By Tisaranee Gunasekara –
“The moronic inferno” – Saul Bellow (The Dean’s December)
In Ulla, Pottuvil, fishermen are protesting against a government plan to construct a multi-storey tourist-facility in a land traditionally used for fisheries purposes[i].
In Batakettara, Piliyandala, poisonous gases emanating from a soap-powder manufacturing factory have caused havoc. 72 people were hospitalised with breathing difficulties; animals and vegetations are sickening; and villagers cannot use well-water.
The water-issue in Weliweriya and the carcinogenic-fume issue in Dorape remain unresolved.
The absolute majority of the victims of these land-grabbing/environmental-degradation issues are Sinhala-Buddhists. But the self-anointed saviours of Sinhala race and Buddhism – from Mahinda and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to the JHU and the BBS – have scant interest in either these health/livelihood crises or their very Sinhala and very Buddhist victims.
Earlier this month, the BBS declared war on the Archaeological Department, accusing it of permitting a granite-quarry in a site containing the embalmed body of Sugaladevi, a Queen-Regnant of the Ruhunu Kingdom[ii]. The presence of a Tamil overseer was used to give the entire operation an ethno-religious twist, an anti-Sinhala conspiratorial slant. The BBS worthies inflicted the area, accused the Archaeological Department of criminal negligence and demanded that the Defence Ministry replace the archaeologists[iii] (Incidentally entrusting archaeological-sites to the Defence Ministry would be akin to mandating the fox to protect the chickens, officially. In May 2012, the people of Villachchiya in Anuradhapura apprehended some treasure hunters – who turned out to be STF personnel; the police, instead of arresting the suspects, set them free[iv])
The factories causing havoc in Weliweriya, Dorape and Batakettara are not rogue operations. All have requisite permission from the Central Environment Authority (CEA). Clearly the CEA is either too inefficient or too corrupt to perform its duties satisfactorily. But the BBS – or any other Sinhala-Buddhist supremacist outfit – is yet to utter a word of criticism of the CEA.
The conclusion is obvious. The BBS – and others of its ilk – will champion an issue only if it can be used to demonise this or that minority community.
The BBS-attempt to use the ‘Sugaladevi’ issue to whip up Sinhala-Buddhist anger failed when Prof. Raj Somadeva confirmed that no ancient artefact had been discovered from the quarry-site and dismissed the presence of a mummy as a myth: “When someone repeats the same thing, then it will be treated as truth by the people. The cinema, literature or art promote myths in the same way”[v].
The JHU’s attempt to launch an ‘anti-government war’ on Minister Sarath Amunugama for advocating the legalising and levying of locally-distilled liquor became a damp squib[vi].
The JHU-BBS effort to demonise the newly formed Northern PC and its Chief Minister failed to convince.
Anti-Halal campaign is the last resort of the hate-cum-fear-mongers.
Halal for Casinos
This week the BBS recommenced the anti-Halal campaign, with a vehicle parade from Colombo to Kandy. The regime which banned a vehicle parade by the afflicted people of Weliweriya gave the BBS permission and protection.
The BBS ended its parade by proclaiming a ‘Year against Halal’.
The Rajapaksas are facing potentially serious problems on several fronts. The SLFP old guard is clearly unhappy with the Sibling-regimen and the Siblings seem unnerved by the presence of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Their rapid and harsh response to the micro-mini rebellion in the North-Western and Central Provincial Councils is a signal to disaffected SLFPers that any act of dissidence will be met with zero-tolerance. The Rajapaksas are reportedly preparing a “code of ethics for SLFP MPs and ministers in a move to dissuade internal rebellion” and might even present to the SLFP Central Committee “a list of names of government ministers, who maintain a close rapport with former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga”[vii].
Weliweriya is a challenge to the Rajapaksa hegemony in the Sinhala-South, a warning that socio-economics will cause fissures in the patriotic façade.
The Siblings suffered an unaccustomed and unexpected setback over the Casino issue. The UNP and the JVP acted commendably in exposing the reality of the Rajapaksa-Packer agreement. Described by Australian paper, ‘The Age’ as ‘an extraordinarily sweetheart deal’, this agreement gave the Packer-project “a decades long tax holiday, exempting it from paying at least 10 taxes and levies”[viii]. Mr. Packer is to invest US$400 million in a 36 storey casino-resort in Colombo. According to Inland Revenue sources, “the tax breaks could be more than US$1 billon foregone from the Sri Lankan budget over the next decade”[ix]
(Incidentally, James Packer has close business ties with China; during the previous Labour administration he publicly slammed Australia for being ‘ungrateful’ to China[x]. Not so incidentally, Mr. Packer’s most recent mammoth project, the ‘Fontainebleau’ casino-resort in Las Vegas, has drowned in a mire of scandal and bankruptcy; the Australian tycoon reportedly lost US$250 million in consequence[xi]. He is also facing a related court case in Nevada for hiding ‘cost overruns’[xii].)
