Another Muslim owned shop “Just for you”, a shoe store has been set ablaze just a kilometre away from the leather shop that came under petrol bomb attack in Wijerama junction less than twenty four hours before. CCTV footage obtained by Colombo Telegraph shows a lone man in a bicycle throwing a petrol bomb and running away. A strategy to drive the Muslims away from this Government is in full swing. Who is the architect of this strategy?

A shop in Maharagama came under a firebomb attack at around 2:20 am on 7th of June. None of the local media has reported this incident. There is strong suspicion that local media have been advised by the security forces not to highlight these attacks as the European Union and other diplomats have expressed their concern over the Government’s indifference, inability or lack of resolve to address the growing intolerance of minority communities by some Buddhist racist elements, including a few from the Buddhist clergy.

The Muslims who observe fast during this sacred month of Ramadan have been severely constrained in observing their religious rituals. The mosques all over the country have called upon Muslims to show total restraint as they believe that some forces are working to destabilize the country and force a regime change through cross overs in Parliament. The Muslim politicians have been advised by the Muslim religious and civil leadership to ensure that they stand united in defending the rights of Muslims to practice their religion without fear.

A Muslim youth who spoke to Colombo Telegraph on condition of anonymity expressed his disgust at the way the Government is continuing to ignore the numerous demands of the Muslim community to arrest the perpetrators of these crimes.

“we need to deal with our wheeler-dealing politicians and bring back a political culture which would ensure that our parliamentary representatives will first and foremost fight for the rights of the Muslims to live as equal citizens in this country while practicing our religion. Failure may drive our youth to extremism which would be disastrous to the country,”he further said,.

Another civil society activist from the evangelical Christian community said “Yahapalanaya did not stop the assault on the Christians even though there was a lull in the attacks against the Muslims. Now, the forces of evil have started their violent campaign once again targeting the Muslims, and there is strong suspicion that elements within the Government and the Joint Opposition have teamed up to cause this new wave of violence.” He further stated that “it is time the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner and the International Community took strong measures to stem this violence”. (Kamani Senanayake) 

CCTV: Wijerama shop attack: