monks and even Christian priests would be revealed if I did so,” she said.
So this is an opportunity for the Ulama to stay neural, and let the constitution work itself out.
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ekelbroom / November 8, 2018
Brother Amarasiri
“ACJU, the un-elected “Leaders” of the Sri Lankan Muslims must come forward and say, that the constitution and the democracy proves must be preserved in the Democracy Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka But will ACJU say that?”
Are you actually advocating that a band of scholars of Islamic Jurisprudence advise the Ummah on interpreting the Constitution of Sri Lanka ? Unbelievable !!
Are these Lebbes qualified to do so ?
Are you not thereby inadvertently boosting the self-image of these scholars who are desperately attempting to be perceived as know-all ‘Sunni Priests’ and not merely as advisors (interpreters of Islamic laws) to the community ?
Ministers Hakeem and Bathiudeen have already fled to Mecca with their MP’s ostensibly to perform Umrah. They have chosen to desert the Muslim community in order to protect their own political interests. They have blatantly subverted and made a mockery of the teachings of Islam which instructs Muslims to visit Mecca only with the intention (Niyyath) of performing Haj/Umrah. Not with the intention of protecting their political offices. It would be interesting to find out as to which political party or which foreign country paid for these Muslim MP’s to be conveniently taken ‘out of the equation’ at this point in time ?
So do we really need the Lebbes or the Muslim Politicians to provide leadership to our community for this purpose ?
The current political upheaval necessitates Muslims to think and act as Sri Lankans first and not as Muslims. It is a moment when we must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our non-Muslim brothers and sisters to bring peace and stability to our Motherland.
This is the time for all Muslims to demonstrate to the other local communities that they are Muslim Sri Lankans and not Sri Lankan Muslims.
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Amarasiri / November 10, 2018
Comrade ekelbroom,
1. “ACJU, the un-elected “Leaders” of the Sri Lankan Muslims must come forward and say, that the constitution and the democracy proves (process) must be preserved in the Democracy (Democratic) Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka But will ACJU say that?”
Thanks for your comment This was a sarcastic comment by Amarasiri, on the Muslim Politicians, because the Muslim Politicians have taken the back seat with respect to the MMDA , that deals with the Democratic and Constitutional rights of the Sri Lankan Women, ad allowed the ACJU Ulama to claim that the MMDA is PERFECT.
2. “Are you actually advocating that a band of scholars of Islamic Jurisprudence advise the Ummah on interpreting the Constitution of Sri Lanka ? Unbelievable !!
Are these Lebbes qualified to do so ?”
Absolutely not. Those who know only the Quran and Hadith, know how to burn philosophy books are not qualified. Read up on Ibn Rushd , Averroes and his problems with the Ulama.
3. “Are you not thereby inadvertently boosting the self-image of these scholars who are desperately attempting to be perceived as know-all ‘Sunni Priests’ and not merely as advisors (interpreters of Islamic laws) to the community ?”
No. Just pointing out their, ACJU, stupidity. Why are the Muslim politicians going along with the Un-elected Ulama, who say that the Earth is spread out like a carpet, and the Sun sets in murky waters etc.?
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Amarasiri / November 8, 2018
Rizwan,
“The ‘Muslims’ politicians have forgotten that God exists,” ,……. perhaps there have been no independent demonstration of that.
Can the ACJU come up with demonstrated evidence for the existence of God?
Nevertheless, for the current conflict and interpretation pf the Constitution, there is no need to being God in, because the constitutions is man made, not Sharia.
One God. Who came up with idea? Prophet Mohamed, Jesus Christ, Prophet Abraham, the Zoroastrians, the Acadiens, ……?
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Rizwan / November 8, 2018
Amarasiri,
The label of Muslim is the same as to claim believer of God. That’s what the word Muslim means, simply believer. If they are not convinced God exists then they should not associate themselves with the label of Muslim.
Having associated themselves with the label they are obliged, by Quranic command, to act in just and moral way, even if it be against themselves. This they do not do despite the label of Muslim.