The focus of limelight on James Packer has cast a protective-shadow over the man whose plans include not one but three gargantuan casino-resorts in Colombo – Dhammika Perera, business tycoon and the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport. Mr. Perera, a most-favoured-Rajapaksa-acolyte, holds three licenses; he plans to build ‘Queensbury’, a 40 storey casino resort in DR Wijewardane Mawatha, a Waterfront casino-resort with JKH Holdings and a third mega-structure with a US or Asian gaming brand[xiii]. So Dhammika Perera represents a casino-menace of far greater order than even James Packer! And his involvement indicates that the multiplication of giant casinos is visceral to the overall Rajapaksa political project.
Little wonder then the BBS dismissed the threat from casinos and presented ‘Halal’ as the greater threat by far: “….we believe that compared with the Halal issue in the country the casino issue is a minor one”[xiv].
So reignite the anti-Halal campaign, divide Sinhala and Muslim opponents of the casino menace and divert Sinhala-attention from the casino threat with the ‘Muslim threat’.
The Australian experience with casino-focused development has some warnings to offer to Sri Lanka. “In 2009-10, casino visitors lost over $3.5 billion in Australia. Most gamblers are locals with international visitors making up just 5% of customers at Australian casinos”[xv]. A comment made by an Australian journalist, Adele Horn, about James Packer’s pose as everyman’s economic-saviour is applicable to the Lankan situation as well: “What is good for Packer is not good for the rest of us. No one should be fooled by Packer’s stance as saviour of the ailing tourist industry. Packer may need high rollers from China, but whether Australia does is another question”[xvi].
The Rajapaksas are planning to present a ‘restructured’ Casino bill within the year. Whether the Australian Casino King and the Lankan Casino King will agree to be taxed, whether they will consent to laws banning locals from casinos and other circumscribing measures are doubtful. James Packer and Dhammika Perera want an El Dorado in a laissez-faire landscape.
So the regime might do an 18th Amendment – pretend to compromise, use the anti-Halal campaign to muddy oppositional-waters and hurl the Casino Bill through parliament like a thunderbolt.
Why else would the Rajapaksas take the risk of marring their Big Fat Commonwealth Wedding with an outbreak of anti-Muslim violence?
[iii] http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/37272-bbs-wants-defence-ministry-to-take-over-archaeological-department.html
[iv] Daily Mirror – 2.5.2012
[vii] http://www.ceylontoday.lk/16-45300-news-detail-govt-preparing-list-of-chandrikas-slfp-buddies.html
[xii] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-17/packer-must-face-lenders-las-vegas-lawsuit-court-says.html
[xiv] https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/anti-halal-campaign-more-important-than-casinos-bbs/
Safa / October 24, 2013
Gandasara should be appointed a director of JKH and Crown Holdings. This will give the casinos moguls the moral backing they need to operate in this thrice blessed land.
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Lapatiya / October 24, 2013
No, No Gaanu 5 Bebadu Naanasara will be the one who will organize a pirith ceremony and tie a Pirith nool in James Packers hand in the opening ceremony of Casino complex along with Omalpe Sobitha, Athuraliye Rathana, Ellawala Chakrawarthi.
“Casino wageda Halal”
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Amarasiri / October 24, 2013
Safa and others,
“The absolute majority of the victims of these land-grabbing/environmental-degradation issues are Sinhala-Buddhists. But the self-anointed saviours of Sinhala race and Buddhism – from Mahinda and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to the JHU and the BBS – have scant interest in either these health/livelihood crises or their very Sinhala and very Buddhist victims.”
So, they do not care even about the Sinhala Buddhists, and they are treated like fools, like the non-Sinhala Buddhists. They are all game, and the wardens, the elected representatives, the Game Wardens are all bought.
BBS, Buru Balu Sena of the regime is not taking about ‘Buddhas teachings’. They have no principles, Buddhist or not. They are timing the anti-Halal Campaign as a distraction of the people, so that the extortion racket of the state and its dogs can maintain the family hegemony and at the same time amass millions at the expenses of the people. They are using their dogs, BBS, towards this end.
Halal is just an excuse for distraction to fool the Sinhala Buddhist fools. Fortunately, even JHU is not fooled.
Read Below.
We don’t want to get into slot machines and hard-core gambling because it is addictive and destructive in people’s lives.”
