“All Sri Lankans, irrespective of their religious belief’s have high hopes of living a peaceful life in our blessed country after over three decades of conflict. We are confident that under your Excellency’s able leadership, this dream could certainly be a reality.” says the President of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, N M Ameen.
Referring to the recent attacks on religious places, the Muslim Council president, Journalist and media activist NM Ameen, who also applied and was granted Rs. 1,200,000/- of interest free government loan from a state bank to purchase car or van, where the interest will be paid by the Treasury using tax payer money says; “We thank you, your Excellency for your immediate attention and look forward to a complete halt to the threat to the minorities by these extremist groups.”
We publish below the statement in full;
16th January 2014
His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakshe
President,
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Presidential Secretariat
Galle Face,
Colombo 1
Your Excellency,
Re: Attacks on places of religious worship of minorities.
We wish to draw your Excellency’s kind attention to the mob attack on Assemblies of God and the Calvary church in Hikkaduwa (Galle District) while the congregation was engaging in peaceful worship services on the 12th of January 2014. The unruly mob led by some Buddhist monks blatantly infringed on the peoples right to worship.
This is not the first incident of this nature and the police who were present could not prevent these elements from causing havoc at a place of religious worship. Certain Buddhist monks, publicly claiming to be the un-official police continue to intimidate the minorities. This has become a growing trend and has gone unchecked.
The Muslim community too has faced many situations of violence, harassment and intimidation by extremist Buddhist groups. Up to now, the police have not made any arrests in any of these incidents.
We kindly urge your Excellency to order the law enforcement agencies to rein-in these mobs that infringe on the peoples fundamental right to worship. Should there be any breach of law by any individual or groups, we kindly urge that due process is followed and necessary legal action is taken without letting individuals or religious groups to take the law in to their own hands.
All Sri Lankans, irrespective of their religious belief’s have high hopes of living a peaceful life in our blessed country after over three decades of conflict. We are confident that under your Excellency’s able leadership, this dream could certainly be a reality.
We thank you, your Excellency for your immediate attention and look forward to a complete halt to the threat to the minorities by these extremist groups.
Yours truly,
N M Ameen
President,
Muslim Council of Sri Lanka
CC: Mr Gotabhaya Rajapakshe
Secretary,
Minister of Defense and Urban Development Colombo 1
kasaenawathie alias Fatima Fukeshima / January 18, 2014
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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anthonio / January 18, 2014
@ Maveeran – how can Muslims make you sick ,when you were born sick? yako badu …
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Abdul Gaffoor / January 19, 2014
Ha Ha!!!! Ameen is a living comedy. He is the life
leader, a self seeking, publicity crazy person
trying to ride on the Muslim community for his self
aggrandisement.
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B, Bahadori ... / January 19, 2014
@Abdul Gaffoor self aggrandisement. ? what cock are you trying to express here ?
nonsense, your bombastic expression has nothing to do with the contents of the article,,
do you know what you have posted ? my foot.
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B, Bahadori ... / January 19, 2014
Following post is what you guys need to worry more than the Rs.1,200,000.00 loan taken by Ameen , of cause what do you expect him to do when The Buddhist are offering Sharia form of Financial aid and while Muslims are squeezing the blood out of their own brethren who owe them even walking over the quranic advice ? keep talking … don’t lend a loan as God has commended but keep your brethren below your feet to draw your energy to boost your egos, even plan and plot against each other until the BBS takes over all your wealth and leaves you dry.
Gnanasara
In just over a year, the saffron-swathed monks of Bodu Bala Sena — or Buddhist Power Force — have amassed a huge following, drawing thousands of fist-pumping followers who rail against the country’s Muslim minority.
READ this;
Read more in the Washington Post
/
BAHADORI / January 20, 2014
Expose: Media Heads To Bow; Rajapaksa Gives 547 Journos Interest Free Car Loans
January 20, 2014 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,News,STORIES | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH
The Media Minister’s leaked files now in possession of the Colombo Telegraph show that the Rajapaksa regime has granted 547 journalists and media workers a Rs. 1,200,000/- of interest free government loans from a state bank to purchase car or van, where the interest will be paid by the Treasury using tax payer money.