Quranic law is only applicable to a community governed by Muslims for Muslims. This is inapplicable in this context.
All laws, regardless of basis, have their roots in justice and morality, which is an intrinsic human trait. Are these politicians devoid of understanding such things? Well, unless they have become so desentized as to be a lost cause we should believe not.
Having said that in the Quran God does reference those individuals who indulge in immorality and injustice to such a great extent, despite repeated chances to redeem themselves, that they lose that restraining aspect of the soul which they had. Such individuals are relegated to something like zombies, alive but soulless, unable to see morality and justice. God closes their soul off to redemption, and punishes them severely in the afterlife.
The One God concept is fundamental to all Biblical, Abrahamic religions. In the Quran there is a discourse called the Primordial Oath, an oath taken with the souls of man before man was created into human form. Here are the words:
“When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): “Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?”- They said: “Yea! We do testify!” (This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: “Of this we were never mindful””: (Quran 7:172, English – Yusuf Ali)
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Rizwan / November 8, 2018
Amarasiri,
The last bit of my comment was removed due CT’s censors where I referred you to an external source for Aquinas’s “Five ways” logical argument for why God exists. I will explain the argument as best as I can here.
1. We observe that things are always changing around us. Example: A cake is heated if it is placed in an oven. A ball rolls if it is pushed. A baby grows into a man.
2. This change is called, in Aristotelian terms, ‘motion’ and refers to a movement from ‘potentiality’ to ‘actuality’. For example a cake has the potential to be hot, and once it is hot that potentiality is actualized.
3. The change of potentiality to actuality of any object is caused by the simultaneous potentiality to actuality of another object. For example, a person moves his hand and hits a stone with a stick, causing the stone to roll. In this case the hand, the stick and the stone are moving simultaneously. The stone moves from P to A. The stick moves from P to A. The hand moves from P to A.
4. The above sequence can be summarized by saying that the hand moving from P to A is what causes the stone to move from P to A. The stick is redundant in the overall scheme of things.
5. But we know that the hand is not the start of the sequence. The hand is moved by the muscles, which is moved by the molecules, laws of physics etc. All of which are moving from Potentiality to Actuality.
6. However the sequence must have an end – a ‘first mover’, and by necessity this ‘first mover’ must be able to cause Potentiality to Actuality, but not change in itself. This ‘first mover’ is therefore unchanging and is called the ‘Unmoved mover’. It is pure actuality and no potentiality! This is what is God.
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Amarasiri / November 11, 2018
Amarasiri,,
“I referred you to an external source for Aquinas’s “Five ways” logical argument for why God exists. I will explain the argument as best as I can here.”
Have you heard about thermodynamics?
Abuur Ibn Rushd, and his counter argument # 17 to Ghazali, on cotton burning, and the agent? Cover the burning cotton, with a glass jar, and the cotton stop burning, even though the agent is still with the cotton.
Ref. Incoherence of the Incoherence by Ibn Rushd, aka Averros.
Was the Quran Eternal or Created?
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Amarasiri / November 11, 2018
Rizwan,
1. “Such individuals are relegated to something like zombies, alive but soulless, unable to see morality and justice. God closes their soul off to redemption, and punishes them severely in the afterlife.”
You mean, Wahhabies, Salafies and their clones, ISIS, ISIL, Talibam, Boko Haram etc? Hadith of Najd”
Scholar from al-Azhar: Wahhabism is a Satanic Faith, the Horn of the Devil that Muhammad Predicted
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UDy_apXW3E
2. “The One God concept is fundamental to all Biblical, Abrahamic religions”
It was picked up from the Zorastrians, and the Zorastrians picked it from Acadians, and those before them.
So, what Judaism, Christianity and Islam is promoting is an old concept, One God, it was there before. Is the demonstrated data conclusive?
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Rizwan / November 12, 2018
Amarasiri,
The Islamic God is no different to the Christian God, the Jewish God, and God as understood throughout the ages since man evolved into conscious human.
Present day evidence of affinity to believe in a higher power is evidenced by the predominance of multitudes of religions. Even though the details differ, the affinity/demand remains.