“Gambling is a scourge on my People…”
Greg Sarris, Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
Gambling can be a harmless pastime for most, but just like a drug, for some people, gambling becomes an addiction. Estimates put gambling addiction in the United States at 5% of all gamblers. It doesn’t seem like much, until you realize how many people pass through the doors of a casino each and every day. In California, by 2007, there were an estimated 1.2 million gambling addicts in the state, “300,000, or about 30 percent, more than before voters approved Proposition 1A in 2000 to allow Las Vegas-class gambling on Indian lands in California, according to figures compiled over the past decade by the state attorney general’s office and the California Council on Problem Gambling.” (Source: “Tough Odds for Gamblers”, Kevin Fagan, San Francisco Chronicle, December 24, 2007)
The casino will change our community forever, and not for better. The two quotes above from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria’s Chairman Greg Sarris echo our own fears: that gambling will destroy people’s lives and become a scourge on our community. It’s a very real fear: the only thing that seems to increase in casino towns is crime, suicide, addiction and human misery.
http://www.stopthecasino101.com/id71.html
http://www.communityresearchpartners.org/uploads/publications/Casino%20Social%20Effect%201-21-10.pdf
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ela kolla / October 24, 2013
Tisaranee – you stupid woman writing article [Edited out]
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mike / October 24, 2013
Ado moda kolla, get off from these columns. Your brain is embedded elsewhere and you know where??
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ela kolla / October 24, 2013
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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mike / October 25, 2013
Moda kolla, you are going, going, going and now you are G O N E !!
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ela kolla / October 25, 2013
you are an idiot, gona
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ela kolla / October 24, 2013
Tisaranee / CT editors – [Edited out]
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Lankan / October 24, 2013
No one can blame you Ela Kolla, as you are blinded by the Rajapakse manthraya. What a stupid guy you are. Very soon you will learn your lesson.
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 24, 2013
Would Ms T’s paymasters be happy if Harrahs build the Casino?.
Aussie mums and dads would have lost but not 3.5 Billion to young Packer.
But our Sinhala Buddhist mums and dads wouldn’t sweat because they don’t dosh unlike the Cosmo Intelligentsia and the Diaspora mums and dads.
By the way why is Ms T is now batting for the bad and mad Sinhala Buddhists?.
Has the Vellala CM warned her to leave the poor Tamils alone so that he can do something to help them without provoking them to act silly to help Ms T’s paymasters and the cheer squad?.
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Peacelover / October 24, 2013
jackass are you saying that the casio’s are good for the country with its prostitution/drugs/money laundering etc? is it part of the so called Buddhist way of life that you harp about ?
what a joker you are Sumansekera alias ‘Leela’
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ela kolla / October 25, 2013
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Palayang yako! / October 24, 2013
Tsunamisekera:
You seem to think that everyone collects “dosh” like you do, on the side! They don’t because they aren’t into real estate swindles from the consequence of which they are saved by your patrons. After all, just because you are “one of our people” as your chief patron certifies them doesn’t mean that your opponents are into the same kind of corruption. In fact, it is because they AREN’T that they are in opposition to the likes of you and those who pay you!
I think your handlers need to hold a competition, maybe at the end of the year, to determine who is the biggest idiot of all of you!
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Michael / October 24, 2013
Thisaranee has put it as best as one could. The sad reality is that this is heading towards a desperately helpless impasse as no one is willing to take the initiative of changing those who rule in this regime. It is not a regime change that we need , it is a change of leadership from family nepotism to a regime of good governance. There are moderates in both the SLFP and UNP who could form the majority in parliament to form a caretaker government to push through legislation to repeal the executive presidency, which is nothing more than a cancer, restore the independent judiciary, police and election commissions and proceed towards building this resplendent island into a truly democratic country , which will ensure true development and not cosmetic window dressing that we see today. Who will put country before self to take this initiative is anyone’s guess and that person or group will go down in history as the one responsible to prevent anarchy that is almost certain if things proceed the way utility is today.
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vishvajith / October 24, 2013
Excellent piece. The Govt’s diversionary tactics at work, alas they play with fire, for one day the BBS will turn against the regime, fed up of being manipulated and wanting the low hanging fruit of power to themselves.
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Ben Hurling / October 24, 2013
Agree. The clan from the deep South has gone mad with power. They will end up paying a severe price at the hands of extremist groups such as BBS.
Yet, I am not worried about what happens to “The Clan”.
I am worried about my country. The wealth that is being mismanaged and stolen. Sri Lanka as a nation will end up paying a far bigger price.
Cheers!
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vishvajith / October 24, 2013
At a future date, the Quartet and their lot will be invited to leave, with their loot. So that our nation will recover and people will be informed of what the Quartet did with power.
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Javi / October 24, 2013
“the moral backing they need to”
Morality ends where the gun begins froglights.
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Javi / October 24, 2013
Even the Chinese authorities shut down Johnson Inc (One and half centenary old) in Shanghai manufacturer of batteries because of lead poisoning to babies due to local protest that turned out to be very embarrassing.
Is it that the big bad army boot licking populace collecting wriggly creatures?
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mohamed asfar / October 24, 2013
bbs is already a spent force. muslims must respect the budhdhists since not a single decent budhdhist support the bbs.
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nazim jalil / October 24, 2013
A great many of them do. Despite Rev Gandasaras wild rowdy actions muslims know that most Sinhalese are good natured, and liberal-minded folks.
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mike / October 24, 2013
Gandasara is also addressed as Venereal Gandasara. He is not Venerable nor Rev.
