Two senior ministers in the Rajapaksa Government yesterday hit out hard against Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for his remarks that Sri Lanka was facing threats from Muslim Extremism, echoing the sentiments of Sinhala hardline groups operating in the country, inciting violence against the Muslim community.
Rauff Hakeem
SLMC Leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem said he was extremely disturbed by the specific reference to the Muslim community as possible breeding grounds of extremism in the country.
“I would like to publicly contradict the assertion of the Secretary MOD,” Hakeem said, warning that Sri Lanka may be antagonising Islamic nations by making generalised statements about Muslim fundamentalism.
Hakeem warned the Government not to interfere with religion and culture and leave it in the hands of the respective people “as in the case of all enlightened democracies.
President Rajapaksa’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen deplored the statement made by Gotabaya Rajapaksa alleging Muslim extremism in the country. “The statement seemingly gives credentials to the false claim made by certain communal elements. These elements are hired by some invisible forces to discredit the government in the international arena by whipping up communal hatred through cooked-up stories,” Minister Bathiudeen charged in a statement issued today.
Bathiudeen said Muslims in Sri Lanka have always been patriotic and even stood against separatism paying dearly in terms of lives and property as a result and suffered the ethnic cleansing from the North.
He said Muslims have been tolerance in the face of provocative attacks on their places of worship and their faith itself as well as their practices. “In any country there are individual criminals such as murderers, smugglers, rapists and drug peddlers belonging to every community, to deal with whom there are laws. However, a tendency prevails today to depict a picture portraying the Muslim community as a whole as the culprit when a crime is committed by an individual Muslim while offenders belonging to other communities are treated as individual offenders,” he charged.
Bathiudeen has called on the Defence Secretary to clarify his statement in order to dispel any mistrust created.
jamboree / September 7, 2013
To the coward herds of subservient politicians who are non-Muslim, I am yet to hear utterances even close to what has been said above by the Muslim ministers.
To the hate-mongers and arm chair critics who have commented above, why dont you address your idiosyncrasies to the Sinhala Buddhists who have yet to take any substantive action or make any substantive statements against what is perpetrated towards Muslims by your so-called Monks? I see very little forthcoming.
Is this what you want to regale your grandchildren with a few decades from now?
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Matilda Ellepola / September 7, 2013
Not a single Muslim politician affiliated to the Govt will not rise against the regime as all of them are corrupt to the core like the Rajapakshas and will have the same results like what happened to Gen Fonseka.
These guys like Hakeems/Bathauddins/Azwers/Fauzies/Moulanas are all doing a drama here.
It is a well known fact MARA have all the files needed from these guys as well as videos to take action.
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Moohamhead / September 7, 2013
Tipcut brothers are very good in creating havoc with a hidden hand. Dont ever trust these Misslims and I agree with what the bbs does to these [Edited out] worshippers.
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Point of View / September 7, 2013
Hi Fonseka !
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Fonseka / September 7, 2013
Do not underestimate the Pisslim brotherhood!
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Point of View / September 7, 2013
Hello Moohamhead !!
Writing for the free meal ?
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Albarek / September 8, 2013
Not for a free meal but for a ticket to mecca to take a shit insude the Kabaa.
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Point of View / September 8, 2013
Or may be to clean toils in an Arab home !
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len / September 7, 2013
Rauff & Gotta sitting in a plush back office with AC sipping imported single malt and having bloody good chuckle and already planning the next move.
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A.D.J. Perera / September 8, 2013
There is no point in blaming the Defence Secretary. These Muslim Ministers, who were missing for sometime when the community was under attack country wide, are under pressure from their own Muslim voters. They cannot go out on the road or to their electorates. The noise they make now is to show Muslims they have done at least something. But Mr Gothabaya Rajapakse has the bigger responsibility in the interest of the larger population of the country. Many countries are beginning to learn and find the dangerous roles of global Islamic fundamentalism to undermine their countries. The Defence Secretary now entertains and gets up to date information about this global-conquest menace from different countries. During the time of JRJ the Muslim mafia here – lead by Minister ACS Hameed and MH Mohamed – put paid to the investments and assistance from Israel. If we had an Israeli presence in the last 30 years since, when it was foolishly rejected, the country would have benefited very much. Several hundred thousands would have found good employment opportunities. But all this was sabotaged.
Meanwhile, it is good to hear there is a strong Israeli Investment delegation now – hosted by BoI. They are world class experts in areas like producing water in dry areas, fruit farming in dry zone, advanced IT. Without prejudice to other communities here, we must encourage and invite a greater presence of Israel here.
There is no reason for our fanatical Muslims to get upset here. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Omar and other Islamic countries deal openly or surreptitiously with Israel. Sri Lanka must maintain good relations both with Israel and the Arab countries – as India does. I expect the usual bigots to attack me on this but I will respond suitably.
ADJP
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Point of View / September 8, 2013
Usual crap from the racist ADJP from Rajagiriya !
Have you forgotten how the Israelis (Mossad) supported the LTTE by supplying arms to fight the SL Army ? You seem to be having a very short memory. If not for the support from the Muslim nations, you would’nt have won the bloody war!!
