About 500 people have marched through the centre of the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, protesting against a recent wave of ethnic hatred which has seen hardline Buddhists targeting the Muslim minority, the BBC’s Charles Haviland reports.
A movement to show that moderates are strong & united against hate and are committed to promote understanding about the strengths of diversity & unity.
Given the recent spate of hate speech and the marginalization of minority communities in general, a voluntary movement of concerned Sri Lankans from various institutions, professions and industries are organizing a series of nonpartisan, non-violent awareness campaigns and rallies against racist actions and hate-speech in Sri Lanka.
Photo Lakna Paranamanna
Photo captured form BBC Video ;
Hate has No Place in Sri Lanka
Daham / April 28, 2013
Charles Haviland – Pls get is right. This wasn’t a march against Sinhala Buddhist Hardliners. This is against all hatred that has started spreading among people of different ethnicities. Hate speech was visible in many ethnicities not only among Buddhists. Please get your reporting right. You are creating unnecessary tension with bias reporting.
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upworthy / April 28, 2013
No, the reporting is clean a whistle and clear as crystal, where did you find hate speech being visible in other ethnicity other than the BBS, SR, SU and etc… etc.. are you living in SL or elsewhere?? didn’t you know how the minorities have persevered in patience after them being targeted in many occasions, especially the Muslim Community, eg – Fashion bug stoning, there are countless attacks on Muslims all over the country!! The reporting is fine and there is nothing wrong with this, it’s the Buddhist hard liners who represent BBS, SR, SU and etc.. etc who have been extensively preaching hatred and poisoning the youth with such hatred. It’s time to understand that this kind of attitude can never get our country to the next level, when can we reach the epitome greatness in every aspect, when can we become a country like S’pore…? when??? there is a divine saying, ”until the people of one nation change themselves, the nation they represent will never change” Period…!
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Don Stanley / April 28, 2013
All the protestors – anti-Hate speech and BBS, Anti-electricity price hike folk, the FUTA etc. Train employees, Anti-corruption lobby should come together for the MOTHER OF ALL PROTESTS and the start of the LANKA SPRING to get rid of the Rajapassa military dictatorship.
BTW: Just saw that the Cabinet has approved a staggering more than two and half billion US dollars (over Rs. 315 billion) for a re-fleeting programme of SriLankan Airlines which is already saddled with severe losses, while the public transport sector- BUSES AND TRAINS and BUS DEPORTS AND TRAINS STATIONS are an awful mess and electricity prices soaring! Wonder who got the kick backs for the Airbus deal?!! Any guesses?
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Kusum / April 29, 2013
Only the Ceylon Today carried pics of the protest against BBS and we should support that paper.
The Daily Mirror is a useless paper! It had NO pictures of the march for unity in the center of Colombo but has carried huge pictures of the murderer Duminda Silva!
We should all BOYCOTT THE DAILY MIRROR which is a piece of trash, good to wipe Mahinda Rajapassa’s ass!
The media must be more responsible and promote unity and harmony and peoples activism. BOYCOTT DAILY MIRROR!
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Daham / April 28, 2013
I’m sorry to note your ignorance. I live in Sri Lanka & well aware of hate speech of majorities as well as minorities. Rally was for unity and not against BBS or any other Buddhist party. I too vehemently oppose the rhetoric of BBS & Ravana Balaya but similarly any other who talks against unity.
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Daham / April 28, 2013
This is what I had to say y’day.
Good Luck!
Hope your efforts are genuinely to address the current needs of Sri Lanka & this would no way link to any political party or any race / religion or ethnicity or any NGO / INGO but to Sri Lankan Identity.
Stand for the pride of Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan identity. May everyone stands for the rights of Majority the same way they stand for the Minority! May everyone stand for the right cause than what is most popular. Respect other nations and just don’t let Sri Lankans say or think that we are superior to any other Nation just being Sri Lankan. If we are truly superior in our spirit; it will be visible in our actions not just in words. May all Sri Lankans enjoy equal rights!
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Shan / April 29, 2013
Let’s stop thinking in terms of “majority” and “minority”. We are all Sri Lankans and human beings.