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Thiru / October 24, 2013
“bbs is already a spent force.”
It is more appropriate to say: bbs is a paid force, by the MARA junta!
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Shiranthi Fukushima / October 24, 2013
You all are wrong. Mr Gota with the approval of our Best President Hon. Mahinda created BBS to save sinhala Budhdhists from Hindus Muslims and Christians. BBS remote control is with Mr Gota. They cannot make decesions without the permisson of our president or his brothers.
Mr Mahinda is the best leader after Mr Bandaranayaka who killed tamils in the late 50s. Now we want to give some medicine to Muslims and Chistians.
We have the best army in the world and we have a very understanding juduciary. We can do anything we want. No one can stop us.
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Thiru / October 24, 2013
You are not related to the mad Fukushima?
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Marwan / October 24, 2013
Same, same, can’t you recognize it in their writings. Siblings from the same bunch. Eka walalle pol.
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Javi / October 25, 2013
“Siblings from the same bunch.”- waha-be-la marwadi
When ever FooFoo loses the hijab waha-be-la marwadi are omni present and it simply cannot be a coincidence that you are foaming at the mouth.
Try some Zen Buddhist Japanese glue it’s designed to automate.
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vishvajith / October 24, 2013
what you are saying is correct. The people who will replace the Quartet, will have to be more Buddhist and more Violent than them.
Is this the country we all want to live in ? I don’t think so.
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Javi / October 25, 2013
“We can do anything we want. No one can stop us.”
Go insulate your amude or you may not survive the electric chair.
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kal / October 27, 2013
Fat” Mama” Fuk U Shima,
Ypu have tried every name in the book. Why dont for a Change try
Mahintha Rajapakse Fuk U Shima
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Rajash / November 1, 2013
why every one jumping on the Fukushima bandwagon….the nuclear disaster city of Japan
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A Patriot / October 24, 2013
Here’s what a news website stated this week:
(Quote)
Las Vegas, known as ‘Sin City’ and tolerates all forms of adult entertainment has a casino center owned by James packer.
However, foreign media reports that Packer is finding himself in the same financial trouble that plagues so many and is cutting back. The Sunday Telegraph has reported that Packer has put his $50 million 165-foot luxury yacht the Z Ellerston up for sale, has pushed back the purchase of a private Boeing jet and has held up construction of the huge backyard pool complex planned for Ellerston, the family property near Scone. Packer has also put a three-level apartment in London’s Mayfair area up for sale. He also recently sold his stake in Consolidated Pastoral Company for about $425 million.
Also, the Crown Las Vegas, the tallest casino in Las Vegas, was set to build by James Packer has been scrapped due to financial hardships(unquote)
So he is disposing most of his assets to collect enough funds to be invested in Sri Lanka, as the returns he would get here would be enormous with such unusual tax breaks ever offered. Mr. Minister of Casino, Who is fooling whom?
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Javi / October 24, 2013
“Who is fooling whom?”
patriot- Shut up and keep chewing.
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. – The Bombastic One.
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Tissa Withana / October 24, 2013
Thisaraani [Edited out], why are you sohate of Srilanka?
You are a very cheap writer. You are involving with small domestic matters like state matters. Are anti-SriLankan lobby paying good money
for you?
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Rohan / October 24, 2013
“You are a very cheap writer. You are involving with small domestic matters like state matters. Are anti-SriLankan lobby paying good money
for you?”
Well – nobody can beat the Kurakkan Boys in their ability to buy people, through threat and material goods. I am glad Tissaranee is not for sale. See some of the news items, which list out the number of robed prostitutes, who are happy to take car loads of alms! Where the Mahanayakes when you need them? The Sangha should not get involved in politics. When they got involved in the ethnic question, they and some well-minded Sinhala Buddhists said the Monks were protecting the Motherland. Now??? People are killed, they offer their girls for prostitution, and the culture is a meaningless word in Sri Lanka. EVEN God can’t save Sri Lanka!
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aratai / October 24, 2013
.
Why are they building Casinos in Colombo? If Hambantota harbour and airport to get more tourist traffic, Casinos should be build in the deep south.
:-)
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Rationalist / October 25, 2013
What a good idea! Will make the South the Miracle of ASIA!
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Rationalist / October 29, 2013
Yes, now that the Wild Life Parks have no Wild Life due to the noise of the Planes landing and taking off from the Airport, and the Electrified fences constructed to keep Elephants away, it will be necessary to build Casinos to attract Tourists.
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Vibhushana / October 24, 2013
BBS is a spent force. TNA on the other hand still alive and kicking.
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Afzal / October 24, 2013
All these actions by current MR regime is pretty clear, they are only looking to consolidate the grip on power. The MR vision is never to loose the hold on ruling SL. The way things are moving by the time this lot is chased away there maybe no country left for rest of the Sri Lankans. It will be plundered and bankrupt.
What ever it is BBS invention is a genius stroke. It did completely turn the masses from the pressing issues and created a mythological one, which is the Singhala race is under threat. Muslims are about to take over the land.
