28 March, 2024

Blog

Militant Monk Modernises Muslim Marriages

By Ameer Ali

Dr. Ameer Ali

Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera’s private bill in the parliament to remove altogether the MMDA, apparently to save under-aged Muslim girls from being married forcibly, and to modernise Muslim marriage and divorce, though looks progressive to the uninitiated, yet, should be viewed in the wider context of a sinister agenda by Buddhist supremacists to homogenise Sri Lanka’s rich cultural and religious heterogeneity. 

There is no argument against reforming and modernising the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA), which has colonial footprints. Justice Saleem Marsoof’s Committee, after ten long years of painstaking investigation, produced a report with some progressive recommendations, (thanks to the role played by Muslim women in his committee) which should have been welcomed and adopted without prevarication and procrastination. Had Muslim leaders in the yahapalana regime read correctly the direction in which the political wind was blowing at that time, realised the need to redress the grievances of Muslim women, and understood the dangers of a gathering supremacist storm to hit Muslims, they would have supported JMS report, got it implemented with little changes, and postponed further improvements or amendments, if desirable, to a later date. As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine. However, it was not to be. These leaders neither had the will nor intention to modernise MMDA. Instead, they politicised JMS report and played into the hands of the indomitable ultraconservative ACJU. Today, the ground situation in Sri Lanka’s politics has changed so dramatically, and militant monks like Rathana Thera are so determined to “mould” the Muslims, as his obstreperous cleric colleague Gnanasara wished to do after his public rally in Kandy on 7 June 2019, that JSM report is destined to dust in the national archive for ever.  In the meantime, the JHU representative and Buddhist supremacist Rathana Thera, has taken the legislative cudgel to hit Muslims harder for their own incompetence and nonchalance. How can the Thera be blamed for using an opportunity provided by Muslim leaders themselves? He now wants to get rid of MMDA altogether and ostensibly, to save Muslim women. 

The Thera’s proposal should be seen as part of a sinister agenda by him and his radical cohorts to homogenise the country’s historic heritage of a cultural kitcheree. In the name of checking the spread of Islamic fundamentalism measures are being taken to homogenise the diverse cultural traditions of a plural society. Reform does not mean total destruction of the entity to be modernised and improved. What the JSM report aimed was to clean MMDA of its outdated philosophy and is domineering male bias, and accommodate measures to reflect the advances achieved by Muslim women. As expected, ACJU could not digest this approach and reality, and preferred to continue with the status quo. In the meantime, the militant Thera has gone to the other extreme and wants to abolish the Act completely.  

Rathana Thera’s slogan, “one country, one law”, in course of time, may include even one race, one religion and one language. Isn’t the latest hoo-ha about singing the national anthem only in Sinhala a manifestation of this wicked thought? One could only hope that scholar monks within the Sangha, who have been obviously silenced by rabble rousing monks, would speak out in the open, halt this destructive path, and save the historic reputation of this country as one of limitless compassion and tolerance of diversity, born of true Buddhism. In this context, one should take note of another worrying development that is irking the Muslims community. It refers to the incident at Nelundeniya in Kegalle District, where a Buddha statue suddenly appeared in the dead of night in front of a 125 years old mosque. When Muslims of that area complained to a viharadhipathy, that Thera apparently had told them, ‘let the statue be there, you do your prayers, and if you agitate more for its removal you will have to bear the consequences’.  It may be that this priest wants Muslims to pay respect to the Buddha first before entering their mosque to pray. This is supremacy in its militant outfit and part of the homogenising project.   

At last, it seems that the country has a president whose thoughts for developing this nation are set in the right direction. He started his presidential rule on a high moral ground rooted in Buddhism. One should wish him well. However, for his grand vision to realise fruition peace and tranquillity at the domestic front is absolutely necessary. His plan for a polity and economy to achieve order and opulence has to be constructed on the edifice of national unity, territorial integrity and above all, social tranquillity. The president should not depend entirely on security forces to achieve those goals. Sri Lanka is blessed and not cursed with a plural society and that pluralism is its strength and not weakness. Even without the arsenal of modern weapons and security apparatus, how magnificently and magnanimously our ancient monarchs managed this pluralism is a lesson that every student should be taught in schools. Buddhism, diversity, compassion and tolerance, all go together and inseparable.

In his reply to the President’s address to parliament, Mr. Sambanthan concluded his speech with the following words, which I am quoting from the transcript published in Colombo Telegraph on 10 January 2019, but with my insertions bracketed to include Muslims. Why Mr. Sambanathan continues to exclude the Muslim minority is puzzling, to say the least. “Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa polled seven million votes of the country. Eighty five per cent of the Tamil people, on our call, (slightly less for Muslims) voted against him. He could not capture their vote. You cannot capture their vote with henchmen; you cannot capture their vote with stooges. You will only capture their vote with the support of people who understand the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil (and Muslim) people, their civilization, their traditions, their language, their culture, their dignity and their self-respect. Those are fundamentals.” The supremacist agenda undermines these aspirations and the President must take note of the danger it presents to jeopardise his vision for a prosperous and peaceful Sri Lanka.   

It is in this wider context that one should study the real motive behind Rev. Rathana Thera’s private bill to abolish MMDA. Any progressive measure benefiting Muslim women, whether it comes from a Buddhist Thera or Christian Padre or Hindu Swamy must be welcomed, provided it is sincere in intention. Unfortunately, Rathana Thera and his JHU, and Ven. Gnanasara’s BBS, had been in the forefront of a vicious anti-Muslim campaign before the Presidential Election, and they have not ceased that mission even after winning that election for their candidate.  Rathana Thera’s relentless anti-Muslim propaganda, and his fast-unto-death drama to pressure the government to remove and punish Muslim ministers, Muslim Governors and a Muslim gynaecologist, on allegations of corruption, misuse of power and public trust, which are yet to be proved in a court of law, has tarnished his standing as a true disciple of the compassionate Buddha. (This is not to exonerate any of those men from those allegations, but to point out how those allegations were manipulated by the Thera to fuel anti-Muslim flame, which was rekindled by BBS secretary Gnanasara in 2014 at Alutgama). This is why there is some legitimacy in questioning the intention behind Rathana Thera’s move to abolish MMDA. Is the devil reading the scripture?   