We should stand for “human rights” – and only when necessary, for Sri Lankan rights – not with a sense of pride, but rather, with dignity!
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upworthy / April 29, 2013
ignorance is a bliss, I was ignorant to the fact that in every good effort there will be someone with a chink in their Armor waiting to criticize and find fault. I was ignorant to the fact that there will be some sort of jealousy when some see things are moving in the right direction. I was ignorant to the fact that some has this fetal weakness to be disturbed when others don’t think like them or differ to share their same views, SL will change and there will be no place for folks like you to mingle around with your fissured ideologies…! I too live in SL and I never came across anyone giving hate speech except the one you named, or could it be that you followed the ideology of BBS, SR, SU and others in the same like and buy into their stories to claim that Minorities are giving hate speech, please give is a break, would you!! Learn to appreciate if you are unable to be a part of it, or just move on, as Charles Rosner rightly coined the phrase “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem”
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Daham / April 29, 2013
It’s best that you don’t talk about things that you don’t know. Assumption is dangerous. I urge you to follow the articles about BBS & BQBBS and read my comments. Then you will understand that I’m not part of BBS or support racism. I stand for my country & I stand for the Sri Lankan identity. Will support any genuine effort to fight racism and division. But will not be part of any who wants to bring a Spring in Sri Lanka to bring destruction to our mother land similar to Turkey or Syria. By the way have you visited the MQE page in FB. Then you’ll know it’s not only BBQ or) or SU that should be in this list. I am sorry for you ignorance again & by the way just to make it much more clear to you, I support this rally for unity.
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Lanka Mitra / April 29, 2013
Yes no more hate speech anybody … let us ban it outright … we are one nation one community … As our President promised “There is no racial inequality in Sri Lanka. All are equal”. Let us keep this theme …
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Katmai / April 29, 2013
I also must report that I had a protest against “hate speech” in my backyard today. And I made sure that the protest was not against anyone in particular.
Apparently, what the “candle light vigil people” did wrong was to protest in front of those they were protesting against. This was absolutely correct; because I didn’t get harassed by the Police or the BBS. Looks like Dayan Jayatillake and his group didn’t get harassed by anyone either.
P.S.
Didn’t Dayan Jayatillake say he doesn’t participate in these kinds of protests? What gives?
P.P.S.
If anyone needs advice on how to organized a protest all by yourself in your own backyard please contact me. Be part of this phenomenon that is sweeping the country, without even leaving your own property.
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Buvanes / April 30, 2013
CAN U TELL THE EXAMPLE OF HATE SPEECH BY MINORITIES? PLS DO’T JUST SAY TNA DOING SLMC DOING. TELL WHAT, WHERE, WHEN,BY WHOM???
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Lanka Mitra / April 29, 2013
Keep it up guys … Let millions join and make BBS a spent bullet … We are losing billions already because of the enormous lopsided wisdom of Gnanasara thero … PEACE, PEACE, PEACE …
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Lester / April 29, 2013
when can we become a country like S’pore…? when???
Muslims did not want to be a part of Singapore, are you forgetting that? India/Pakistan, Singapore/Malaysia, Sri Lanka/????….
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Jay / April 29, 2013
Lester Muslims(The Malayss)are The Natives of Singapore They are Part and Parcel of Singapore The National Anthem Majula Singapura is in Malay,The Military Uses Malay for All the commands.It is A secular Country with Peace and Prosperity because of Intelligent Farsighted Politician Like Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
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Lester / April 30, 2013
@ Jay,
Wrong. Singapore is multicultural, Malaysia pretends to be but it is really an Islamic State. The constitution of Malaysia declares Islam the state religion. Malaysia was divided and Singapore given independence because the Malaysian Parliament voted 126-0 to secede.
After much heated ideological conflicts between the two governments, in 1965, the Malaysian parliament voted 126 to 0 to expel Singapore from Malaysia.[3][22][23] Race riots broke out once more in 1969.
As for India, Muslims did not want to be part of it. That was Jinnah’s plan all along: “Pakistan not only means freedom and independence but the Muslim Ideology which has to be preserved, which has come to us as a precious gift and treasure and which, we hope other will share with us. “
If Muslims did not wish to be part of Malaysia or India, except as conquerors, what makes you think they will embrace a pluralistic Sri Lankan identity?