While I believe majority of the people are not inclined to such thoughts it has created a kind of rift, it has given the power to the goons to do what they want. There were many issues during this years ritual animal scarifies which were never reported in the media. The muslim community has never faced such issues in the past. This has created an environment when injustice takes place surrounding people just keep quite due to fear of reprisal. The society in whole has changed. Law is broken openly. We have lost our humanity and the ability to stand up against injustice. as consequences of voicing opposition could cost you your own life, people tent to keep quite.
We have seen numerous attacks against minorities and even among the majority communities different factions, but the law is non existence.
Look at the amount of suicide, mother killing themselves with children, children committing suicide.
The social structure in society is broken no effort is made to mend it. No body cares about these things.
This what MR Gov has crated, a broken and divided society.
Only the majority community can change this as they hold the bulk of voting power. We can see from recent elections minorities vote for change. I am not saying the greedy muslim ministers and MP’s in the parliament are helping the cause, I am sure when election comes they will be thought a lesson.
Not having a strong opposition has added to the sorry state.
However I think better them than this lot who takes all of us for ride when it’s time for we the ordinary citizens of Sri Lanka to shine and prosper.
The majority community should take the lead, rationals, right minded people among you, your voice must be heard We need to find a leader who can guide all of us as one nation to prosper and enjoy our short life in this world.
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Rahula Gunasekera / October 24, 2013
BBS is Gotas soldiers ie Gota Billo,
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ruwan / October 24, 2013
good one !
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Javi / October 25, 2013
“BBS is Gotas soldiers ie Gota Billo”
It should not surprise anyone who reads Gota’s history than reading his lips that the only ass he licks is Zionist Jewish.
Here is just one snippet: He challenged the Americans by saying if you don’t train my boys china would. 80% oBumer adm are ZJ and China gave refuge to ZJ during WW2 and they are still there commanding a say.
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Park / October 24, 2013
Very soon the Arab countries are going to open their eyes to the plight of the Muslims in Sri Lanka under the present regime. Then you will see the dance this government is going to do. If the foreign remittances do not come, the Government does not have the money even to service the interest on the National Debt. What are they going to do?
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Rough Hakim / October 25, 2013
Sorry to tell you this. But the Arab countries don’t care two hoots about what is happening here. To them even the muslims here are cheap menial sub-humans not worthy of any note. Anybody non- Arab is a disposable element. Remember what they did to poor Rizana? So don’t fool yourself about any concerns from the Arabs.You will never get any.
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srilal / October 25, 2013
Not necessarily ,once all the Arab embassy officials had a meeting with MR on this issue , they were assured and comforted by giving his word that nothing will happen to Muslim minorities in SL. Muslim leaders and its clerics must take up the matter with their respective embassy officials , doing nothing will aggravate the situation .
Remember , if any relevant action to be materialized in SL , it must have the foreign pressure. i.e Northern election , Trinco 5, British tourist Murder etc .
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PalmSquirrell / October 26, 2013
Agree with you. I lived in the Gulf, and can definitely say that Gulf Arabs consider people from Sri Lanka (and rest of the SubCon) as inferior beings, and it matters not if they are Sunni Muslims. There are many Afghans, Pakistanis and Bengali labourers who are exploited by Gulf Arabs. Many an Indonesian housemaid is abused and exploited by Gulf Arabs.
Muslims in Sri Lanka who kiss Arab ass are deluding themselves if they think being Muslim gives them some cachet with the Gulf Arabs.
Qatar just invested a billion plus dollars in Burma despite the ongoing genocide of the Muslim Rohinga.
Gulf Nations will only ever do something beneficial to Lanka Muslims if taking said action benefits them (Gulf Arabs). In other words, sometimes Gulf Arab interests may dovetail with Lanka Muslim interests but not because Lanka Muslims are Muslims.
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An Arab / October 27, 2013
If you are treaded as a inferior why you live in Gulf? Who is forcing you to stay there? Are you suffering with Inferiority or superiority complex ?
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Lanka muslim / October 27, 2013
But BBS is saying otherwise
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Lankan / October 28, 2013
BBS will even send their mother to middle east if they can make money.
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Marwan / October 28, 2013
The truth of the matter is – A Sri Lankan means Buddhists to any Arab. Anything out of the ordinary, i.e. a SL Muslim (one from their own kind), is quite irrelevant. They will always consider all foreign labor as cheap, and they know how rich they are in comparison. As such place no real value on non-Arab, be it Muslim or otherwise. They all rank the same. Worthless fodder.
Even our SL passport ranked 82nd in the world has no value, US Passport ranked Numero Uno in the world requires no Visa prior to entry (it is stamped on arrival in destination country) in more than 170 countries. Even genuine Sri Lankan passports are subject to scrutiny and delays at immigration counter in some countries. This is the unfortunate state of Sri Lankans in the eyes of the international arena.