Irida Lankadeepa Editor Ariyananda Dombagahawatte receives papers for the car loan from President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Saturday. Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and Mass Media and Information Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath were also present. Picture by President’s Media Division
Irida Lankadeepa Editor Ariyananda Dombagahawatte receives papers for the car loan from President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees
Journalists from virtually every mainstream media in the country with the exception of the Sunday Times newspaper have accepted laptops and car loans or both from the Rajapaksa regime.
Editors who received both a free laptop and the interest free loan are; Ariyananda Dombagahawatta, NM Cassim, Gamini Sumanasekara, Narada Nissanka, Thushara Gunaratne , Sisira Paranatanthri, Mohan Lal Piyadasa, Dinesh Weerawansa, Bennet Rupasinghe, Indrani Pieris, Daya Lankapura, Mahinda Abesundara and Sundara Nihathamani De Mel.
Ravaya features editor Wimalanath Weeraratna, Divaina News Keerthi Warnakulasooriya and Neth FM Kulasiri Kariyawasam also received a free laptop and the interest free loan.
Members of the Free Media Movement, CJ Amaratunga, Ariyananda Dombagahawatta, C. Dodawatta, Bennet Rupasinghe and Daya Lankapura and the president of the Muslim Media Forum NM Ameen also applied and were received the interest free loan.
After a series of exposures by the Colombo Telegraph about the serious conflict of interest issues and violations of standard journalistic ethics, the BBC World Service ruiled that some of its Sinhala Section journalists have breached journalistic ethics and violated BBC’s code of conduct by applying for interest free vehicle loans offered by the Sri Lankan Government. The BBC has also stated that the staff in breach of the code would be sent for retraining.
But the BBC journalists who were granted the loan never withdrew their applications, the Colombo Telegraph learns. “They can go to the recommended bank and get the loan anytime” secretary to the Media Ministry Charitha Herath told Colombo Telegraph.
Last month Colombo Telegraph exposed the full lists of the journalists who received a free laptop from the regime. Today we are able to publish the list of media bosses who applied and were received the interest free loan. We will soon be able to publish all the names of the journalists who received the interest free loan.
Editors
1. Siri Ranasinghe – Vijaya Newspapers
2. Ariyananda Dombagahawatta – Vijaya Newspapers
3. Indrani Pieris – Vijaya Newspapers
4. Lionel Perera – Vijaya Newspapers
5. NEG Abesekara – Vijaya Newspapers
6. SPLS Weerasuriya – Vijaya Newspapers
7. CMSN Fernando – Vijaya Newspapers
8. NM Cassim – Vijaya Newspapers
9. Gamini Piyasiri Sumanasekara – Upali Newspapers
10. Narada Nissanka – Upali News Papers
11. KM Perera – Upali Newspapers
12. KM Wettasinghe – Upali Newspapers
13. HMSK Heart – Upali Newspapers
14. HHW Shriya Kanthi – Upali Newspapers
15. Sundara Nihathamani De Mel – Lakbima Newspapers / Now Lake House
16. Daya Lankapura – Lakbima
17. STP Silva – Lakbima
18. Thushara Gunaratne – Ceylon Newspapers
19. Elmore Gunaratne – Ceylon Newspapers
20. Bennet Rupasinghe – Ceylon Newspapers
21. DS Rajapaksa – Ceylon Newspapers
22. Gayruka Perusinghe – Rivira Media
23. Sisira Kumara Paranatanthri – Ravira Media
24. KDJ Ratanaweera – Rivira
25. HA Gamini Samarasinghe – Rivira
26. AU Amarasena – Lyathambara
27. Ratnasabhapathi Prabhakaran – Express Newspapers
28. Chaminda Welagedara – Bank of Ceylon
29. Sunil Madava Prematilake – Ranidiva
30. Tilakaratna Kuruwita Bandara – SLBC
31. Ariyadasa Peiris – SLBC
32. Anura Fonseka – Max TV
33. Chandrasiri Weligamage – Siyadesa Publishers
34. P Rajapaksa – Siyadesa Publishers
35. KMB Arunakumara – Helth Watch
36. V Thevaraj – Express Newspapers
37. N Vijayasundarama – Valampuri – Jaffna
38. Mohan Lal Piyadasa – Leader Publications
39. C. Dodawatta – Lake House
40. S Thileynadan – Lake House
41. Karunadasa Sooriarachchi – Lake House
42. Dinesh Weerawansa – Lake House
43. Anton Samson – Lake House
44. DNP Abesinghe – Lake House
45. MA Siriwardena – Lake House
46. Sunil Mihindukula – Lake House
47. LPS Robel – Lake House
48. RP Godage – Lake House
49. IM Ajith Dharmasiri – Lake House
50. PPG Dharmaratne – Lake House
51. NIP Kudahetti – Lake House
52. T Ramytilake – Lake House
53. MAD Jeraldeen Fonseka – Lake House
54. WK Mendis – Lake House
55. ULCS Perera – Lake House
56. T Senthivelvar – Lake House
57. MM Mohomad Merlin – Lake House
58. SO Sirimanna – Lake House
59. Chandrani Marasinghe – Lake House
60. AW Manoli Sumasinghe – Lake House
61. A Dhammika Deeptha – Lake House
Others Heads
62. RM Kingsley Ratnayake – Director General – Sirasa
63. M Sarath Kumara Perera – Senior research officer – Sirasa
64. WAC Priyantha Wijesinghe – Director ( Public Relations ) Sirasa
65. Seelaratna Senarath – Director editorial – Lake House
66. Mahinda Abesundara – Editorial advisor – Lake House
67. G Abewardena – Editorial Advisor – Rvira
68. Kulasiri Kariyawasam – Deputy General Manager – Neth FM / Now Carlton
69. N Jude Dombagoda Liyanage – Deputy General Manager – Neth FM
70. Hasantha Shrilal Hettiarachchi – Manager ( Public Relations ) ITN
71. Uditha Hewawasam– Engineer – ITN
72. PJP Karunaratna – Asst. Manager – ITN
73. SK Vithana – Asst. Manager – ITN
78. Hudson Samarasinghe – Chairman – SLBC
79. W Sunil Abesiri – Additional Director ( Sinhala) – SLBC
80. WCTV Sandanayake – Director ( President’s Media Unit ) SLBC
81. P Chandraratne – Editorial Coordinator – SLBC
82. SM Haneefa – Controller – SLBC
83. MM Sujeewa Samankantha – Organizer – SLBC
84. JC Dhanavalavithana – Senior organizer – SLBC
85. LMN Perera – Senior Organizer – SLBC
86. R Yogarajan – Section Head – SLBC
87. IMT Ihalagama – Controller – SLBC
88. MMC Jayakanthi – Controller – SLBC
89. Tilina Indunil S Samarasuriya – Director ( Training and Foreign rela ) SLBC
90. S. Somapala Perera – Director General ( Additional ) SLBC
91. D Ranjanee Rupasinghe – Broadcasting Controller – SLBC
92. Weerasena Hiniduma – Controller – SLBC
93. KDJJ Wijeratne – Asst. Director ( Marketing) SLRC
94. RL Erick Colin Perera – Asst. Director ( Engineering ) SLRC
95. KAGJ Seneviratne – Asst. Director ( Engineering ) SLRC
96. KWM Erin Jayasekera – Deputy Director – SLRC
97. MP Fernando – Asst. Director (Progamme Children) SLRC
98. Bandula De Silva Vithanage – Director General (Programs ) – SLRC
99. Mayuri Abesinghe – Deputy Director General – SLRC
100. HM Jackson – Director (Engineering ) – SLBC
101. HK Susila – Broadcasting Controller – SLBC
102. KNN Tisera – Asst. Director (Recording ) SLRC
104. Dayaratna Ratagedara – Director – SLRC
105. Shirley Anil De Silva – Director – SLRC
106. UL Yakub – Asst. Director (Tamil ) –SLRC
107. SA Mahinda Samarakoon – Asst. Director – SLRC
108. AM Wimalaratne Adhikari – Director (Drama) SLRC
109. A Rohan Sarathchandra Perera –DDG (Engineering ) SLRC
110. PN Meegaswatta – Director – SLRC
111. SR Mapitiya – Asst. Director – SLRC
112. TMG Chandrasekara – Director (Training) SLRC
113. Atula Ransirilal – Director – SLRC
114. PK Wijesinghe – Director( Edu ) – SLRC
115. Sunil Dissanayake – Deputy Director ( Public Relations ) SLRC
116. NGV Nugaliyadda – Asst. Director ( Engineering ) SLRC
117. C Thiththagala – Asst. Director ( Engineering ) SLRC