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David Blacker / May 2, 2013
“Malaysia was divided and Singapore given independence because the Malaysian Parliament voted 126-0 to secede.”
Lol, really, you believe Malaysia seceded from Singapore??? Wouldn’t that be like China seceding from Hong Kong? :D Singapore was never a part of Malaysia, Heshan/Lester. We have been through this on Groundviews where your silly ignorance was exposed and ridiculed. Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation briefly, but was eventually expelled.
Don’t try to make up history the way you habitually do like when you claimed Hitler was victorious in WW2, that the US won the Vietnam War, and that North korea had been expelled from the UN :D
“If Muslims did not wish to be part of Malaysia or India, except as conquerors, what makes you think they will embrace a pluralistic Sri Lankan identity?”
Because they have embraced the SL identity for centuries and show no sign of rejecting it.
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PodaMyrae / April 30, 2013
LESTERGE WATALAPPANG IS LEELAGE WATALAPPANG!
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Sama / April 30, 2013
Muslims are not the problem, but you and your ilk :(
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Lester / April 30, 2013
India, USA, Spain, Denmark, England, Indonesia (Bali), Russia, Israel, Palestine…….
No, Muslims are never the problem. All the bomb attacks and riots are just my imagination, right? Why don’t you tell the readers why your Sunni Al Qaeda brothers in Syria tried to shoot down a Russian plane with 200 civilians a few days ago, in the name of almighty Allah?
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David Blacker / May 2, 2013
Why is it that you can’t find any such incidents in SL? It is SL that we are discussing, are we not? How are SL MUslims responsible for what Syrians are doing? Isn’t your logic the same as those who killed Colombo Tamils because the Tigers killed soldiers in the NE?
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Thenuwara / April 28, 2013
Daham just shoot it without beating around the bush. You were hurt or/and upset because CH was reporting racism right. If you want to support the BB-Satan go ahead and do it man. Who stops you.
Every right minded person hate this hate speech or violence.
We will fight and we will do more till we win and chase those third class stinking junk yard dogs.
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Daham / April 29, 2013
It’s best that you don’t talk about things that you don’t know. Assumption is dangerous. I urge you to follow the articles about BBS & BQBBS and read my comments. Then you will understand that I’m not part of BBS or support racism. I stand for my country & I stand for the Sri Lankan identity. Will support any genuine effort to fight racism and division. But will not be part of any who wants to bring a Spring in Sri Lanka to bring destruction to our mother land similar to Turkey or Syria.
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Thenuwara / April 29, 2013
Cool, if you are not part of BBS thats because you are wise and show that you arnt a recist. thats great. Yet you dont want to change this appaling regime? what a contradiction. This BBS virus has been created by this goddamn regime. First find the difference between the mother land and the regime. Why mixed up? We all love the mother land but what the present regime doing to the motherland? do we need such a regime? We want to see their back as fast as possible. therefore your argument is null void.
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Damma Asoka / April 29, 2013
ALL politicians need to be asked to SWEAR AN OATH TO PROTECT THE PRINCIPLES of GENUINE BUDDHISM – AHIMSA, TOLERANCE, MULTICULTURALISM AND PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE IN SRI LANKA.
And this should be the first principle in a new constitution of Sri Lanka which currently gives Buddhism the foremost place.
Multiculturalism and respect for diversity of castes, races, religions are CORE principles of WHAT THE BUDDHA TAUGHT – but the enlightened one’s teachings have been distorted by politicians in Lanka.
It is the politicians who are responsible for promoting hatred – in order to build up their vote banks. Politicians fund and use groups like BBS to whip up hatred against other communities to win elections and DIVIDE, DISTRACT and RULE LANKA. They are the biggest culprits of patenting and promoting hatred against other communities since independence.
Politicians and their gangs and cronies who spread hate speech should be made accountable and taught MULTICULTURALISM and PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE.
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Sandiya / April 28, 2013
All this is very nice but there needs to be clear agenda FOR CHANGE with clear demands and timelines, or this wonderful movement will fizzle out like the anti-Wall street protests.