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Sengodan. M / October 25, 2013
What the country desperately needs is more casinos,more liquor houses, more brothels and so on! Glory to pure Sinhala Buddhism!
Sengodan. M
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Leon / October 25, 2013
Excellent as usual. Take care.
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JimSofty / October 25, 2013
“So, they do not care even about the Sinhala Buddhists, and they are treated like fools, like the non-Sinhala Buddhists. They are all game, and the wardens, the elected representatives, the Game Wardens are all bought.”
Don’t you think that it is TG, [Edited out]
(?), [Edited out] (?) who are the anti-sinhala Buddhist while…
sinhala buddhists are just human.
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Jim Hardy / October 26, 2013
Criticizing writing articles against this rogue corrupt regime will not work, unless get into action.
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Rama / October 27, 2013
all chingala buddshit monks [Edited out]
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BBS Rep / October 28, 2013
Dear Tisaranee,
BBS can’t fix all Sri Lanka’s ills.
It is not our job nor do we have the expertise or financial capacity to mount a campaign on environmental issues.
Our focus is on Buddhism, pure and simple. BBS has become a punching bag for every political issue of every kind that Sri Lanka is confronted with.
The politicians are there with a mandate, to deal with political issues. If the EPA is not functioning for the reasons you suggest, then the politicians need to replace those holding key positions. Not the job of BBS. JHU maybe, as they are represented in the parliament.
BBS is only countering the threats to Buddhism. When we take on the ‘Halal Issue’, it is because it has become an additional perverse ‘albatross’ to hang around each citizen’s neck. The Ulama Council of Sri Lanka are still issuing ‘Halal Certificates’, despite all our efforts. Now they are supposedly issuing these fee free. Any halal label is an infringement on the freedoms we hitherto enjoyed. We do not believe the Muslim campaign will stop with their ‘Halal’ everything badge. It may turn out to be the proverbial shelter given to the camel. First the head then the rest of the body within the tent.
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Marwan / October 28, 2013
Here you go again, baby crying for milk. It has been mentioned previously umpteen number of times. Halal is meant only for Muslim consumption. If Sinhala Buddhists don’t want it, they can organize themselves to form a Committee and make some label of your own, or better still, insist that a certain percentage of the SAME products not have halal logo stamped for Sinhala Buddhist consumption. Problem solved. If you cannot beat the system, join it. But you guys don’t have the guts nor the will to do it. Just keep crying and want to be baby fed all the time. You seem to think that this Halal issue is unique to our country only. Absolutely not. It is practiced world wide across the board, serving the interests of all Muslims living universally. Initially, in some countries there were some hick-ups in implementation, but finally came to be accepted as the norm by the ordinary public.
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BBS Rep / October 30, 2013
Marwan Brother,
Halal beef is not the issue.
When your Ulama Council started labelling paint brushes, tooth brushes and talcam powder as halal, that is when the problem arose.
This halal everything grows like a cancer. From beef it went onto almost every household item.
If you are to apply the Ulama Councils dictum on what is halal, I think there is almost nothing on earth that is permissible for a Muslim. Almost everything on earth is contaminated with pig products or by products or with environmentally leached substances. The water which you drink, whether from the river or reservoirs contain traces of pig feaces washed in with rain water.
God or Allah must have a perverse sense of humour, I think.
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Marwan / October 31, 2013
BBS Rep, see how limited your knowledge is? All that is on your mind is the ‘pig’ factor. No, it does not stop there. Halal refers to any animal slaughtered for human consumption in whatever form or instance, not only limited to food, the animal’s life should be taken in God’s name. Don’t you think that is fair enough, when you see how carnivorous animals hunt herbivores to feed on using their god given instincts to survive, and feed their young?
In the case of the pig. It is very specifically mentioned to avoid it at all costs, and we Muslims obey our Lord’s command. It is not something cooked up by the Jamiyathul Ulama as you suggest. Reasons for avoidance of consuming it, is not up to us to conjure, but we follow God’s commandments obediently.
In this day and age, with high competition in commerce, imported consumer products come from various legitimate (Halal) and illegitimate (Haram) sources. Who or how will we Muslims recognize the subtle differences to stick to what is Halal only? As a solution, we accept what the Halal Committee of the Jamiathul Ulama decide (after doing their own research and monitoring through contacts in foreign countries if necessary), and then if Okay, evidence of approval through the use of acceptable (Halal) logo. If no stamp, no buy. Simple as that.
BBS and its cohorts are incensed as they cannot wrap this concept round their heads, fearing all kinds of fall-out including many ill effect. Number one problem is jealousy that we Muslims independently maintain their own system of checks, increased sales of Halal stamped products, (just ask the producers and they will confirm this fact), and no one willing to comply with BBS requests to halt Halal invasion.