The Islamic religion is no different in principle to any of the religions of old – some of which exist to this day, and others which have long been forgotten.
The prophet Muhammad is NO DIFFERENT to any of the messengers of old, and may not be treated different to the messengers of old. In fact the Quran expressly forbids Muslims from making any distinction between Muhammad and all the prophets throughout the ages:
“Say, “We have believed in God and in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants, and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord. We make NO DISTINCTION between any of them, and we are Muslims [submitting] to Him.”” Q3:84
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Rajash / November 8, 2018
Sun God?
unfortunately he ceased to exist 10 years ago…..
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Fathima / November 7, 2018
Dr. Ameer Ali,
.
“An Appeal To Muslims Of Sri Lanka: Save The Dignity Of Parliament, Country & Community”
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To get Muslims’ attention, try rephrasing the title as “Why It is Beneficial for Muslims to Stick to The Constitution”
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Sarrij / November 8, 2018
F.
The present constitution is a blatant political document framed with ulterior motives with religious bias and poor clarity of purpose.
The local ‘modayas’ are incapable of writing the most impartial ‘supreme law’ of the country. Get “foreign” help to get the job done properly. Term limits should be imposed affecting the President, PM and members of Parliaments.
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critique / November 7, 2018
my humble request to all communities in Sri Lanka is to put the country first above all political, personal and communal agenda. It is all about lives of 22 Million Sri Lankans. It is all about our democratic tradition. Do not we see what is happening in many countries in Africa and other countries .. Today, a good politics is imperative.. once any country slips from democratic process into chaotic dictatorship it will take decades to put that country back.. We see political chaos in Iraq, Somalia, and many other countries . We see how countries such as North Korea, China and many other dictatorial countries are ruled and how freedom of people have been suppressed.
It is interest of 22 Million Sri Lanka to act wisely with a sense of some more responsibilities:
This is not a time to think in any communal lines, It is not a time to think in any racial or religious line, It is not a time to think in any narrow political line..
All should think wisely and put an end to this unwanted chaos…
One country slips into chaos it will take decades to repairs the scars of political resentment.
Sri Lanka is at a historical point now..
There is a golden opportunity to take this country forward.. like that of Singapore or Malaysian example..
For GOD sake please resolves this political blockage.
the sooner this is resolved the better for the country.
the more we delay the more we will have problem..
People must use their wisdom, reason away from emotion on this issue.
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Ajith / November 7, 2018
I agree with the author that Tamils and Muslims should not use this situation ont in favour of political parties but only to protect the democracy, rule of law and justice. Tamils and Muslims should unite together and demand that both UNP and SLFP racial hatred policies for election winning or come to power. Unethical procedures and opportunistic behaviours should be punished. At this point of time the government should be allowed to function as it is before 26th October 2018. The appointmentment of new prime Minister , ministers should be cancelled. Let the parliament to function independently. Let the courts to decide whether President’s appointment of the new prime minister followed and whether he has followed all the altrenative procedures when President appointed the new PM. Once supreme court decision taken parliament should be called and decide the majority in the parliament. If the parliament approves they should be allowed for the rest of the period and elections should be held according to shedule time to elect president, parliament and provincial councils.
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Mallaiyuran / November 7, 2018
” This is not a time to think in any communal lines, It is not a time to think in any racial or religious line, It is not a time to think in any narrow political line..”
You always say that when the SinhaLE Buddhist Wildlife Sanctuary, Lankawe’s existence is threatened. Then you cheat other communities and take care of yourself. Did you all fooled Tamils and Muslims to vote for the CC because you said it was the time to all communities come together to save the democracy?. What did you for the Tamils to bring the CC you wanted? Utter Rogues; always talk in one way and act in another way. You are doing this game for past 70 years.
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Barathan / November 7, 2018
Anarchy thou art afoot, this is what one is inclined to say when reckless lawlessness is encouraged. By whom? By the very personages vested with authority to control any breakdown in orderly governance. The most serious issues that are sure to disintegrate the strands of administration are now treated with levity and dismissed with disdain. Never before has a paid functionary of a governmental institution defied the elected Head of the Institution and that too the Supreme Legislature of the country. This body is treated in any country as the repository of power and authority. Hence the position of paramountcy attributed to it.