1. We need to demand a Bill on the Prevention of Incitement to Racial and religious hatred and
2. the accountability and end of impunity of those who live by hatred line Balu Sena hate mongers.
3. A non-violent protest campaign to take back the streets of Colombo from the corrupt and speeding politicians and their military convoys and make them safe for citizens is needed. Politicians and their sons in racing cars must be held accountable for breaking speed limits.
4. Also, we need to take back the streets from the visual pollution of politician’s posters and advertising campaign bill boards. Spray paint GRAFFITI over them – the students from the Institute of aestetics on Horton place – over to you!
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Dodo / April 28, 2013
Quite right! It is the politicians who are MOST responsible for fermenting hatred – in order to build up their vote banks. Politicians fund and use groups like Balu Sena (who are funded by the Rajapassa brothers) to whip up hatred against other communities to win elections and DIVIDE, DISTRACT and RULE LANKA.
We need to demand that the ALL politicians need to be asked to SWEAR AN OATH TO PROTECT MULTICULTURALISM AND PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE IN SRI LANKA.
They are the biggest culprits of patenting and promoting hatred against other communities since independence. Politicians and their gangs and cronies who spread hate speech should be made accountable.
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Dinuk / April 28, 2013
This protest should be held every Saturday as long as the attacks on minorities and the land grabs in the northeast by the Rajapassa military dictatorship keeps happening – at the same venue and should feature musicians, and multicultural shows and discussions on multiculturalism and democracy to educated the people — in all three languages.
This protest should also spread to other cities of Lanka and to the villages too!
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AYMAN / April 28, 2013
HAVING SEEN THIS, I AM PROUD TO CALL MYSELF A SRI LANKAN.
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gune / April 28, 2013
Now, it’s SRI LANKA. Gota and Mara & Co. take note, this country is for all, not only for you to play with people’s life and future being.
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Radhika Ranatunga / April 28, 2013
“The downfall of the attempts of governments and leaders to unite mankind is found in this- in the wrong message that we should see everyone as the same. This is the root of the failure of harmony. Because the truth is, we should not all see everyone as the same! We are not the same! We are made of different colours and we have different cultures. We are all different! But the key to this door is to look at these differences, respect these differences, learn from and about these differences, and grow in and with these differences. We are all different. We are not the same. But that’s beautiful. And that’s okay.In the quest for unity and peace, we cannot blind ourselves and expect to be all the same. Because in this, we all have an underlying belief that everyone should be the same as us at some point. We are not on a journey to become the same or to be the same. But we are on a journey to see that in all of our differences, that is what makes us beautiful as a human race, and if we are ever to grow, we ought to learn and always learn some more.”
― C. JoyBell C.
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AYMAN / April 28, 2013
Build bridges, not walls. Spread love, not hate. Live your life to the fullest and always be happy.
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imaana / April 28, 2013
This is the spirit of Sri Lanka.
You are TRULY AMAZING.
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Safa / April 28, 2013
Good start. Hope there will be more and more people joining in. The message has to be delivered loud and clear. Specially appreciate the presence of Ven Baddegama Samita and the Christian nuns. Also the leaders of political parties and other intellectuals.
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mohan morais / April 28, 2013
hats off to all those who organized the event, and thanks to those who took part…pity I could not be there in person, but was there in spirit.
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Daham / April 28, 2013
Main reasons that many moderate Sinhala Buddhist do not turn up to these events are that there are many A**H***s who comment here as well wanting every gathering to become a spring to topple MR’s government.Wake up loosers, you have to wait till next election to do it democratically. I am sorry that you are unable to rally enough to get your goals achieved. When Majority do not want MR they will vote him out the same way they did to old elephants. So people with hidden agendas be aware that this is not a rally against MR and your cheap satisfaction expecting it would become a spring to topple the Government will be a far fetched dream. Sorry A**:*****s.
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Jim Hardy / April 29, 2013
Hey stupid Daham
Can we expect a free & fair election to vote Mahinda out, We dont believe Mahinda Rajapaksas victories , all elections won abusing state media & machinery fraudulently using thuggery.
