More focused on his very own political survival and foreign jaunts, President Maithripala Sirisena appeared to have no time to discuss the increasing attacks against the Muslim community, and had shot down a request by Muslim MPs to meet him and had instead directed Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka to preside the meeting scheduled for today.
Maithripala
Sirisena who is off to Australia today on a four day state visit, was too busy with the cabinet reshuffle and his impending Australia tour, and had little or no time to focus on the fact that the Muslims in the country were coming under increasing attacks once again by the Bodu Bala Sena(BBS) with a mosque and Muslim owned shops in several parts of the country being attacked or torched.
Even at the time this news report was published, several more establishments owned by Muslims had reportedly come under attack. Since mid-April this year, there has been at least 15 such incidents in various parts of the country. However, no action appears to have been taken by law enforcement officers apart from the customary ‘we will look into this.’ The government is yet to make an official statement on this issue despite growing tension as well as fears within the Muslim community of yet another BBS sponsored Aluthgama riot which left people killed, injured and houses and shops burnt.
Despite back to back attacks allegedly launched by the BBS led mobs against Muslim owned establishments and mosques in several parts of the country, the police are yet to take any serious steps to apprehend the culprits, including Bodu Bala Sena’s General Secretary Galagoda Atte Gnanasara who has been making anti-Muslim statements as well as hate mongering against Muslims at various meetings attended by large groups of Buddhist youth.
Since coming to power in January 2015, Sirisena has been busy globe-trotting and has been overseas at least 25 times. Sources pointed out that before strengthening Sri Lanka’s relationships with the outside world, it was important for leaders to focus on building strained relationships within the communities in the country.
In his election manifesto, Sirisena promised to ensure freedom of religious belief for people belonging to all religions in the country. “Religious disturbances are developing in the country due to the activities of extremist religious sects. In this situation the extremist groups mutually nourish one another and are expanding their activities. In order to control this situation, I will establish regional and national councils comprising religious leaders who will boldly work for religious coexistence and against extremism, without giving room for extreme elements of all religions. These Councils will be empowered to investigate into all problems associated with places of religious worship and arrive at final conclusions. Issues unresolved at regional level will be referred to the National Council,” he said in the 62 page manifesto which was released during the presidential election. However, no such councils have been appointed despite Sirisena been in office for over two years. (By Munza Mushtaq © Colombo Telegraph)
donald / May 22, 2017
The Inferiority complex of colombo telegraph.- The President is doing the right thing and CT as usual is a rabble rouser with opinion that is unfounded against sri lankan professionals.
/
shankar / May 22, 2017
then how do you explain this
“However, no such councils have been appointed despite Sirisena been in office for over two years.”
/
donald / May 22, 2017
The Donald never interfered in the Kansas shooting and the nosey stupid greedy public are kept out of it. Alls well and Sunder knows better than interfere in what he does not know too well..
The undeniable fact is: The governance the nosey stupid greedy public have is what you lovingly dreamt for. ” problem from hell to solution from hell” – Samanta Power who not only told Hillary off but Obama himself.- go read why he has shut up and is putting up with Trump. `The Rising Star` is foxed with his power games using woman.- he alone misused his position in office than any other American president- the puppet of Branson the pirate too- Sabena Airline fame.
/
donald / May 22, 2017
” “However, no such councils have been appointed despite Sirisena been in office for over two years.””
This collage that you stupidly hero worship like a faith has cried wolf to achieve an agenda of their own with the unquestioned acceptance of information that is either unverified or that may actually be in conflict with factual evidence. to my knowledge it is the incubator of wars as it happened the last time over. Everyone, got a solution from hell and sobita went to hell too faster than his dream.
/
Amarasiri / May 22, 2017
donald :—————————————————————————–
Do you know as to why Maitripala Sirosena has earned the Titles of Turncoat, Traitor, Gona( Whore) Mala-Perethaya and Sevalaya (Sleeze) from the masses who voted for him?
/
donald / May 23, 2017
Because you silently love the bugger as he is your mirror image.
/
Sunil / May 22, 2017
President Maithripala Sirisenas silence and inaction against these Sinhala Buddhist terrorists implies that he is possibly with them and shares the same views as them…
If he is against them why are we not seeing any action taken against them or hear him speak out against them!?
Why no action against these terrorists!?
What steps has his government taken against these terrorists!?
We the people want answers and action against these terrorist…
/
Concerned / May 22, 2017
We have a backboneless President who has lost his head ! He is nobody without UNP. He too, is corrupt to the core. He is a smooth operator who gets his dirty deeds done through family members. He moved out of MR government only to become the President. He was a part and parcel of MR’s corrupt government.
This country will never raise its head when we have such people in high places !
Shame on you Maithripala Sirisena !!
/
mohamed / May 22, 2017
the society always denied to grow any sort of fanatic movement inside,
now muslim community so vigilant does not allow any sort of extreme mentality
into this,
but again and again it is being targeted by bbs, with control manipulation of higher hand,
all the higher hierarchical leaders should emphasize the harmony with out auditing vote profits.
who ever promoting the hatred to be brought to book, muslim communal leaders numbers of them already counting bar, as well as bbs clergy also to be apprehended
/
Muhandiram / May 22, 2017
What a snub from the President to the Muslim Ministers and MPs. Will they take it lying down or show some spine and tell the President that they mean business this time?
/
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / May 23, 2017
If the Muslim MPs mean business, MS will say I don’t do drugs so go and sell your smuggled heroin to someone else.
/
Garuda / May 23, 2017
R.S.P
no they help you to sell the sinhala buddhist pera women to the arab sex shops in the middle east for you to drink kasipu and jolly karpan la- with teenage girls.
/
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / May 24, 2017
Garuda,
Almost all the working girls in slave island area are Muslim girls. Customers like them for their fair skin because they do not get sun baked because of their bed sheets they are covered in.
When I go there, I ask them whether they like to see Allah today. When they say yes, I show them Allah and ask them whether they like to say kiss “hello” to Allah today. They do that too.
/
Native Vedda / May 24, 2017
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shameless Perera—————————————“If the Muslim MPs mean business, MS will say I don’t do drugs so go and sell your smuggled heroin to someone else.”
Alright, let them go to Duminda, Mervyn, former prime minister D. M. Jayaratne’s members of staff. Are you still sniffing Tamil women?
/
Ferdinand Aragon / May 22, 2017
Muslim violence in SL exposed to the world in the religion of peace website.
Now everyone knows SL is no exception to world terror.
/
Riz / May 22, 2017
Muslim MPS if you are unable to solve this dangerous situation, It’s better to move away from this so called spineless Unity Govt and sit and fight as Independent MPS in the parliament as The TNA.
/
Rajash / May 22, 2017
President is globe trotting having a jolly good time and BBS is Lanka trotting also having a jolly good time spreading hatred
/
Native Vedda / May 22, 2017
Rajash ————————————————— The president spends some quality time with his son Daham only outside this island. Don’t deny him the only pleasure.
/
concerned citizen / May 22, 2017
The solution is easy, for the president the matter at hand is of minimum consequence because it’s the minority who is getting affected, if one wants to make it serious, below are the action to be taken
Translate Gnanasar’s verbal outburst against islam and quran in to english, send it around on face book, whatsapp to the muslim world etc, this thug will never be able to set foot outside the country-guaranteed.
Hold demonstration in front Sri lankan embassies around the world against the discrimination, throw some stones, break some glasses.do this several times.
If these doesn’t work, put the sinhalese minorities in muslim majority countries and other places to the same situation, then they will feel the same venerability and will put pressure on the sri lankan government to act against these buddhist thugs and terrorists.
This is the only way to get the president attention and act on it this fast.
/
Heliotis / May 22, 2017
motta pala from the island your school teachers never taught you look beyond your nose and meanwhile feel the force on your bum at the same time- 3rd law of motion.
/
Mallaiyuran / May 22, 2017
1. Secret Solution was lost in last December(2016) 2. UNHRC was lost in March. 3. PTA was lost in April. 4. GSP was lost in May. I don’t know if there is anything left not lost for TNA. Gnanam well aware of this. UPcountryers were savaged in in 1948. There is an attempt by few guys to salvage of left outs. It seems ministers are calling and warning Mano Ganesan if he is trying to bring out their problems. So Tamils are still well contained. After JR’s Mahaweli Projects, Sinhalese moon rice also solved. Then how to do politics in Lankawe?
/
amal perera / May 22, 2017
for the first time in the history of the world that we live in Russian Army General told the British Minister and Defence Minister to keep shut and put up or Russia would wipe Britain off the map. We never heard a word from FM, DM or big mouth diabetic May.
It’s a new world that is checking the glorified pirates and their mirrored colonies.
“Then how to do politics in Lankawe?”
Lankawe kota_uda just like red white and blue engalante kalante.
Britain in debt to the tune of 100% GDP and Labour wants to imitate Japan by plucking from the trees up to 300% and selling pus_pan for the future to eat.
/
AJ_Claude / May 22, 2017
You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger – Buddha
/
Jim Softy / May 22, 2017
Minorities are using democracy to destroy the Sinhala buddhist civilization, See how europe is struggling to over come it. they have eocnomic problems, Terrorism. So Srilanka has to ask from muslims what they want to do. Muslims think, until they do what ever they want people should stay silent inthe name of harmoey and in the name of democracy.
USA has less than 3200 mosques. “It is said, Sri lanka has close to 9000 churches. what is the purpose ? Americans are concerned about it and they talk about it ?
/
Native Vedda / May 22, 2017
Jim Softy the dimwit —–“Minorities are using democracy to destroy the Sinhala buddhist civilization, ” ————————–What is Sinhala buddhist civilization? Is it “Sunday Sil Monday kill?
/
Eagle Eye / May 23, 2017
What is Christian civilization? Go to Church on Sunday and drop bombs from Monday to Saturday. What is Muslim civilization? Go to Mosque on Friday and kill from Saturday to Thursday. What is Hindu civilization? Go to Kovil every day and kill everyday.
/
Native Vedda / May 23, 2017
Eagle Eye, SL Citizen, Dr Clean, ……………..______________________ What is Sinhala buddhist civilization? Is it “Sunday Sil Monday kill? ————————–please read the question and then try your best to answer it. If you got no idea don’t bother. Or is it Kill the Veddah, Rob the Buddha and Blame the Suddah?
/
Jim Softy / May 22, 2017
My home town was very quite and I could sleep well. But, one time when I visited, I heard early in the morning some noise from a language that I did not understand. Later, I understood they have built a mosque and it’s loud speakers are making noise early in the morning and I wished some one should destroy it. There was no BBS at that time. anyway, later I heard people removed it.
I was very happy, now I can sleep without any problem.
/
Native Vedda / May 22, 2017
Jim Softy the dimwit ———————– “I wished some one should destroy it. There was no BBS at that time. ” —————— Are you saying you are the founding father of BBS?
/
Lankan / May 22, 2017
To all the people who were expecting wonderful things after the regime change, I direct one question:
How naive are you all?
It’s the same old crooked politicians making up the current government. What did you expect?
Would need a whole new bunch to at least start dreaming about change..
So, don’t harbour foolish hopes in future!
Any heroes out there ready to risk their lives for change and justice?
/
isharath / May 22, 2017
If you expect too much from Maithri, that’s your problem. He was just used to change the regime, and sit as president – That’s it.
Where are the plan b,c,d,e etc? If you have been depending only on plan A, which is Maithri – That is your problem too
/
DEMOCRAT / May 22, 2017
[Edited out] Please avoid typing all capitalized comments – CT
/
Farzan / May 22, 2017
There was more than 20 incidents against Muslims”last month.but my3 haven’t condemned any of those incidents.this guy is more dangerous than MR.
/
isharath / May 23, 2017
These incidents and how the govt reacts should be published in every major social media sites.
/
s.dayal / May 22, 2017
when the tamils had it some people were silent and happy. now the same is visiting them. again they are silent and trying to make representations to the top man who escaped to aussie. the ethnic polarisation is the law of the day. all right thinking people irrespective of ethnicity should come forward to condemn all acts of violence perpetrated against innocent muslims or tamils. silence will only help to escalate lawlessness. govt. should order the law enforcement authorities to eradicate the anti social elements including those in robes.
-dayal
/
Samitha / May 22, 2017
I regret voting for this spineless snail everyday. Not one steady decision has been made to this day by this nonjal hitan hutan “president”. What a disgrace this loser is. Even CBK would have been a better choice for common candidate not only because she is a person with a backbone but because she never favored racism or these two bit thugs in robes. This clown who claims to be president starts to tremble in fear like a rat when he sees a yellow robe. We have voted a circus into office.
/
Pygmalion / May 22, 2017
There are over 20 Muslim MPP. in Parliament; Most of them are with the Govt: as Ministers, Deputy Ministers etc etc.
Will they now leave the Govt: over the violence against the Muslims by the BBS? Very Unlikely! Perhaps, President MS knows this. Besides would or could they team up with the Rajapakses? The incidents to-date against the Muslims are not in the same scale as that of the Anti-Tamil Pogroms over the years. It is not clear whether this violence against the Muslims is only a prelude or a practice run for worse things to follow, given the fact that there is a world-wide anti-Muslim tide.
Governments may come and Governments may go but the Muslim MPP WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CAKE AS WELL AS EAT IT!
/
Dr NAS. / May 23, 2017
I blame Muslim MPs to this increasing rouble..why did not they take action as and when it was needed at the first stage of this agresions against Muslim why did not resign and they have not learned any lesson yet.
/
K A Sumanasekera / May 23, 2017
What the hell is Siras going to do in Australia?….Aussies have no money to look after even their own homeless, drug addicts, and oldies who need new hips……Have Aussies built any Infrastructure In Srilanka?…,,Have they opened any genuine Bussiness’s which provide employment to Dalits?…..Is Sira on a tour to look for any opportunities to get in to Real Estate in Melbourne, where house prices are going through the roof…… Or is he looking for a University to get the Sonna boy a Degree ……Or is it both?….
/
Native Vedda / May 24, 2017
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera ————————-” Have Aussies built any Infrastructure In Srilanka?” ————————–They are not that stupid to pay 10 to 30% commission to get the tender. ———–“Have they opened any genuine Bussiness’s which provide employment to Dalits?” —————————– They are not that stupid to pay Santhosam at every step of the way in the application process. ————————– “.Is Sira on a tour to look for any opportunities to get in to Real Estate in Melbourne, where house prices are going through the roof” ——————— Are you suggesting Sirisena should seek real estate advice from foreign investment expert Basil? ———————-Are you saying Sirisena should get sound advice from former Ambassador Bandula Jayasekera?
/
justice / May 23, 2017
Half the idle army from up north could be shifted down south to keep the peace.
But they have it so good up north that there will be strenuous objections.
The police are useless and are afraid of the BBS.
Well, militant Buddhism is maturing, and the yellow robed political-clergy may fill the seats in parliament at the next election.
Will it be a new age of Dharmasoka or Gnanassara ?
/
John / May 24, 2017
If the army appears on the scene it will be to protect Sinhala rioters or to attack minorities. During the 83 riots a family friend of my uncle was murdered by the army. He managed to chase away Sinhala rioters from his house by pointing his gun at them. The rioters went and informed the army who then appeared in numbers and pretty much mowed down the whole house killing everyone inside. And ofcourse everything inside was then looted.
/
jimsofty / May 23, 2017
We should convert all kovil, mosques and churches into temple. Secondly burn everybody other than non Buddhists alive. This is the only way to save our Sinhale heritage.
/
Shrink / May 23, 2017
jimsofty, for a so-called ‘Buddhist’, you exemplify everything contrary to what the Buddha preached. And if you think your views have anything to do with “Sinhala heritage”, you’re even crazier and more perverted than you have led many of us CT readers to believe. You are a disgrace to the Sinhala race, just like the BBS shits who are a disgrace to all right-minded Buddhists.
Get yourself a straitjacket and get admitted to the loonybin ASAP.
/
Common Sense / May 23, 2017
It is unfortunate that all these disturbances took place amidst a tight Presidential schedule. It is public knowledge that the Prez wanted a reshuffle including a change in the Law and Order Ministry and that was vehemently disagreed by the Premier. The issue of protecting lives and property is a Law and Order issue and in my opinion it is quite right of him to refer the matter to the wonder boy of the PM as a test, whether he could solve the problem. In my opinion it is unfair on this score to paint a picture that Prez has no time for Muslims and their problems. (There are many areas where I cannot agree with the Prez.) The danger in doing so is that the Priestly thug too would submit an excuse that since the Prez has no time to solve the grievances of the Buddhists he is taking the law unto his hands. Where does this end?
/
Eagle Eye / May 23, 2017
Why should the President waste his time to meet Muslim MPs when Ghanasara is doing what the government wants. The government welcomes anything that diverts the attention of the masses from burning issues such as rising cost of living, corruption and other issues such as privatization, spending money to buy luxury cars, ETCA, New Constitution to create a Federal State, etc, etc. etc.
/
Native Vedda / May 23, 2017
Eagle Eye/Dr C/SL C————————“Why should the President waste his time to meet Muslim MPs when Ghanasara is doing what the government wants. ” ———————————- Why did Gota accepted the invitation to be the Chief Guest at the opening of Meth Sevana, Academy of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) where he said that he decided to attend the event “after realising its timely importance”; according to him, “these Buddhist clergy who are engaged in a nationally important task should not be feared or doubted by anyone” (Sri Lanka Mirror – 10.3.2013)? ———————————Please note you have the option of not responding to my comments.
/
rafeekull / May 23, 2017
Being busy doesn’t necessarily mean to forget the incident what is the solution now, what the
Area police responsibility, Incident report.
/
rafeekull / May 23, 2017
The witness US Ambassador in Sri Lanka and the EU Office in Colombo have expressed concern and have called on the Government to take prompt action against the growing hate crimes in the country.
/
Mus / May 23, 2017
Aiyo Sirisena what are you doing to the Muslims , are you too giving the green light to Gnanasara.
Next President will be Anura kumara dissanayaka and the JVP.
Oh Ranil you are missing the bus again.
/
Native Vedda / May 24, 2017
Mus ——————————–“Next President will be Anura kumara dissanayaka and the JVP. Oh Ranil you are missing the bus again.” ——————-He belongs to another Sinhala/Buddhist racist political party of ancient times and he won’t cross the Sinhala/Buddhist line either. He has a lot to change and apologize for the past fatal errors. He should stop preaching and start listening to the people. Of course it would be a difficult concept after all he is a politician.
/
Muslim / May 24, 2017
Native Vedda at least let’s hope that Anura Kumara dissanayaka and the JVP will change course to accommodate all Sri Lankans of all religion.
/
Observer / May 23, 2017
It seems very clear Buddhism has taught its followers to safeguard Buddhism from Non- Buddhists who are destroying Buddhism in the country.
President Sirisena is a devout Buddhist and how can he take any legal action against Buddhist monks and their supporters who are simply following what Buddhism has advised them to do.
Killing Non- Buddhist and Destruction of their properties is the Buddhistic teaching.
/
K.Pillai / May 23, 2017
One has to be even handed here. The GoSL are not angels but one can see that this has been well orchestrated to embarrass MS. The Muslim MPs are willing partners – why the hell did they not meet MS earlier? Why is the Police inert? Are they still loyal to the past regime? BBS have eschewed Buddhism and created their own version in which violence is allowed – May Mr Universe Gnanasaro’s muscles increase. BBS is issuing a challenge – here is what is in store if you eject the dual-citizen MPs.
/