118. AADA Arambewatta Arachchi – Asst. Director – SLRC
119. AC Tissa Weerasinghe – Asst. Director – SLRC
120. NPG Ubhayawansa – Deputy Director General – SLRC
121. Sisira D Wijesinghe – Asst. Director ( Education) – SLRC
122. HD Ajith Priyadarshana – Asst. Director – SLRC
123. EAAP Edirisinghe – Controller – SLRC
124. KMPL Rodrigo – Asst. Director ( Engineering ) SLRC
125. KR Ratna Pushpakumari – Director– Child Skills Development Programme
126. PSP Fernando – Manger Programme – Swarnavahini
127. JP Kusum Piyaseeli Peiris – Regulator – Shri FM
128. HS Dharmasena – Owner – Ayurvedha Newspaper
Advisors and Managing Directors
129. NM Ameen – Lake House / Navamani
130. Sarath Kumara Ranasinghe – SLBC
131. RP Ratnasinghe – Ranigiri Rupavahini
132. SC Weerasinghe – Lake House
133. EM Ekanayaka – Siyatha TV
134. Hema Nalin Karunaratne – Heritage TV
135. PA Norman Patrick Perera – Upali Newspapers
Deputy Editors
136. Jayantha Chandrasiri – Upali Newspapers
137. WA Dissanayake – Rivira Media
138. WMCG Wijesundara – Vijaya Newspapers
139. HN Wijeratne – Vijaya Newspapers
140. NA Isadeen – Vijaya Newspapers
141. HM Ubeysekara – Vijaya Newspapers
142. WADAD Wijesuriya – Vijaya Newspapers
143. Pathirage Don sisil Namal – Vijaya Newspapers
144. RADSD Ranasinghe – Vijaya Newspapers
145. KAUR Wickckramanayake – Vijaya Newspapers
146. HMG Herath – Ceylon Newspapers
147. MJ Hewapanna – Lake House
148. LPG Dinesh Duminda – Lake House
149. IA Indunil Weeraratne – Lake House
150. LP Tissa Dhammika – Lake House
News Editors / Deputy News Editors
151. CJ Amaratunga – Provincial News Editor – Vijaya Newspapers
152. G Niroshana – Deputy Provincial News Editor – Vijaya Newspapers
154. DDS Balasuriya – Vijaya Newspapres
156. Dayaseeli Liyanage – Vijaya Newspapres
157. SA Jayasekera – Vijaya Newspapers
158. PB Sirimanna – Vijaya Newspapers
159. Dushyantha Samarasena – Vijaya Newspapers
160. NKCD Silva – Vijaya Newspapers
161. CC Keerthi Warnakulasooriya – Upali Newspapers
162. Upali De Seram – Upali Newspapers
163. KU Somapala – Upali Newspapers
163. NL Wasantha – Upali Newspapers
165. Bandula Dinapurana – Rivira
166. ES Roshan Lakmal – Colombo Communication
167. CG Thirumalalagan – Valampuri
168. JM Ranjith Jayasundara – ITN
169. PA Halvitagala Gamage – ABC
170. C. Shripal Wanniarchchi – Sirasa
171. Stanley Samarasinghe – Ceylon Newspapers
172. Premalal Wijeratne – Ceylon Newspapers
173. HAWM Janitha Senewiratne – Ceylon Newspapers
174. Mohan Livera Karunaratne – Asst. Director (Sinhala News) SLRC
175. MIA Jayaratne – Director ( News and Currant Affairs ) – SLBC
176. MJM Saldan – Dan TV
178. DS Dayaratne – SLBC
179. N Rajendra Kumar Ranasighe – Colombo Communication
180. NP De Silva – Lake House
181. T Chandrasekara – Lake House
182. KA Kumar Raj – Lake House
183. S Pandiyan – Lake House
184. MDM Kulatunga – Lake House
185. K Kunarasa – Lake House
Features Editors / Deputies
186. S Wimalanath Weeraratna – Ravaya
187. DGD Chandrasiri – Upali Newspapers
188. KAJK Kanaharaarachchi – Upali Newspapers
189. RMB Kumara – Upali Newspapers
190. LPJT Liyanaarachchi – Upali Newspapers
192. Fatthuma Zanita Kareem – Upali Newspapers
193. AAD Deepthi Pramitha –Upali Newspapers
194. K Kumarasinghe – Ceylon Newspapers
195. DASKS Dissanayaka – Lake House
196. KSC Kallapatha – Lake House
197. EMAK Edirisuriya – Lake House
198. Ayanthi Dilini Vithana – Lake House
199. ALM Saththar – Media PVT ltd
Ministry
200. Sudath Silva – Presidential Secretariat
201. Palita Perera – Presidential Secretarial
202. Udaya Sampath Kulathilake – Presidential Secretarial
203. Dharman Wickckramaratne – Economic Development
204. L Pemmavadu – Ministry of Science and Technology