The Speaker is the Head of Institution and the staff needs to carry out its work as per regulations, traditions and conventions. What we witness is a Secretary General acting in blatant defiance of the Speaker and fomenting open rebellion of governmental staff. “Has he grown so big”, asked Dr. NM Perera in 1959, about a rtd. DIG, who became close to Dr. Dahanyake, PM at that time and knew not the limits of his power.
At this critical time the powers that be will do well to realize, in what predicament the people will be placed if the IGP would defy the legitimate PM of Sri Lanka. Why shouldn’t one when patronage is given to a lawbreaker of the lawmaker forum?
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Mohamed Nazeer / November 7, 2018
What sort of a democracy will Sri Lanka be if people decide and vote according to ethnic basis.
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Writer Ameer Ali should be ashamed to ask people to decide as MUSLIMS, forgetting the broader national interest and issues of democracy.
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Have you lived too long?
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Muhandiram / November 7, 2018
Mohamed Nazeer
Well said. This Ameer Ali should stop wasting other peoples’ time. If he is so concerned about Muslims in Sri Lanka, why on earth did he choose to settle down in Australia?
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Mohomad / November 8, 2018
May be because he is a Pariah and has no place among Muslims here.
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Thiru / November 7, 2018
“In short, the parliament has lost its dignity, the country its sovereignty and democracy its meaning.” This did not happen suddenly in 2018, but started gradually from 1948. Sri Lankans are like frogs inside a cooking pot being heated to boil.
With politicians of all hues being bought from time to time (and sold?) what is the guarantee that foreign powers with big purses cannot buy these unscrupulous politicians?
As Socrates said more than two thousand years ago, democracy won’t work, more so in a country like Sri Lanka. We are living proof of that for 71 years.
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Sri-Krish / November 7, 2018
Mr Mohamud Alli,
Why your appeal is only to the Muslims?
This is the time to appeal the people as a whole irrespective of racial or religious bias so that a real united Sri Lanka is built !
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SJ / November 7, 2018
Today too many are so too bloody minded that they resent anyone outside their community asking them to do anything reasonable.
Look at the number of racist snipes (most often at Muslims) on these pages.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / November 8, 2018
Islam and being a Muslim is not a race but a religious identity, there no such thing called a Muslim race anywhere in the world , only in Sri Lanka. In all other parts of the world being a Muslims is treated as a religious and not a racial or ethnic identity. as Muslims belong to many races and ethnicities. Only certain religions like the Judaism , Sikhism, Yazidi, or being a Druze are considered to be ethno religious identities , as these religions are confined to specific ethnic groups. Jews in the case of Judaism , Punjabis in the case of Sikhs( although most Punjabis are Muslims and then Hindu) , Kurds in the case of Yazidi , despite the fact most Kurds are Muslim and Arabs in the case of Druze again most Arabs are Muslim and then Christian. I have lived amongst many Gulf Arabs and closely moved with them and found most of them very nice people.
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Hussain Jawid / November 9, 2018
S S Sharma, what do you mean by stating, “Only certain religions like the Judaism , Sikhism, Yazidi, or being a Druze are considered to be ethno religious identities”. Judaism is the religion and followers are called Jews. There are Ethiopian Jews, Caucasian Jew, Aztec Jews of mixed ethnicity etc of different ethnicity. Sikhism is the belief in one god based on Guru Nanak teaching. Followers are Sikhs who follow the attire of Nanak, beard and turban. They belonged to north Indian mixed races. Kurds are Iranian ethnic group in Middle-east, since following Islam collectively called Muslim. Druze faith incorporate faith of many religions and philosophies. They are Arabs. Yazidis are Kurdish religious minority. Yazdis religion is a mixture of Iranian religions including Islam, Christianity and Judaism. As you can see non of their religions ethnicity based. Don’t mix if you do not know the real history of these people.
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Sri-Krish / November 7, 2018
Sorry,my comment is addressed to Dr Ameer Ali
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Fahim / November 7, 2018
As a Muslim writer, his message is mainly directed towards Muslim living in this country as a community, and then the rest. He has written this article well within his journalistic bounds to expose the issues at hand, with the objective of maintaining the peace. If this same message is of benefit to others in other communities, then he has truly reached a wider audience.
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dayal / November 7, 2018
dear sir, what you have said is the top class intellectual opinion the muslims and tamils need. it is not mahinda or ranil ., it is the mother country, democracy and justice. i think both mino. leaders are taking the correct path. i salute your advice.
-dayal
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Estate Labourer / November 7, 2018
Some people are missing the point that Dr. Ameer Ali is trying to make. It is equally sickening to note that some Tamil politicians too, including a tall bugger, a fat bugger, a dark-skinned bugger and a short-sighted bugger are also extending their support to the evil Mara-Sira conspirators.
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fred / November 7, 2018
Dr Ali,
I have read you before this expressing your views about the ‘folly’ of Ashraff and others forming a religion based political party. Your previous calls to discard religion based politics have not resonated with your co-religionists, and I don’t know whether they are going to heed your call this time. That said, however, your call is relevant and I hope other Muslims see the practical wisdom of what you have said.
As for me, all political parties based on religion or race should have no place in SL – parties like the SLMC, the TNA and so on.
In the meantime, it is heartening to note that the TNA has told President Sirisena that they are not willing to go back on the assurances they made earlier and will not vote in favour of Mahinda Rajapakse’s appointment as PM.
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Estate Labourer / November 7, 2018
fred:
The TNA is not based on religion or race or caste; it is based on language.
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Eagle Eye / November 8, 2018
It is high time that Sinhala National Alliance (SNA) based on language is formed.
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Mallaiyuran / November 7, 2018
As for me, all political parties based on religion or race should have no place in SL – parties like the SLMC, the TNA and so on. When are you going to abolish Pancha Maha Balawegaya party? When are you getting rid of the Sinhala Buddhist name of the country and return back to Ceylon?
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K.Pillai / November 7, 2018
Ameer Ali: You should appeal to ACJU Remind them of the ‘coup’.
By the way, the recent happening in Lanka is recognised as a coup d’état.
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Muhandiram / November 7, 2018
Critique
“This is not a time to think in any communal lines, It is not a time to think in any racial or religious line,”
Exactly. But, Ameer Ali ALWAYS harps on the Muslim factor. Perhaps his thinking is shallow and narrow.
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Ahmad Nadvi / November 7, 2018
Rizwan and K. Pillai
Rizwan you’re right that so called Muslim parties have forgotten the GOD. Because the Holy Qur-an very clearly states , ” Oh men, who have knowledge( I’m not sure if Rizwan is included in this verse) do justice in the land, even it turns against you”. There is still possibility for the so called Muslim parties to accept bribe ( an act severely condemned in Islam and all other religions) . What Dr. Ali says is very important to take into consideration. If we stood behind Sirisena to protect democracy and rule of law in 2015. then this is the right time to stand against him to protect the very same thing.
Pillai, you’re right, the ACJU must be taught a lessen on this issue, because these cowards always took political classes for the Muslim Parliamentarians in the past without an invitation. Now they hide themselves purely for the reasons that they do not understand the value of democracy, rule of law, doing justice etc. Guys! Question before us is not whether it’s Ranil or Rajapakse, but whether democracy in our country is raped by President in daylight?
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Raja Senanayake / November 8, 2018
Well said Sir.Let all right thinking persons of whatever caste, creed or ethnicity get together
R.M.B Seanayake
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Usha Lokubalasuriya / November 8, 2018
Dr Ali, good that you promote UNP and Ranil
But, your way of thinking – race politics is bad sir
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Ajith / November 8, 2018
What Dr. Ali suggested is not race politics. It is against to oppression of minority by majority race. In Srilanka, it is a race politics that domintates between two major Political parties UNP & SLFP. At this point of time this is about law and order.