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AYMAN / April 30, 2013
LESTER ALWAYS THERE TO THROW THE SPANNER IN THE WORKS
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Lester / April 28, 2013
Where are the members of the so-called “oppressed communities?” I see a few nuns, that’s it. What a funny thing, when only the “racist” Sinhalese and their monks march for peace?
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upworthy / April 29, 2013
@Lester – there were lot’s of them mate, don’t be conclusive after looking at these pictures, these are very few handful of pictures, had you been physically there you would have noticed that it is a mix of all communities, in fact most of the organizers are from the minority community or ‘oppressed communities’ as you coined it :) learn to appreciate the effort mate, when reading on your last few words, it makes us feel that you still got a glimpse of racism in you!
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Lester / April 29, 2013
How do you know there were lots of them? I don’t see a single lady in abaya in that picture. 17 pictures without a single Muslim participant says a lot.
Maybe you need to stop using your imagination when interpreting, it makes us feel that you still got more than a glimpse of stupidity in you! :)
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DODU / April 29, 2013
DUMINDA silva reached home without being in remand prison even for a single day. A person who is para listed 40% is walking like an athletics. Now he is free to do his dirty games ( killing, rape, drugs….) as usual with the blessing of Hambantota brothers.
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imaana / April 29, 2013
I already knew that Lester is supporting racism blindly.
But is he physically blind too. Can’t he see the lady
in Abaya in the 10th picture.I think I understand why.
When someone does not want to see something,they really
can’t see it even if it is there. How amazing.
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Netizen / April 29, 2013
Blind and angry, Lester the hate mongerer who tries hard to excel in divisive speech: Unchain your heart…
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aiyo / April 29, 2013
The 10th picture has a muslim lady holding a placard with a nun.
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David Blacker / April 29, 2013
Looks like you’re blind as well as retarded, Heshan/Lester. Have a look at pic number 10, moron. Quick, quick, now say that one pic is not enough lol.
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David Blacker / April 29, 2013
It’s also hilarious that the candlelit vigil was criticized as being a minority event while this is criticized for being a Sinhalese event. Since the BBS claims to represent Sinhalese Buddhists, who do you think bears the most responsibility to speak out?
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No-Hate / April 29, 2013
Look at the 10th Pic… and stop being a Web Warrior… Don’t speak if you didn’t go there…
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John / April 29, 2013
Maybe the photographers didn’t realize they’d need to photograph each ethnicity separately to so that Internet trolls didn’t have a leg to stand on?
Either way, there were more than enough people from different walks of life. I’m not sure why you need to be wearing an abaya to be Muslim, but if a picture of a Muslim woman is what is needed, then so be it – https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BI60VVFCEAI-cwr.jpg:large
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Lester / April 30, 2013
@ John,
That is an interesting picture. It shows how advanced Sinhalese culture is compared to any Islamic society. How does a minority woman rationally protest against injustice by the majority community, when she practices a religion that forces her to dress in medieval garb? In other words, the woman in the abaya is already the victim of oppression.
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David Blacker / May 2, 2013
Way to move the goalposts, Heshan. Which woman are you referring to? You claimed there were no Muslims in those pictures.
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Jamal / May 2, 2013
@Lester are you referring to the nuns also? Or are they exempt from the Islamphobes menu?
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Lester / May 2, 2013
Lester are you referring to the nuns also?
Being a nun is entirely voluntary. Nuns are not married; they do not cover their heads because of their husbands.
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David Blacker / May 2, 2013
Well the church claims to be the bride of Christ, so they are indeed covering their heads because of their husband.
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Jamal / May 2, 2013
@Lester why do they cover their heads at all then? Any guesses?
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Lestert / May 2, 2013
@ Jamal:
If a nun covers her head, it does not affect anyone. A nun lives in a convent with other nuns. But Muslim women try to go for jobs in their scarfs and wears the scarf because her husband is jealous of other guys looking at her.
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David Blacker / May 3, 2013
“Lestert”, why does her husband’s jealousy affect you — are you unhappy that your masturbatory files are being restricted by the scarf?
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rajo / April 29, 2013
Lester get an ECT done quickly.