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Latest comments

  • 16
    5

    Read the report of Mr Faiz Musthapa on this topic, religious injunctions cannot be amended for someone’s stupid requirements or cannot be nullified for others. Some plastic muslim scholars also started to utter rubbish lately.

    • 7
      0

      “plastic muslim scholars”? Are you taking a potshot at Ameer Ali?

    • 5
      0

      Dr. Ameer Ali,

      “Justice Saleem Marsoof’s Committee, after ten long years of painstaking investigation, produced a report with some progressive recommendations, (thanks to the role played by Muslim women in his committee) which should have been welcomed and adopted without prevarication and procrastination. Had Muslim leaders in the yahapalana regime read correctly the direction in which the political wind was blowing at that time, realised the need to redress the grievances of Muslim women, and understood the dangers of a gathering supremacist storm to hit Muslims, they would have supported JMS report, got it implemented with little changes, and postponed further improvements or amendments, if desirable, to a later date. As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine. However, it was not to be. These leaders neither had the will nor intention to modernise MMDA. Instead, they politicised JMS report and played into the hands of the indomitable ultraconservative ACJU. “

      The ACJU, wanted the Muslims to show reverence ( like “prostrate”) to them. Diod not want to change the MMDA

      The monks wanted the Buddhists to show reverence, prostrate, to them.

      Neither the Ulama nor the monks will guarantee the elusive Heaven or the Nibbana. It is all about maintaining their hegemony.

      Looks like the monks are going bust the Ulama hegemony. Buddhism is no better,

      The first 6 kings of Lanka including their subjects did fine without monks.

      Who is suffering?

      Buddhism The Great Evil — Part 1

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNOfTGSADdY&t=158s

      Buddhism The Great Evil — Part 2

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clcs2PSze0I&t=202s

      Who will bust the monk hegemony? The Chinese, like they did in Tibet?

      • 3
        0

        The so called past and present Muslim leadership is a lost cause.
        The ACJU is a cunning outfit with ulterior political motives professing to be religious scholars influencing and brainwashing the poor younger Muslim girls into marriage with very much older but wealthier men.
        Justice S M’s progressive committee report was a waste of time due to the political influence of the ACJU.
        The time is right to abolish or change the MMDA.
        It’s a better alternative than the status quo?

    • 9
      2

      We need rigorous laws to punish any kind of hypocratic monks. These abusive monks have the authority to abuse their samanera monks in their temples at nights. Those child monks become helpless. You may interview 100 child monks and get the facts right. Even if they entered to monkhood, some of them, have no idea as to why they were offered by their parents. Poor parents did that earlier days, but today, they dont trust to allow monks becoming child monks. The crime rates in terms of child molestation at Temples are on a rise as no times in the past.
      Ghanasara or th elike monks cant give any good to the young monks, since they abuse their monkhood all these years loudly as they could.
      :
      That is why there had been a discussion based on a separate court for MONKs if they abuse the monkhood while being in robes. That luxury monks being pleased by colombo wealthy women worked diehard to bring Gotabaya. Now he is speechless and making no public comments.

      Iththakande CHeewaradhariya who worked with under ground work with the bad breath of the nation, Wimal buruwansa, is now made speechless because these monks have nothing to talk today.

      Many of the monks go after RAJAAKSHE MAFIA live a luxury life today, but calling themselves – that they have no desires to anything. Just imagine, any prominent monk without having a smart phone in their hand today ?

      Those monks that flirt on the BOMALUWA of Kelaniya Raja MahaWiharaya all carry their smart phones how come ?
      There are lot more destitute in this country that struggle for their 3 meals. Young ones in little age on, go thorugh mal nutrition. Rates are increacing rapidy according to the analysists.

      • 3
        3

        Simon De Silva,
        “We need rigorous laws to punish any kind of hypocratic monks.”

        Buddhist monks do not need advice from non-Buddhist BPs on how to take care of the affairs of monks. Gauthama Buddha gave them ‘Vinaya Pitakaya’ where he has given guidelines on how to maintain discipline of monks. Whenever there is a complain, action is taken against those monks who violates the Code of Conduct. Please mind you own business.

        In Sinhala there is a saying ‘Ballo biruwata kandu selewenne nehe’ kiyala. Anti-Buddhist and anti-Rajapakse d**s can go on barking but that will have no effect on Rajapakses, Buddhist monks or Sinhala Buddhists.

      • 4
        0

        Simon De Silva,

        “We need rigorous laws to punish any kind of hypocratic monks.”

        We need Chinese to reform Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhism” known as “Buddhagama”, the way the Chinese did in Tibet to reform the any kind of hypocratic monks.

        The monks hijacked Buddhism.

        Start with the imbeciles, not prostrating to the monks, as the first step. They are not the 3rd Gem of the Triple Gem. They will not get you to Nibbana. They will only get you to prostrate to them.

        • 3
          3

          Buddhist monks have played a great role in saving this country from ‘Para’ BPs. Even now Buddhist Monks have become an irritant to White Supremacists, ‘Koti Diaspora and Wahabi Muslims who want to ruin this country. These guys use agents to do the dirty work for them by carrying out mud-slinging campaigns against Buddhism, Buddhist Monks and Sinhala Buddhists. This guy is one of those agents. Mangalam and Gonjan played a similar role and what they did backfired.

          • 3
            1

            Eagle Confused Eye.

            Did you get the Temple Treatment and Monk Training Protocol, the Vinaya, from Senior Monks, the same way Samaneras, the child monks, get it? This is bad for your IQ, including prostration to monks.

            The land did fine, with the first 6 Para- Kings and the subjects, without the monks. Then , the monks who hijacked Buddhism, calling it Buddhagama, aka Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhism ” , and got the imbeciles to prostrate to them, and got the Kong’s to give them 10 percent of the fertile lands, for their maintenance and upkeep of the hegemony.

            No imbecile or not, has so far got the elusive Nibbana, they have been promised.

            Just check the mitochondrial DNA of the Paras.

            Only the Native Veddah Aethho escaped the Monk Hegemony, by escaping to the forest.

          • 4
            1

            Eagle Brain Dead Blind Eye

            “Buddhist monks have played a great role in saving this country from ‘Para’ BPs.”

            Have they?
            This is a spin masterly carried out, still spinning around the political decision making process.
            Why don’t the voters just vote to elect a Sinhala/Buddhist theocracy while
            banning other candidates from contesting any elections.

            May Buddha save the country.

            • 3
              3

              NV,
              “Have they?”

              Yes they have. There is nothing we can do for your ignorance on what happened in Sinhale. ‘Para’ imbeciles.

            • 1
              0

              Native Vedda,

              “May Buddha save the country “?

              May Buddha save the Dhamma and the country, the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, from the Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist” monks, who established their hegemony, and the imbeciles who follow them and prostrate to them , ignorantly following them in the hope of getting to the elusive Nibbana, and distorting Buddhism and Insulting the Buddha, exploited by the cunning politicians and their goons.

    • 0
      0

      Roshan,
      A bad news for AA who advocates for Muslims to vote for JVP! JVP just took the side of Iran against what they call “imperialist aggression by the US against Iran”! How will this going to sit with AA who is against Shia Muslim?

    • 0
      0

      I am almost tempted to state that this could be God’s mercy to the Muslims in Sri Lanka, if the Muslims themselves are disunited and squabbling among themselves in deciding what is just, merciful and brings welfare to the community, then the work will be done by outside agents, under God’ Will. The ACJU and its minions are totally ignorant of the fiqh of minorities or ‘fiqh al aqalliyat’ which is guidance and accomodation within the maqasid of the shariah to interpret in the context of present circumstances.They would rather bury their heads in the sands of the 7th century or medieval times.

  • 25
    4

    This yellow robe man has nothing to do except this dirty work

    • 2
      0

      Dear Saman,

      I have the same feeling each time looking at abusive rises.

      I think he should have gone through all the difficulties in his Childhood to behave so.

      Athana Methana Natana Rathana will face it now or later. Karma will work on it.

      As a Lay buddhist, I am not that vicious as this bugger has been. He has proved that as a buddhist monk, he could be a MONKEY as well. He is no means better to any high criminals.
      :
      May all powers be there to punish these men, before long.

  • 17
    8

    SL muslims need to organize under one umbrella and take the Sinhales racism in a collective way. you cannot expect Fouzis/Hisbullahs/Hakeems/Musthapas/Kabirs will deliver for you as they all are corrupt, filthy politicians with no morals.

    Get organize with Muslim intellectuals and also the blessings of the Imams and get the Muslim world and India know your concerns and get the OIC talk on behalf of you.

    If anything that Rajapaksas and Rathanes and all this racists is scared of, will be thinking the Sri Lankan expats in Middle East will not be accommodated in a anti Muslim line.

    If any Muslim in the country go for an iftar with Rajapaksas need to be treated as haram.

    Good luck, Inshah Allah.

    • 6
      4

      Nadeeka Abayarahana: do you work for a T?V station. A Proud muslim.
      I think, muslims do not like any one else interfering in their barbaric customs. Killing animals, sexual abuse of underage women are continued in the name of Arab tribal customs. Sri Lankans are forced to accept these as religion.
      Why don’t you bring cutting hand and legs are also justified as it is carried out in Saudi arabia.
      Even though muslims are just 10%, Their Dinar offerings to Politicians have made them really powerful. That needs to be stopped as that could be used by big powers for their benefit. Just 1400 year religion of destroying a 2600 year old sinhala buddhist civilization. During the colonial days, it is now so-called Sinhala Buddhist Supremacists on the instructions of these bhikkus saved both muslims and Catholics for slaughter and total elimination. You muslims (I don;t think the Public) have forgotten that. Now, talks a different language.

    • 0
      2

      Nadeeka,
      The suggestion that SL Muslims must come under one ethnic umbrella is absolutely wrong. In this world where cultural change occur at a rapid speed, any suggestion for cultural isolation for any ethnic group is utterly meaningless. I don’t believe that even Ameer Ali is promoting such an idea. AA is trying very hard to push Muslims towards radicalism by advocating left-wing politics, probably as a cover!

      If AA is honest what he should is to support Rathana’s bill while proposing two amendments: To include Up country marriage law and to ban “Child Monking”. Since it will be very hard to find a parliamentarian for such a task, may be AA should ask JVP to do the job. I think that almost all the liberals would support such proposal!

  • 23
    7

    If these worldly monks are not put in place
    the country will go to the dogs.

    • 13
      26

      Wimp Kid,
      Country has already gone to dogs because of stupid Sinhala politicians who danced according to the whims and fancies of Demalu and Muslims, Wellala Demala racist bigot politicians and Wahabi Muslim extremist politicians and Mullahs. Buddhist monks are trying to stop deteriorating it further.

      • 20
        4

        The Buddhist monks
        need not interfere in politics.
        National security is the responsibility
        of the government.

        • 2
          0

          And Muslims too should not interfere. Let the government handle it as they promised before the election.

        • 5
          0

          Wimpy,
          politicians of Rajapakshe nature wear a same underwear with so called budhist monks as siamese twins would do (they wear one single underwear). That is to trick the people and win the hearts and minds of the easy targets in this country.

          If everything is true about MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHE, why he never allowed to show his INNOCIENCE through proper investigations. He and his brother always abused lanken judiciary and kept away from investigation. Like EUropean leaders, if they feel to be clean from the allegations levelled at them, they could face the court investigations as is the case in the developed world and clear them to the nation.But they never did so.
          :
          That alone is more than enough CLEAN buddhist monks to use as the argument as to why they should support him for an another term.
          **##
          I was compelled to watch a video, where, current President was making every effort to lift the “DHATU KARANDUWA – relics” and put on a decorated Elephant.

          Enitre world is aware, that even a tamed elephant is being abused by these buddhists, for such ceremonies, not allowing animal’s freedom. Lord buddha is reported to have tamed various animals, but I never believe that the manner, elephants are taken to big processions in the country today is right. These animals are not given their own freedom to move.

          If you would please interview 100 born buddhists today by yourself, not even 5 % of them would be very aware about the basics of buddhism. It is rather BUDDHAGAMA not true teachings of buddha.
          -‘
          Youth in the country today are easily misled by SINHALA YOU TUBE videos and they dont improve their knowledge through internet access but stay rotten as if the blue flies being found on a heaps of excreta on a road side.

          • 3
            3

            Hi Leelawathie,
            ‘Dalada Perahera’ which is a great event that depicts the cultural heritage of Sinhala Buddhist has become the target of some foreign organizations to destroy. Participation of a large number of elephants in a highly disciplined manner is the unique feature of ‘Dalada Perahera’. Those elephants are well looked after by their owners and mahouts. We know that these foreign organization have paid some Buddhists to protest against using elephants in ‘Perahera’ in order to destroy this cultural event.

            If you are so concerned about animals, protest against Hindus and Muslims who slaughter animals as sacrifice to Gods, Christian British who go for Fox Hunting as a hobby and Australians who plan to kill 10,000 camels because they drink too much water. Sinhala Buddhists do not do such barbaric things.

      • 4
        1

        Eagle Eye, AKA Mahindagonthadipala from Down under@

        Please give us a break, your WELLALA hit cant become a hit again.

        Please be normal before you kick the bucket. We expect you to behave an early octagenarian, not a teenager.
        :
        Psycho therapies could well do lot more for your pathology.

    • 11
      2

      Mr Wimpy@
      Country has gone to dogs today.

      We then buddhists that held them above anything else, now made our minds to give free food to stray dogs than to these ballige puthas.

      That Maedagoda WIPASSI with a Prof.Title has been owning a SUPER market by his own. How come the THANHAWA be controlled by him ?

      • 4
        0

        Who are the socalled Monks nay safron clad crooks who are said to own two hotels at Las Vegas? Why get into business, just clad a safron robe whoopee you are in money, women and luxury cars.

    • 3
      0

      WK
      Please don’t insult dogs.
      The country is turning like a Pig Sty. Unfortunately only the animals in politics and the maggots that’s living off them are getting fat.

  • 11
    1

    Gandasara supported by Rathabaruma and others of the ilk will shortly be proposing a ban on circumcisions. Dear People, Madness can be infectious!

    • 4
      0

      All who call themselves priests should be castrated before they come to the public. At least hen the dirty smell of smegma will not be there.

    • 2
      0

      The purpose of Rathana Thera presenting a private bill is simply to take the opportunity to show that Buddhist priests control the agenda. To show the more impressionable that they (the Buddhist priests) are now in the forefront of the push to bring the ‘minorities’ into line with the coming Buddhist hegemony that they plan. Of course the Rajapaksa’s are now the uncontested guardians of the Bauddha-Sinhala vote but they would be smart to control the growing rabid element that will eventually control them if left unchecked. I know that conservative Buddhist members of my own wider family are shocked and saddened at the antics of the rabid ultra-nationalist priests who are working towards taking the upper hand to establish by force that they dictate to the government and others that they run the country. That must not happen. It is imperative that Gota (and the other Rajapaksa ilk) do not let that happen. There are enough decent Buddhists who will accept censures against the likes of Gnanasara, Rathana, et al and the politicians who sponsor them. Minorities and everyone else accept the simple fact of life that we have a Buddhist majority but that is not licence to make Sri Lanka a hell for everyone. Our minority communities only ask for respect, justice, and fairness. But then that is what everyone regardless of caste or creed expects. If we remain divided, we become an easier target for those who will harm us. Together we can be strong, and prosperous, and happy. People of goodwill know this is a no-brainer!

  • 9
    11

    Most democracies in the present world, where a sizable Muslim community lives, are amenable to certain levels of pluralism and diversity. However the values, traditions, and religious beliefs that fall outside mainstream liberalism are not granted automatic recognition.
    It is the minorities in various democracies, who demanded equality among all, therefore, there can not be different laws for different ethnic communities. That’s the accepted logical method of governing a democratic country.
    What Dr. Ali is trying to portray here is that Buddhist monks are militants and they are against Muslim religion. That’s not true but when politicians who are supposed to deal with this type of issues are undecided and scared, monks in Sri Lanka come forward with firm decisions. The majority people support this trend since there is no other way to deal with ethno-religious extremists. People are determined not to let another Saharan appear from nowhere and launch multiple suicide attacks on unarmed civilians.
    Ven. Athuraliye Rathana, as a member of parliament has presented a bill that should have been presented and passed in 1948. In that sense, he is not just a militant, but a militant revolutionary. If Muslims need equality they should support him and recognize the fact that ‘one country one law’ is the base for a safe and developed Sri Lanka.

    • 13
      23

      Richmond Peiris,
      The problem in Sri Lanka is Demala and Muslim minorities want to be ‘More than Equal’ minorities.

      • 5
        1

        Eagle Eye,
        I understand what you say. However, under the new presidency this inequality will be addressed in clear terms so that every citizen of SL will have equal opportunities. All types of tribal laws that allow to ‘rape’ innocent civilians will be replaced by one law and that will be the law of the land. Minorities should support this important task if they want to be inclusive within the ‘one country one nation and one law’ slogan.
        What will happen if they fail to extend their support? I am of the opinion that they wouldn’t be excluded but Time and Tide won’t wait too long for them.

      • 6
        0

        EE,
        You cannot blame all the Tamil and Muslim
        folk in Sri Lanka.
        That is not reasonable.
        There are bad eggs in any community
        including the Sinhala Budhists.
        we have to be aware of this.

      • 3
        3

        Mr. Peiris your ignorance is astounding. The Muslims are also Demalas in case you never knew about it. Just get a dip in the Beira to get your brains washed up especially the frontal lobes

    • 9
      0

      Presented in 1948, Richmond Peiris?
      .
      This Muslim Marriage Law was brought in by the UNP government of the time, (the supposedly great D.S. Senanayake), after Independence – 1951, I think – to please Muslim men.
      .
      Two other actions of his which used to be touted as showing his foresight, have later had terrible results. One was “State Sponsoring” colonising of the East (Gal Oya Scheme) by Sinhalese.
      .
      The third was depriving “Up-country Tamils” of citizenship, and therefore the right to vote, after the First Parliament was elected just before Independence. It was wrong; we owed our economic boom of the 1950s to their work on estates. I know that the British can rightly be blamed for imposing so many “aliens” on us after they started plantations, but have we done any better?
      .
      Think of the “Sinhalese Diaspora” in Australia and the U.K.

      • 4
        7

        Sinhala-Man,
        Sinhalayo have committed lot of blunders and we are paying a heavy price for those blunders.
        1. Saving Muslims from Portuguese butchers, allowing them to settle in interior parts of the country, marry Sinhala women and convert them to Islam. Later giving them Citizenship in Sinhale.
        2. Giving Citizenship to Dravida slaves brought to Sinhale by colonial parasites and abandoned in this country making them Stateless.
        3. Allowing Demalu and Muslims to adopt different laws.
        4. Not expelling racist bigot Chelvanayakam who was born in Malaya, entered Sinhale illegally and demanded an Exclusive Zone for the descendants of Dravida slaves.

        Decision to establish settlement schemes by Hon. D.S Senanayake in the East did not produce terrible results. It is a pity that he did not live long enough to establish more settlement schemes for Sinhalayo in the North and East which is the ‘Cradle of Sinhala Civilization’ destroyed by ‘Para’ Dravida invaders.

    • 5
      1

      There was no MMDA in 1948. It was introduced in 1951 to win Muslim votes by the UNP. But by 1956 most Muslim politicians supported the rival.

      High time SL has one law for all. Else split the island into 3 mono ethnic nations Sinhala only nation, Tamil only nation and Muslim only nation. Then there will be lasting peace.

    • 1
      0

      Richmand,
      You are only partially correct! I agree with you that this marriage law should have been brought up but I strongly disagree with the motive of A Athana. Muslim women, no doubt, desperately need cultural reforms within their own outdated social system but, it must come from within; not in the form ethnic hatred forced by a belligerent monk who has a habit of sticking the nose into everything except abiding by his oath of the robe. I heard that he is planning to include the Up Country marriage law into the same bill, probably as cover for fairness but, the fact is that the Up Country law is no longer in practice.

      If A Rathana and the likes are acting with honest feeling for deprivation of childhood for women why not bring another bill to make children “MONKING” also illegal? Why does he fail to understand that children are not capable to understand the true meaning of leaving the secular life; that they are subjected to all kinds of abuses including sex; and, therefore, they rarely become true monks? I strongly believe that the huge psychological pressure from derivation of innocent childhood & the sexual abuse themselves are more than enough reasons for banning “Child Monking”. From the HR point of view, all three (Muslim & Kandian Marriage laws & Child Monking are the same!

  • 18
    14

    One law, one language, one nation. If Muslims don’t like it they can f off to Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Bangladesh. Ironically they want to migrate to America, England, Canada and Australia where the laws of muhamood and Allah mean jack shit.

  • 15
    3

    Why not? Refer to Late D.M.Jayartane former PM.Where are this bugger’s children – 4 according to DMJ.

    Why not bring in a law to take over all Viharagam.and other land in excess of 5 perches that any temple own. The Viharagam was to maintain the temple. Now they do not need those funds. They have rich women to maintin them and what about the Pin Ketas, and the Dhatu exhibitions? SAADu SAADu SAADu

    • 7
      22

      Sinhalasena,
      In the North and East, all the Viharagam that were there to maintain temples have been encroached by ‘Para’ Dravidians and ‘Para’ Muslims. There aren’t enough Sinhala ‘Dayakayas’ to support the temples and monks because Dravida LTTE barbarians killed all the Sinhala Buddhists in those areas.

      • 16
        4

        Deaf, Dumb and Blind Eagle, it is the Viharas along with Sinhalese settlements in the NE that have been making land encroachments. If you have the ability to read and comprehend, historical facts and statistics go and look up population census yourself. Look up the lands occupied by Sinhalese in NE and see how many are privately owned and how many are state owned. Stop uttering racist moronic nonsense!