How can you say everything is contaminated with pig feces? How can God be perverse as He bears no semblance to human qualities, but is of a far greater power than you and I can ever imagine? These are all words of a loser who cannot come to grips with reality, living enclosed in darkness and refusing to see the light. Surely you have the intellectual capacity to reason, read and understand. Do some research of your own to understand why we openly claim that Islam is the only True Religion in the world, and what is it that makes us tick.
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BBS Rep / November 1, 2013
Marwan brother,
Your concepts are good but only if you believe in an imaginary god.
For those who do not believe in a god all your arguments are superfluous.
There are no true religions in the world. All religions are false and belief in a god defies reason. And your Council of Ulamas deems it fit to choke us non-believers with dictum handed down from the ages of ignorance. Do you not see why we are so incensed?
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Amarasiri / October 30, 2013
Dear Ms. Tisaranee Gunasekara –
“Confuse, Frighten, Divide And Rule” … .. and Invade
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/World/WOR-01-291013.html
DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA
Tiny wars still don’t work
By Tom Engelhardt
In terms of pure projectable power, there’s never been anything like it. Its military has divided the world – the whole planet – into six “commands.” Its fleet, with 11 aircraft carrier battle groups, rules the seas and has done so largely unchallenged for almost seven decades.
Its Air Force has ruled the global skies, and despite being almost continuously in action for years, hasn’t faced an enemy plane since 1991 or been seriously challenged anywhere since the early 1970s.
Its fleet of drone aircraft has proven itself capable of targeting and killing suspected enemies in the backlands of the planet from
read on….
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Ahmed / October 30, 2013
The Anti-Halal fiasco
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Some racist elements of Sri Lankan Buddhist such as Bodu Bala Sena recommence their propaganda against halal. Their objective is to root it out entirely from the country for reason unknown, the reason known to them has gone to the extent to highlight “ The Bodu Bala Sena believes its anti-Halal agitation is far more important than taking up the Government’s move to create casino zones in the capital Colombo, the group’s Chief Executive Officer Dilanthe Withanage told Colombo Telegraph.” (Published in Colombo Telegraph on October 22, 2013) . Such claims speaks for itself who is behind this fools play.
Let’s examine Halal issue in detail and the truth behind the claims.
1.Increasing cost and customer has to bear the cost.
An absurd claim placed by racists is, halal increases selling price of the product. It might affect a cost a little but will it affect the selling price? This is the place racist elements need some education on the subject. Selling price having two elements,
I.cost
II.Profit margin.
where; price = cost + profit margin
In a free market economy, price of a product is determined by the demand and supply, at a particular price, highest sale will materialize and that price will be considered as the best price by the producer. By increasing the demand, a higher profit is earned via increased sale with a same selling price though margin may reduce a bit on its way increasing the demand.
Lets look at with an example.
Yogurt A; price =Rs.35, cost=Rs.27, hence margin= Rs.8 , if demand/month =3000 units , total profit = 8*3000= Rs.24000
Yogurt B; price =Rs.35 cost=Rs.27.5 hence margin= Rs.7.5 , if demand/month =3200 units , total profit = 8*3200= Rs.24000
Let’s say, B decided to go for halal certification and unit cost has increased from Rs.27.5 to Rs.28 and let’s say demand also increased to 3700 units/month as Muslims also started to buy.
Yogurt B; price =Rs.35, cost=Rs.28 hence margin= Rs.7, new demand/month =3700 units, total profit = 7*3700= Rs.25900
We can see that Yogurt B has increased its profit by Rs.1900 without affecting the selling price.
If this has nothing to do with ultimate consumer, racist organizations are just blind on their demands. It should be noted that even ISO certification is not mandatory and obtained to get the customer confidence, thereby can increase the demand among quality quenches people.
2.Not compulsory
The certification is not compulsory for a company. As we pointed out in the first point, the objective is to increase the demand, if they fail to achieve such a demand hike, the company having the choice to revoke the certification. No company is obliged to feed Muslims at a cost. If it’s a choice, the reason to attack such a move is utter stupidity and again reflects their level of intelligence.
3.Who is the loser?
Halal is observed in every affairs of a Muslim’s life; when it comes to food, it is the food items that are allowed for Muslims, it’s not just confined to meat products. Any product that mixed with alcohol or pork product (such as type of gelatin) is not allowed for Muslims to consume. In absence of halal certification non-Muslim businesses not going to attract Muslim consumers and the end losers will be those non-Muslim producers. This was already highlighted by some heads of the company and some companies incurred loses already. Lack of choice is the only disadvantage that Muslims can face. In other words “halal” links the business between Muslims and none Muslims.
4.What Muslims ate before?
Some even points out that, Muslims never had such requirement in the past. This in fact shows their level of understanding about the reality. In past we never had SLS. But it emerges in today’s society. In the same way, in the past Muslims had limited consumer requirements though they were adhering to halal and market was not flooded with products as it is now. Understanding the product’s nature and manufacturing process involve had become a concern due to complexity of the products. Hence such requirement emerged in today’s society.
5.What concerns Buddhist?