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Hamas / April 29, 2013
“I don’t see a single lady in abaya in that picture. 17 pictures without a single Muslim participant says a lot”. Check pic no 10… or you just ignored it…
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citizen / April 29, 2013
look at the 10 the picture you blind fool. trying to preach without been able to see. no wonder this country is going to the dogs because of people like you
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Universal Citizen / April 29, 2013
As a participant, there are Muslims in at-least in 13 shots. ladies in 3. Going by the crowd there was approx 20% Muslims.
Peace to All !!
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Lester / April 30, 2013
Another Islamic conspiracy theorist. If the crowd was 20% Muslim, these pictures would easily reflect it.
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Jamal / May 2, 2013
You do not have the brains to estimate so why keep whining?
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Lester / May 2, 2013
What need for estimation when all problems can be solved with a suicide bomb, and then put the blame on CIA/Mossad.
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David Blacker / May 2, 2013
Are you referring to the Tigers, Heshan? There haven’t been any other suicide bombers in SL :D
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AYMAN / April 30, 2013
They say eyes are useless when the mind is blind; Free Your Mind.
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Pagan / April 30, 2013
Yo the wretched underdog, the mindless self indulger thou art the mother of all stupids, thou art the mother of idiots who is always pregnant.
Lester you remind of the famous idiotic Bush Gaffe:
“See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.”
Press. George W. Bush, Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005
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priya / May 2, 2013
There were Muslims in Abhaya and without.
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Leela / April 29, 2013
As I observed from the side, there couldn’t have been more that three hundred people the most, if we leave the cops out. Is that it then? So much for vociferous commentators here. I think most of them live in a cold basement in Europe. We had much more at BBS meeting in Horana.
Leela
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rajo / April 29, 2013
Leela! what I hear is you are good at scraping Coconut.
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Kohubath / April 30, 2013
Does it mean promiscuously, “Polmudda”?
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David Blacker / April 29, 2013
So you’re saying that the Buddhist racists outnumber the non-racists, Leela?
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Leela / April 30, 2013
David Blacker,
Show me where BBS said other races are inferior to Sinhala-Buddhists or not good as them. So what makes you attribute racist seal to BBS? BBS merely wants Sinhalas to know who racist and the real threat to them are. Read the Koran and history of colonialists to learn the racists and where ‘Hate’ was applied.
Muslims read the Koran verses 7:176, 7:179, 5:60 and etc that describe non-Muslims as “animals” and beasts five times a day and walk behind a big banner that says, ‘Hate Has No Place In Sri Lanka’. What a joke. Only Allah knows what Imithiyas has in his head when he smooth talked to Samitha.
Leela
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David Blacker / April 30, 2013
Leela, do you deny that the BBS has said that it wants a country only for Buddhists? That is racism.
Do you deny that the BBS has prevented Muslims from following the dietary regulations that their religion insists on? That is religious persecution.
Do you deny that the BBS has called for Muslim women to be prevented from wearing their garb of choice? That is racism.
Do you deny that the BBS has called for Muslim places of business to be boycotted? That is racism.
Do you need any further verification of the racist nature of the BBS?
What is said in the Quran is irrelevant, because what is in the Quran is not being imposed on you here in SL. But what is being preached by the BBS in the name of Buddhism is being imposed on SL’s minorities.
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Maghribi / April 30, 2013
Mr. David Blacker – Your efforts are appreciated to explain logical reasons, however an illogical mind cannot compute rationality/reality. Psychology 101.
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Peace Lover / April 30, 2013
forget it Mr Blacker coz Leela boy is loony to the core and your wasting time exlaining it to him!
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Leela / May 2, 2013
David Blacker,
BBS talks about 2500 year old Buddhist history of this country. If you think that is racism then I cannot help it.
What BBS says is Halal badge wasn’t there before and it is illegal and it cannot be fraudulently imposed on manufactures. If you think that is preventing Muslims from following the dietary regulations then I cannot help it.
Muslim women in Sri Lanka never wore gonibilla garb before and it scares young people and its a cultural invasion. But BBS has not objected to it.