        • 1
          3

          How about Tamil encroachments into Colombo, etc.?

          Looks like the only viable solution is to split the island into a Sinhala only nation, a Tamil only nation and a Muslim only nation.

          • 2
            1

            Tamils were not given state lands aided by the government of Sri Lanka in Colombo for it to be called encroachment. On the contrary, Tamils had to buy their properties, just as the Sinhalese, Muslims and Burghers, in Colombo.

        • 5
          7

          Yes, look up the historical facts. Captain Percival who lived in Jaffna Ceylon on and off from 1800 to 1820 wrote a detailed account. The Moors (Muslims) were the majority inhabitants. Then the Malabar Tamils and Sinhalese came neck and neck, with the sinhalese owining land. So, when Ceylon became a crfown colony, the North was populated by a Majority of Muslims, and the next community were Malabar Tamils brought as indented workers from India. Then there were nearly as many Sinhalese. And yet, the Tamils are trying to “own” the North east as “theris”.
          The Muslim politicians and scholars are ignoring the right of Muslims.

          • 5
            6

            Yeah Yeah, we know that you keep on repeating the same lies everywhere thinking that it becomes the truth. The Sri Lankan Muslims are not Moors but converted Dravidian Tamil immigrants from South India , who arrived here a few centuries ago. They are not native like the Sinhalese or Sri Lankan Tamil and have no history of ruling or owning land. They arrived in the east a few centuries ago , as refugees fleeing Portuguese persecution and the same in the north when they fled or migrated from their original South Indian homeland. As for Jaffna and north there is enough of and more historical records with regards to its Tamil majority , kings and ownership and not some ranting of an individual so called British Captain , who most probably spent all his time inside a Muslim brothel or doss house

            • 5
              6

              The vast majority of the Muslims on Sri Lanka only migrated from South India , after the British arrival . Half the Muslim population in the island were classified as Indian Moors , meaning recent arrivals from South India. Now all have become Sri Lankan Moors( Moors indeed)

            • 3
              6

              Siva Sankaran Sharma,
              “They are not native like the Sinhalese or Sri Lankan Tamil”

              There are no ‘Sri Lankan Tamils’ or ‘Tamils’ in the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo. Dravidians who were brought to Sinhale as slaves by colonial parasites and dumped in Yapanaya were called ‘Malabar’ until a guy called Ponnambalam Arunachalam involved in preparing the Census Report in 1911 changed the term ‘Malabar’ to ‘Ceylon Tamils’. Adoption of a Malabar Customary Law called ‘Thesawalamei’ by Wellala Demalu confirms that they are from Malabar.
              The official term for these Dravidians is ‘Demala’. In all official documents in Sinhala, these Dravidians are identified as ‘Demala’. Demalu are a hotchpotch of Dravida people from Hindusthan. Prof. S.Yogaraja who appeared in ‘Aluth Parlimentuwa’ program in Derana TV on 27 November 2019 said the language Demala people speak is different from Tamil spoken in Tamil Nadu.

        • 3
          11

          Vithura,
          Before ‘Para’ Portuguese and Dutch brought Dravida slaves from Hindusthan and dumped them in the North, Sinhalayo lived in that part of the country. Sinhala Kingdoms Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa destroyed by ‘Para’ Dravida invaders were in the North and East of the country. At the time Portuguese occupied Yapanaya, there were hardly any Demalu in Yapanaya. ‘Para’ Demalu are squatting on land once used by Native Sinhalyo thanks to colonial parasites. After colonial parasites left Dravida slaves grabbed the land.

      • 3
        0

        eagle eye. No they were given o the regular concubines.Para Demala had nothing to do with it.I do not want to get into this subject, the conflict was necessitated by the falling economy. That was so even in 1958.The Sinhalayas swallowed the D-Rope.

  • 8
    3

    Council of Ex-Muslims of Sri Lanka has already requested the government to abolish MMDA.

    • 2
      0

      Ceylonian. Why not abolish Mr. Rat. Put him in a cage and throw the key into the sea.

    • 2
      0

      Ceylonian,

      Is there an Ex-Buddhists of Sri Lanka, the Land of Native Veddah Aethho? If so, can you make a request to them to abolish Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhism “, Buddagama, as it is a distortion of Buddhism and an insult to the Buddha and his Dhamma, Philosophy, as it was hijacked to maintain the Monk hegemony, over the imbeciles, who are required to prostrate to the monks?

  • 8
    0

    Becoming a monk is reducing growth of buddihist population , a budhist has more budhism when he makes childres. so this monk has to work on this not jump into transforming other people , You cannot escape from that absolute fact. You cannot exist in isolation.

    • 2
      1

      rbh,

      In Buddhism, the ultimate goal is the elusive is , Nibbana, Nirvana, extinction.

      The monks , by not marrying, and by not procreating, are achieving their own extinction , but keeling new Monk rectitude from the imbecile populace.So, there is no extinction off monks. When the the monks are recruited as 7-year old boys and f***** in their a**** by the senior monks, during Monk training, they kind of achieve “Nibbana” extinction of self, and they transfer that experience to the general imbecile population, who prostrate to them.

      Is that really the Buddhist Philosophy, Dhamma?

      • 1
        1

        As I have said several times Amarasiri you make yourself look foolish by comments like this – ‘In Buddhism, the ultimate goal is the elusive is , Nibbana, Nirvana, extinction’. Nibbana is not extinction. Why don’t you find out about it before commenting? https://www.accesstoinsight.org/

      • 0
        0

        Amarasiri

        Why are minsters worshiping monks the should follow what is said in the Tripitaka . But when there is sunami coming or when the areoplane or fire in the house is in danger all are calling or requesting the help of God which got.