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Marwan / September 8, 2013
And to add to Point of view, if not for votes of Muslim countries (12 out of 15), and that too in consecutive instances, Sri Lanka would have got screwed right royally by the international community on abysmal human rights and its many violations. Also remember that although Muslims are a minority in Buddhist Sri Lanka, they are a majority in the International community, second only to Christianity. Your love of Israel is not surprising, as even your country leader, at one time captain of the Sri Lanka Palestine Friendship Team is now a friend of the opposing camp (Israel), and is even scoring own goals. (letting loose the canines on the peaceful Muslim minorities). A real pathetic.
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Marwan / September 8, 2013
Moohamhead, Theraveda Bhodhi, Somapala, Fonseka, Albarek, we know who you are, coming from the same source. You don’t have anything decent to contribute, except to loudmouth your junkyard dog mentality, and expose what little you have of your bird brain, not realizing you stand exposed in all your nakedness. May be this is how you have lived all your life, and you know nothing else. Another BBS gallery supporter, a cross over from Facebook. You seem to follow the dictum that attack is the best form of defense, but your strategy is woefully missing its target, and is now backfiring on you without you even realizing it. People realizes what an idiot you are from the standard of your insulting comments. This also goes against all that CT stand for in terms of high standards. Names of world religions, religious leaders, all get insulted, and it gets published uncensored. If this is going to be the case, then it is time we let these idiots rule the roost (as in Facebook) and we take a bow. As for the jerk who writes this crap, p[ease save us the trouble.
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gonbella / September 9, 2013
Racism is in the blood of the Sinhala Buddhists. No ifs and no buts.
Behind the smiling sweet Sinhala facade are bloodthirsty demons waiting for the moment to pounce on some hapless creature. Their blood lust against Tamils is now sated after the 83 pogrom and the devastation inflicted on the Tamils in Mullativu.
The Muslims must get ready – it is your turn next. At least GR is honest with his racism just like BBS and the ilk. Unlike the silent majority of Sinhalese who melevolently wait with bated breath for the fireworks to begin.
The Muslims will get it worse than the Tamils did in 83. The Muslims do not have a Diaspora to help stir up sympathies. Do not expect any help from Muslims countries either. They are subservient to the will of the yanks. No Muslim country came out to defend Iraq, Afghanistan Chechnya or against the horrors Bosnian Muslims suffered.
The Muslims in Sri Lanka is nothing compared to the Muslims in the aforementioned countries. The Sri Lankan Muslims can expect a complete wipe out and expect no epitaph anywhere even at the UN.
Rauf and Rishad’s comments are just a great big joke for the MR clan.
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s.silva / September 9, 2013
Blood thirst is in your Holy book men. If Sinhalese were blood thirsty you would not have make huge mosques on this earth. Ungrateful muslims are making problems everywhere. Even in Europe. Giving Muslim one chance or a helping hand is like digging one’s own grave!
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Karikalan / September 9, 2013
Why my Muslim brother worried too much
Tell Saudi Arabia to stop oil for few days
MR and Gota will beg with knees to get oil back
Or may use some Gonas in SL for transport
i know this will disturb normal people
But remember some politician learn their lesson in a hard way only
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Mahela / September 10, 2013
Rajapakses have ample herd of Cows in the Parliament and elsewhere to drag the Bullock carts. Also they have the national dress “amude” to go by.
So no need of ME oil.
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s.silva / September 9, 2013
Muslims patriotism is well seen when SL cricket team palys a match with Pakistan!!!! Muslims are that.
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Fathima Fukushima / September 9, 2013
Shameless!
If they have ANY shame, RESIGN for this stupid government. Don’t hang their like leeches.
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s.silva / September 9, 2013
Badudeen is the thug who intimidated a judge. He himself is an extrimist.
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A.D.J. Perera / September 11, 2013
Marwan, Nabil, Point of View and other worms coming in different names – there is little point in crossing words with you. You are finished, washed up. You know that. You thought your regular comic
drama every Friday noon – after your “pious” prayers to Allah – opposite the US Embassy at Galle Road, Kollupitiya will bother the Yankees. It is now over and you are now on the run with your tail between your legs. You insult the Israelis so much the Americans have now helped them to come in a big way. They have photographic records of every Muslim fanatic who demonstrated like crazed men against them. You know who will give them the addresses and the details of these fanatics – your own “Brothers” – who can be bought For a Few Dollars more. Fakeem, Kunu Kata Azwer, Parana Coat Rishard all fall into that Maradana dictum Salli – Deviyange Malli.” Boil in your own oil, fellers – there shall be no tears for your variety.
ADJP
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Point of View / September 11, 2013
Oh my god, what an unhappy human being ! So much racist venom pouring out of you !! What do you see when you look at the mirror. Hope your children are nothing like you !
Dont we know who has been hiding with the tails between their legs for 30 long years :)
Keep dreaming – careful what you wish for though !
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Buddhika Lokubandara / June 23, 2014
If Islamic extremism is in Sri Lanka, there will be no Gota or Mahinda, or JHU or the cowardly BBS coward Gnanasara who hides behind a robe.
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