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laksiri / November 8, 2018
Time has come all Muslim leaders in sri Lanka ,follow the great advice from your leader ans secure basic justice rule of the law ,when some monk blessing public looters and criminals of this nation. future generation of this nation will salute all of you and make it better place to live all of us. so please do not sale your dignity and respect to criminals and go back to dark memories of this nation. look how that rugger player was killed by same leaders by name of him stand by with right site.
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vis8 / November 8, 2018
Dr. Ali: Please tell Badurdeen to stop destroying Wilpattu. There are other places available if you want to expand….
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charles / November 8, 2018
In Sri Lanka Muslim politicians go for the party which give them ministerial posts .It has been happening for years. Every body knows that.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 8, 2018
Dear Mr Ali thank you for sharing your thoughts.
It is not the democracies fault we been electing the wrong professions to deliver nation building since 1948. Lawyers should have been practicing law elsewhere? not sitting in the parliment nit picking on a Nation Building journey which requires an entirely different mindset/outlook/professional qualification??
As an example if there was a policy to deliver equal opportunities to a segment of a society who were left behind historically then there should be a mindful requirement in the policy making any government makes of the day makes (for a set period) one should have worked together then pointing out the real pros and cons instead the tantrum we threw then, when there is language only spoken in one Country that may require special attention (beacuse the rural majority community was not given the same exposure as the other community to foreign language English then the equally opportunity actions need to be complemented by the similar actions in the language issue too? specially when this is the case for the Majority?
continued
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 8, 2018
Then again within the Tamil community we had the same discrepancies (Institutionalised racism) too as to who had the access to further Education and English language as applied for entire country too? Having started with the Indian workers issues (for those who came within the last 10 years to be let go) as the first move as they were all living in the heartland of Sinhala areas? no Tamil politicians offered them to be settled up north but insisted all remain status quo post Colonial time is a rather peculiar expectaion. At birth the JVP was all about the dsiparity in SL for Sinhala people without the race card until later??
Therefore the bunch of lawyers who started their compassionate work at the expense of the rural Sinhala and the low cast Tamils created the monster we have today..this was an excellent opportunity for those to move into a space and force there way into representation of one cause or the other they themselves created from the thin air….the same been using the same game plan ever since under cover of democracy yet they all verbally and physically removed all opposition/descent within whoever they claimed to Tamils as though we are all their properties to be man handled.. so fellow Tamil children/Sri Lanka armed forces/Sri Lankan civilians all died for this hideous crime now supported by the same masters from their host countries having crated this monstrous situation in the first place……with all fairness there was no way a leving colonial power can solve this mess (or even worse mess they took over 500 years earlier which we know nothing about). This is no different from the Iraq invasion where went to the country with all false accusations and then even worse had no martial plan for civilian adminstartion instead removed all civil resemblence and left as waring factions. Most of the non aligned countries do not exist Yugoslavia/Libya and so many others divided into waring factions.
continued
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / November 8, 2018
Actually many Indian origin Tamils were settled in the north and east but the Sinhalese did not like this. especially in the east ( Trincomalee), as they wanted these areas for themselves and did not want the Indian origin estate Tamils to be settled there and given land, as this will strengthen the Tamil and these areas, so use the armed forces to forcibly remove them and dump them on the roads in the estate areas destitute. Tamil parties have always been fighting for the rights of Indian origin Tamils. Please get your fact right. Are you a Tamil quisling and a mouth piece for Sinhalese racists?
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 8, 2018
Dear Mr Sharma
By wrting we learn from each other is the purpose for me here. I am always learning from reading all you write so I share my line of thoughts/understanding/knowledge??
Thank you for the information as I never knew the Indian Tamils were prohibited from moving to other part of the country?? was it before the Nationality issue resolved between the Countries or after pls? I always understood as they were tied to the estate work/miserable life because no one else wanted to empower them as we all did for ourselfs in the rest of the country? Then the subsequent SL governments helped them via the Indian Congress even with the ongoing political climate be it in a limited way?
Except not sure what this means please “Are you a Tamil quisling and a mouth piece for Sinhalese racists?”. Kindly elaborate pls.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 8, 2018
It was our turn to shape a future so we went about humbling each other violently until the whatever devils advocacy we could muster to each other……I have no political leniancy but the I see this not constitutional copy but a constitution making instead….. this may not be to the liking to some of us that is all…..purely from a loss of pride/life point of view until we all demonstatrates we can all lit candle together to all the Mother Lankan Children who perished since 1948 under our watch.
For those who seek the truth the Truth and Reconciliation awaits you all to give all the answers we seek from our collective deeds….. not war crime investigations be it national or international panel, not Provincial council nor Devolution nor Federalism has answers for a sustainable future. We have to accept the majority of SL be it Tamils/Sinhalese want a bright future with dignity away from all the horrors we have put ourselves through. The 2009 war end is a golden opportunity then 10 years gone we are allowing the same politicians (is a place for unemployable) to talk the same thing shows we as people lost our ways not the ones we elect. It is likely we have no qualified people to elect from as people is something one need to recognise too. We may just be good for using terrorists/Modaya’s/Sinhala Buhddists/weeping widow/rapist army/traitors/turn coats……….. that will be all. Much ado about nothing but we are all bleeding to death as a Nation. Through our ignorance we are now Geo Politically managed too. Even a scenario like this is managed with exceptional caution/give and take by other successful Nations??not complaining about every thing that goes wrong instead they await patiently to sail through the storms for the bigger picture…….we believe in instant karma instead.
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soma / November 8, 2018
ALL Tamils (Tamil speaking people irrespective of their religion, caste or the date of arrival) should unite.
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Soma
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / November 8, 2018
They have all united other than a famous cricketer who for is own personal benefit/glory, is going around commenting nonsense eg like the land belongs to Sinhalese Buddhist etc, and the Tamil Muslims , who have been brain washed by their elite and mullahs to think that they are Arabs, that they now started to dress like Arabs, behave like Arabs, follow Arab customs and very busy worshipping Arab coca and shita and destroying their own Tamil heritage, language and culture in the name of Arab Salafist/Wahhabi Islam, as this will please their Arab masters from the Gulf , who are funding these brainwashed imbeciles to spread chaos. I recently spoke to a Bangladeshi and he stated , to us , our Bengali culture , language and ethnicity takes precedence over our religious identity. That we closely identify with the Bengali Hindus than with other Muslims. We are proud to be Muslim but more proud of our Bengali heritage and ethnicity. This comes first , Very different to these Pretend Arab/Moor , South Indian origin Tamil Sri Lankan Muslims.
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Native Vedda / November 9, 2018
somass
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“ALL Tamils (Tamil speaking people irrespective of their religion, caste or the date of arrival) should unite.”
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Sinhalam speaking Tamils irrespective of their region, religion, …. too must unite in order to keep an eye on the Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto building mutant noisy minority.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 8, 2018
Dear Soma
I only know my date of departure from my home land. My family arrival my Grandpa and Father not around to tell me..I am not sure even if they are alive we could trace back to few thousand years sorry Bro……I only know of 2-3 generation traceable anything else I read the history books only…even that could be b****s*** too.
I am very homesick and do not know why?. Now you are threatening me by saying all the tamils are uniting again…why you do this to me Soma…..be nice.
All my references are only limited to the past 100 years or less where things are a bit more traceable and realistic for me………….. I try to share my thoughts based on yesterday/today and tomorrow only….make sense?
May be I am an alien is also a possible scenario too……
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Champa / November 8, 2018
Hey guys, Muslim MPs have gone to Mecca. What that implies? Change of sides? From Ranil to Mahinda? Or what? Or abstaining from voting on the 14th ?
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Amarasiri / November 10, 2018
Champa,
“Hey guys, Muslim MPs have gone to Mecca.”
The Haj, Pilgrimage season is over now Hope thy will get Almighty Allah’s blessing in resolving the current greed impasse in the Land of Native Veddah, created by the greedy Paras from Bharat.
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