In fact some interpret Buddhism as doesn’t allow any meat products; hence it has nothing to do with the halal in meat products. So, any Buddhist organization must not take a biased stand on it while neglecting pork, chicken and fish. Mean time Buddhism doesn’t allow alcohol or pork. If so, halal certification in non-meat products is in line with Buddhist requirement. The demand for taking away is not appropriate as it helps Buddhist as well.
6.Exports and tourism
Many Arab tourists visit Sri Lanka and foreign exchange earned by them is a strength to the country. By preventing halal we simply limiting their spending in Sri Lanka, also due to unavailability of halal products risk of losing this tourist segment is obvious. Mean time export market is having enough and more share with halal products and might lose income over it too. Placing halal logo in the product is the communication between producer and consumer. So it’s utter stupidity to claim to avoid logo while having a certification both locally and overseas. By having a certification for overseas and not communicating in local product the organization is losing the market locally and paying for the certification without getting the use out of it. Such claim simply shows these racists are nothing but an intention to undermine Muslim needs in Sri Lanka. Government’s blind eye over them shows the stand on government as well.
7.First of its kind, proud or shame?
I have seen in a forum, one was proudly said that Sri Lanka was the first to beat terrorism and halal. Of course credit can be given for beating the terrorism, but what about “halal”? In fact some developed countries such as Canada; government organization providing supports such as information on halal for producers to increase their market share both locally and overseas (see the link below) . But in our grate country it was done other way around and some are proud about their stand on it. This will certainly show how the business world thinks of Sri Lankan in general thanks to this racist group, which in reality, do not represent the majority Buddhist.
http://www.ats-sea.agr.gc.ca/inter/4352-eng.htm
8.The Arabic word in concern
Another stupidity is that, the Arabic word of halal was the concern of some. Halal is an Arabic word meaning “lawful” or “permissible”. Perhaps only racist knows how it is different from English or Chines letters in many products in Sri Lanka? Because they are not Sinhala letters either.
9.Living abroad and eating halal
Sri Lanka earns foreign income via labor market and it is significant in number. Many of them are non- Muslims working in Middle East and eating halal food. If these racist are true to their campaign they must not allow non- Muslim sri lankan workers in these countries. They must pressure government, recall them and must not allow visit these countries.
10.Funding terror network.
Another accusation was ACJU is funding terror network, if so it should be handled by security personnel and not by Buddhist monks. All ACJU halal unit financial statement is audited by public auditors and ACJU had given an open invitation for concern security organization to check them all and their activity. To date none had been arrested on this regard. Is it appropriate for Buddhist monks to accuse blindly without any evidence? As a nonprofit organization it cannot allocate its funds other than the activity it has formed to do.
11.Non-Halal products.
Some people claim, they want the choice of non-halal. If it so, they must understand that there are enough and more products including meat available in supermarket which are non-halal. Mean time when it comes to non-meat products, certification process is to checks the ingredients. In this case halal and non-halal product processing has no difference. If a producer wants to produce something with non-halal ingredient, they are free to refrain from having the certificate.
12.Self-proclaimed halal logos.
Some organization such as “Raigam” brand went proudly from halal certification and placed their own halal logo. This in fact not entertained by any Muslims due to mishandling of the logo in Sri Lanka and overseas. There was an incident in Sri Lankan super market, pork sausage was bearing the hahal self-proclaimed logo. Recently pork was sold to Muslims in china calling it halal meat (see the link below) , these incidents further insists such claim should be approved by a body that can be trusted by Muslims. As business men are not following the ethics and their objective is increasing the profit, in today’s society it is necessary to certificate such claim.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=119623
13. Give it free.
This is another absurd claim by the illiterates. Which service that benefits a business organization given free. Who is going to bear the overhead cost that incurred during the issuing process? If so in which way they justify the claim that it should be given free. Do they place the same claim for ISO? Which is also a choice to increase the market share.
14. Non-food items
Some claim that non-food items also categorized in halal certification and this is not ethical. Even though it is even a controversial among Muslims what we should understand that by this nobody loosing anything. If some Muslim believes such cement also need to be halal as some pork material such as born can be taken as raw material instead limestone, it’s up to them to choose what is comfortable for them. As it doesn’t concerns others in any means as we pointed in above points, claim is really absurd.
we can see these unnecessary fiascos are hindrance for country’s development and might polarize the communities.
Better to be on limelight.. But not as a fool!
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Taken from : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=238302106328225&set=a.180760315415738.1073741827.161957150629388&type=1&relevant_count=1
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BBS Rep / October 31, 2013
AhMad brother,
Your posting is too long. Please submit it as an opinion piece to CT for publication.
However I have made some remarks in reply to the postings of Brother Marwan above. Please read and you will understand why BBS takes the stand we take.
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ahmed / October 31, 2013
BBS Rep.
even those points had been considered above. its long and covers all!
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Roi / October 31, 2013
i am not sure when mad cow Lorenzo will come to his sense. seems to be he is obsessed with changing names LOL
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