205. S Palitha Gunasena – Photographer – Ministry of Sports
Retired Journalists
206. DF Kariyakarawana – Retired Journalist
207. Edwin Ariyadasa – Retired Journalist
208. G Keerthi Liyanage – SLBC
209. Kularuwan Kusumtilaka – SLBC/ ABC
210. Jayampathy Palipana – AP Television
211. AKM Pillay – SLRC
212. S Vishvanadan – SLRC
213. Sam Perera – Vijaya Newspapers
214. MAS Ratna Samarasinghe – SLBC
215. Hemajith Fernando – SLBC
216. Sisira Wijesinghe – Army Headquarters
217. K Nandana Weeraratne – Ravaya / BBC
Foreign Media
218. HMCK Bandara ( Chandana Keerthi Bandara) – BBC World Service
219. WTJE Fernando ( Elmo ) – BBC World Service
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One Response to Expose: Media Heads To Bow; Rajapaksa Gives 547 Journos Interest Free Car Loans
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This is not bad, it’s a loan, not a free laptop. :-)
aratai
January 20, 2014 at 5:22 am
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Thank you CT-what will we do without you? When The Loan was given to a Muslim Journo ,the entire Muslim community was not spared in slurring insults by the bigots , But now it is given to people of their community ,suddenly it becomes very ethical- tell me what kind of people are some of you Sinhalese ? ,how can you keep thinking and behaving this way ,I am aware your faith does not require you any obligation by commandment where conscience is concerned ,but as a human being how can you do it? As long as your people benefit, even illegal becomes legal ,unethical becomes ethical- OMG what a place to be stuck with no choice to get out ,and what stupidity for people who threw away abodes of peace blessed with and had come back and have no choice to reverse it and then the people who are extremely blessed by being able to get out and have been blessed with so much of dignity ,freedom and a peaceful night sleep ,not having to worry which moment like in Myanmar or like in 1983 not black July rather better to be known as the genocide of JR, your own neighbor may come in and kill you?to imagine we in Muslims in Sri lanka are living in luxary ? This may become the reality of future Sri Lanka for MUSLIMS as long as BBS ,Ravaya,Jhu and like -if not limited to their Temples and pin bath am being honest , But can His Excellency handle that? when The BBs has openly stated they will not permit muclticultralism ? or Will The Government media spokesman ahve another litte story to tell us about the boogey man ? Only time will tel.
BAHADORI
January 20, 2014 at 12:01 pm
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your own neighbor may come in and kill you? And to imagine we in Muslims in Sri lanka are living in luxury ?
BAHADORI
January 20, 2014 at 12:04 pm
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This is not bad, ????????????????? becuase it is not Ammen’s interest free Loan? LMFKAO
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Dave Franco (Italy) / January 20, 2014
OTC = Single mums working from home ( for hate groups)
bahadori = (No Muslim) but Illuminati
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Maveeran / January 21, 2014
Muslims are a bloody joke.
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Pin Adiya / January 22, 2014
B Bahadoori – Does B refer to Buriyani or simply
an unmitigated BUM. You don’t seem to be able to
see beyond your nose, Shaithan!!!
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george jilmart / January 28, 2014
Ameenn, I can send u a condom which you can insert in your bosses you know what. you can expect to be sent as an ambassador to the middle east.
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