  • 3
    3

    Whether the MP AR is firing from the hip or firing as a hired gunman is not the issue. His conduct so far has proved that he has been selecting his targets intentionally to maintain the status quo of “Sinhala Buddhists” as a superior ethnic breed in Sri Lanka.

  • 4
    3

    .Dear Dr Ameer Ali,
    .
    We must all congratulate ourselves on this..

    It will be good for us all to be rid of special laws for Muslim marriages. Some will gain more from this than others – isn’t that always the case?
    .
    Those standing to gain the most from this are Muslim women, and Dr Ali and others who long campaigned for this ought to be happy about this. What Athureliya Rathana’s motives are, doesn’t concern me. I’m not giving him any more credit for this except acknowledging that he had the common sense to present something that well nigh everybody wanted.
    .
    Whatever hidden motives Rathana may have is not my business. He’s not getting any support from me for anything more he intends doing. This is a victory for sanity, and I welcome Muslims in what I hope is the forward movemnet of Sri Lankan society, with Muslims as equal and valued partners in Sri lankan society.
    .
    I know that what I have written sounds both impersonal and unemotional. So it should be for a guy like me who never wanted to get involved in all this. It is true that I consistently, may even be passionately, concerned myself with advocating this change, but that is now in the past. May Allah, God, Human Society, and whoever else played a positive part in this be praised!

    • 3
      1

      I am on the same page as you, Sinhala_Man.

      The Muslim community is now faced with the possibility of having their MMDA repealed completely. Does this mean that their marriage and divorce processes are in danger of becoming ‘less Islamic’ ? Although the repeal of the MMDA may be perceived as some kind of ‘threat’ to the well-being of the Muslims, the members of the community must not let themselves be manipulated by Muslim Politicians and Scholars who try to project the repeal as some kind of ‘casus belli’ and call for violent protests.

      On a positive note, the repeal of the MMDA will bring the Muslim community in line with the rules and regulations governing marriage and divorce applicable to all other citizens of Sri Lanka, thereby adhering to the policy of ‘One Nation, One People, One Law’.

      The Muslims could neutralize the effects of the revocation of the MMDA by ensuring that they are legally entitled to conduct Nikah ceremonies after the registration of their marriages under the General Ordinance. Nikah ceremonies can be conducted under the aegis of the Department of Muslim Affairs which should be authorized to maintain records of such events and issue certificates as and when required. What is important to pious Muslims is the Nikah ceremony, symbolising a marriage between two persons belonging to the Islamic faith. The Muslims should use the moment to convert the perceived ‘threat’ to an ‘opportunity’ – which should result in a ‘win-win’ situation for all concerned.

      This ‘dual’ marriage system in fact operates successfully in the UK, home to nearly 3 million Muslims.

  • 6
    2

    It was unfortunate that there were divisions within the Muslim community within Sri Lanka regarding what personal law should govern them. Worse still the actions of some people born to Muslim parents, now ex-communicated from the community for activities involving 4/21 terror attacks, causing an erosion in the standing of the community, dubbing them as “Muslim Tigers”. In this backdrop that the cry for one personal law for everyone in Sri Lanka was born. The Arabic desert culture is one thing but even MBS took the initiative to permit women to drive on the roads of Arabia. Let us act with a greater understanding amongst communities and arrive at some conclusion with a wide acceptance, especially heeding to medical advice on various practises performed under umbrella of religion.

  • 1
    0

    Did the Gautama ever envisage invasion of the Sangha by “militant” Monks?

    • 1
      1

      Justice,

      “Did the Gautama ever envisage invasion of the Sangha by “militant “ Monks?”

      What Gautama left was the Dhamma, the Philosophy. The monks formulated, for their own hegemony, the Triple Gem, Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, the monks.

      Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhism “ went further. Wonder why there are hardly any Tamil Buddhists in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho?

      Para-Sinhala Monk hegemony.

      The Asgiriya Monks, want all monks to be Para-Govigama caste.

  • 4
    2

    Ameer Ali seems to be following the same path as ACJU in opposing the private member’s bill outright not because of the merits or otherwise of the bill but because of the face of the member he doesn’t like…..

  • 9
    2

    Amir,
    Now young Sinhala-Buddhists are well informed about Muslim shenanigans. They don’t fall for cunning ‘al-taqqiya’ ploys like their previous generations. Sri Lanka was under Europeans’ barbaric control for 500 years, but now Sinhalese are determined to take their country back and not to face the same fate as Maldives, indonesia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, etc which were Buddhists countries in the past.
    /
    Although there were some handful of passing by Muslims before the British invaders, the current wave of Muslim illegal immigration started with British invasion, and they keep coming with the help of Muslim politicians. Rough estimate is there are 4 million Muslims in Sri Lanka, and they have been strategically settled all over the island to send more Muslim politicians to parliament.
    /
    Every country that hosts Muslims has taken successful precautionary measures to safeguard their countries from barbaric Muslimzation (e.g:Myanmar, China, India,etc), which Sinhalese must follow immediately.
    /
    Forget Rathana thero, Gnanasara thero, Sumanarathana thero, etc, instead clean up your community and stop Muslim hate preachers who force Muslims into terrorism.
    /
    Badudeen,Hakeem, Hisobolla, Safi, Saharan, Asat Sali, etc are guilty to the core of all kind of things. If they are innocent, tell them to go on holiday to America. Most likely, they will be retained at the air port and questioned.

  • 1
    1

    Marriage of underage girls needs to be addressed but an equally important issue is ordination of underage boys. Perhaps Rathana should work on that first?