BBS has not called for Muslim places of business to be boycotted. BBS demanded Muslim business places employ Sinhala men only for Muslim employees in those shops had in the past Proselytized and married Sinhala girls by force.
I like you to come up with any other claims of BBS being racists if you can. But first you ought to understand what is racism. As I understand racism is; ‘the belief that people’s qualities are influenced by their race and that the members of other races are not as good as the members of your own, or the resulting unfair treatment of members of other races’
Leela
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Sama / May 3, 2013
FYI, Leelooooooooooo,
rac·ism
/ˈrāˌsizəm/
Noun
The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as…
Prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief.
Synonyms
racialism
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Sama / May 3, 2013
If Leela does not know what racism means, there is no purpose of disccuing about ” as I understood… etc.. “.
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David Blacker / May 3, 2013
“BBS talks about 2500 year old Buddhist history of this country. If you think that is racism then I cannot help it.”
Where have I said such a thing, Leela? Why don’t you address what I’m saying instead of changing the subject?
“What BBS says is Halal badge wasn’t there before and it is illegal and it cannot be fraudulently imposed on manufactures.”
How is it illegal? If it was illegal, which law is it breaking? How is it fraudulent? No manufacturer was lied to about what the badge means. Do you not know what “fraudulent” means?
“If you think that is preventing Muslims from following the dietary regulations then I cannot help it.”
If a Muslim is prevented from knowing whether a food is acceptable or not, that is prevention of following a dietary regulation. If a Buddhist or Hindu was prevented from knowing whether an item of food contained beef or any other meat, would you not consider that a prevention in following the dietary regulations of being a vegetarian?
“Muslim women in Sri Lanka never wore gonibilla garb before and it scares young people and its a cultural invasion.”
Children fear what they are taught to fear. It is the use of words like “gonibilla” that creates this irrational fear. Children are also scared of devil masks, devil dancers, and Santa Clause. Should all these be banned because Buddhists are scaredy cats? All western garb is a cultural invasion. All western food and music are cultural invasions. Should we ban Chinese food and all wear sarong and amudeys?
“But BBS has not objected to it.”
They certainly have. Would you like a link to the statement?
“BBS has not called for Muslim places of business to be boycotted.”
They have. Would you like a link to the claim?
“BBS demanded Muslim business places employ Sinhala men only for Muslim employees in those shops had in the past Proselytized and married Sinhala girls by force.”
Do you have any evidence of such acts? Please provide links. And please explain how ceasing to employ Muslims will prevent Muslim men interacting with Sinhalese women. Also, please explain what is wrong with someone converting to Islam or marrying a Muslim.
“I like you to come up with any other claims of BBS being racists if you can.”
Before I do so, you need to address the claims I have already met. You have failed to do so.
“‘the belief that people’s qualities are influenced by their race and that the members of other races are not as good as the members of your own, or the resulting unfair treatment of members of other races’”
That is one of the definitions, and by selecting a community for special attention, the BBS is being racist.
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David Blacker / May 3, 2013
Just to save time, here’s Kirama Wimalajothi Thera, the leader of Bodu Bala Sena explaining why the burqa must be banned:
“Malaysia banned the burqa when Prime Minister Mahathir (Mohammed) was in power. Those are fundamentalist traditions in the Middle East, which have recently been implanted in this country. This is a Sinhala Buddhist country and no one needs to cover their faces in this country.” — http://www.ceylontoday.lk/16-24545-news-detail-ban-the-burqa.html
And Bodu Bala Sena Executive Committee Member Dilantha Vithanage “in a country that did not permit tinted windows in cars because it hindered identification, it was unthinkable that women were permitted to wear a garment that only revealed their eyes.” — http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/18187
Here are articles reporting the BBS call for a boycott of Muslim businesses:
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/news/Sri_Lanka_citizen_group_calls_for_halt_to_anti-Muslim_nationalism/603341801
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/04/02/sril-a02.html
Here is a report on the closure of Muslim businesses in Elpitiya by the BBS:
http://oneislandtwonations.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/elpitiya-liberated-by-bbs-no-more-muslim-shops/
Please let me know, Leela, if you want any more evidence of BBS racism.