    Wasting one’s youth studying archaic dead languages, history/religious texts full of falsehoods myth and legends, astrology and Ayurveda is a shame. According to Buddha’s own teachings ignorance is the worst sin of all! Youth can be ordained once they have had their basic education and understand the options available to them. As long as monks and laity remain ignorant no amount of state patronage will save Buddhism.

  • 0
    0

    He should mind his business and propose a law that investigates, and prohibits, pedophilia among the Buddhist clergy, misuse of temple funds, attack on minorities by thug racist priests, and the interference by Buddhist monks into politics.
    The Muslims meantime, should get their act together and put their primitive thinking aside, and help their daughters have equal rights as the other women in the country.

  • 1
    0

    This saffron Robed culprit must look to abolish own nikayas without interfering another religion. He is the most qualified GIN & Obs surgeon than Saffi. This joker is trying to teach law, medicine and sexology.

  • 1
    1

    Richmand,
    You are only partially correct! I agree with you that this marriage law should have been brought up but I strongly disagree with the motive of A Athana. Muslim women, no doubt, desperately need cultural reforms within their own outdated social system but, it must come from within; not in the form ethnic hatred forced by a belligerent monk who has a habit of sticking the nose into everything except abiding by his oath of the robe. I heard that he is planning to include the Up Country marriage law into the same bill, probably as cover for fairness but, the fact is that the Up Country law is no longer in practice.

    If A Rathana and the likes are acting with honest feeling for deprivation of childhood for women why not bring another bill to make “CHILD MONKING” also illegal? Why does he fail to understand that children don’t understand the true meaning of leaving the secular life; that they are subjected to all kinds of abuses including sex; and, therefore, they rarely become true monks? I strongly believe that the huge psychological pressure from derivation of innocent childhood & the sexual abuse themselves are more than enough reasons for banning “Child Monking”. From the HR point of view, all three (Muslim & Kandian Marriage laws & Child Monking are the same!

  • 3
    0

    one law one country! no muslim law in our country. thanks!

  • 4
    1

    Glad to hear Ven Rathna Thero is in the forefront now to help the poor Moslem Women in Srilnsks to finally enjoy their basic Human Rights which have been denied to them since they landed in Srilanka.

    The previous Govt which paraded as Yahaplnaya and even tried to bring in Same Sex marriages between Men and Men , couldn’t care less about the Moslim girls right to wait at least their bodies fully develop to get in to a marriage to produce children .

    But those Moslem Leaders readily band to together to help the previous Govt to deflect the Suicide Attacks on the Catholic Church by the Wahabi Terrorists on to someone else.
    But they never showed the same enthusiasm and commitment to fight for the rights of their women to have control of their own bodies.

    I think all Human Rights supporters must extend their support to Ven Rathna for his Noble effort..

  • 3
    0

    This is a good example of the civilising effect of Buddhism on the Muslim faith that is following the pedophilic path of its founder.
    /
    This is the contribution Buddhism has made to the world through history. It is time the Sri Lankan Muslims take advantage of this civilising effect by converting to Buddhism ASAP.

  • 0
    0

    People around Rathana’s Temple at Rajakiriya says that Rathana successfully made a lady pregnant, who has come to temple, and people were angry at him on this regard until he set a sathyagraha drama at the front of Dalada maligawa.

    In addition to mmda why don’t Rathana stand for allowing lawful marriage to bhudhist monks!

  • 3
    0

    Dr Ameer Ali
    1. “Justice Saleem Marsoof’s Committee, after ten long years of painstaking investigation, produced a report with some progressive recommendations”. Muslim women can wait another 10 years and still nothing will happen. Best solution for them is to boycott marrying Muslim women and marry Sinhala and Tamil men.
    2. “One country one law could eventually lead to one race one one religion language” Has it happened in your adopted motherland Australia? Why don’t you propose MMDA in Australia?
    3. As a matter of interest, do you endorse polygamy? Why don’t Muslims in Australia demand divine right to more than one wife?

  • 3
    1

    Latheef Farook and Ameer Ali like people (they are not uneducated Jihadis always looking to eliminate Unbelievers physically) who are trying to protect Arabic desert customs as the Islamic way. You people take shots at Buddhists and bhikkus at free will. If we assume that every muslim is this way, how should we consider you muslims are. You say, A mature, experienced Judge took TEN YEARS TO DECIDE ON MMDA what do you mean by that. The Judge was incompetent or You religious fanatics are following barbaric religious customs. What are the human values in your religion ?.

  • 4
    1

    Writing this article by an educated like Ameer Ali shows how disgusting, how low and much HATRED AND ANIMOSITY ARE THERE with him. Please do not come back. Stay where you are.

    • 3
      2

      JD,
      That is why I keep on repeating that King Senerath and Sinhala Buddhists (Buddhist Supremacists according to Ameer Ali) made a blunder by saving Muslims from Portuguese butchers. These guys are an ungrateful bunch who do not deserve any sympathy.

  • 3
    0

    Zahrani & his suicide bombers “toppled the apple cart”; the corrupt Mullahs of ACJU & rogue Muslim politicians wasted 10 years on the MMDA and ruined it, now the spineless & voiceless ACJU is cornered, those criminal politicians are worried about their “impending arrests”. Easter carnage has emboldened radical Monks like Rathana Thera to re-energize their crusade against Muslims.

  • 2
    0

    THIS hypocrite monk has nothing better than poking his shitty nose into other people’s arseholes! Why can’t he revert to the temple and do some meritorious Sangha work without shamelessly exploiting his “pina” Parliamentary seat privileges to unnecessary things. Ballage weda booruwa karanawata samanai!!

  • 0
    0

    This is not a “Militant Monk” but a Buddhist terrorist robed in the Cheevaraya! Strangle this BASTARD monk in public, and there will be one less terrorist in the land.

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