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Scargus / April 30, 2013
You are but a funded carnivorous stupid. Your understanding isn’t grown even to the level of a 3 year old. You spurt rabid phrenetic and a venomous verbatim with so much anger and distraught by living in dementia.
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Jamal / May 3, 2013
@Leela keeps misquoting the Quran at will without any concern for the context in which it was revealed or the historical connotations. I invite the reader to the following exposė.
Leela states
Now this unbeliever Leela’s translation of some of the verse he quoted.
Actually this Verse was revealed about the story of Bal’am son of Ba’ura who lived in the time of Moses (Musa). Here is the explanation of the meaning by Ibn Katheer, one the foremost exegetes, who was an Arab philologist, etymologist and historian. An unbeatable combination when compared to an Internet copyist!
Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar narrated from Salim, from Abu An-Nadr that;
when Musa entered the land of Bani Canaan in the area of Ash-Sham (Greater Syria), the people of Bal`am came to him, saying, “This is Musa, son of Imran with the Children of Israel. He wants to drive us out from our land, kill us and replace us with the Children of Israel. We are your people and have no other dwelling area. You are a person whose supplication is acceptable (to Allah), so go out and supplicate to Allah against them.”
He said, “Woe to you! Here is Allah’s Prophet (Musa) with whom the angels and believers are! How can I supplicate against them when I know from Allah what I know!”
They said, “We have no other dwelling area.”
So they kept luring and begging him until he was tempted by the trial and went on his donkey towards Mount Husban, which was behind the Israelite military barracks. When he proceeded on the Mount for a while, the donkey sat down and refused to proceed. He got off the donkey and struck it until it stood up again and he rode it. The donkey did the same after a little while, and he struck it again until it stood up… So he proceeded and tried to supplicate against Musa and his people. However, Allah made his tongue mention his people with evil and the Children of Israel with good instead of his people, who protested, “O Bal`am! What are you doing You are supplicating for them and against us!”
He said, “It is against my will. This is a matter that Allah has decided.”
He then said to them, as his tongue was made to loll out of his mouth, “Now I have lost this life and the Hereafter.”
the meaning here is a parable of this man — and his like — concerning their misguidance, persisting the wrong path and not being able to benefit from faith or comprehend what they are being called to. So his example is that of a dog which pants(lolls) whether it was driven away or left alone. The person described here does not benefit from the advice or the call to faith, just as if the advice and call never occurred.
Without providing this information Leela concludes that this verse describes non-Believers as vile Beasts.
Is this not an example of an insidious attempt to discredit the Quran and thereby the Muslims by this bigoted wicked fraudster? Lets remind this forum is not run by Lee Potter. People are now wiser to be taken for rides!
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Peace Lover / April 29, 2013
kiyapang Leeela aboout the scam where you cheated people in the Lee Potter housing scheme in Kandy!
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Jamal / May 2, 2013
Must be over a 100 queries so far about Leelananda and Potter – No reply yet. Will have to wait till doomsday.
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Sama / April 30, 2013
But you have no brains to feel it- that 300 or few more hundreds give a message to millions of peace loving people ? Why cant you see that in that way ? If it came from a younger person, I could say, it is just because he is young and have no exp. but you as a 67 year old woman or man to just drop this kind of shameless comments ? What is the purpose of being against this kind of peace demonstrations ?
I really dont know why you and your ilk support BBS and other segment that clearly promote fantisms.
I personally, feel beautiful to see this kind of peace demonstrations – DJ ^s participation is an example to all srilankens, we dont need to fear to go against all forms of hate speakers. We dont want to be scared of GOTA or his murderous criminal gangs. Jayawewa, all peace lovers in our mother land :)
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Goraka / April 29, 2013
Lester is a racist and not a true Sri Lankan. True Sri Lankan don’t thrash other Sri Lankans.
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Sama / April 30, 2013
Why should we bother with his commentS ? He is irrepairable :(
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Voodoo / April 30, 2013
Hold your triangle! The oppressed community is the Native Vedda’s Vedigom Cult society, they will be soon in the streets in a Wicca style.
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Mahela / May 1, 2013
Lester,
Where are the oppressors who should have joind in this rally to show their support for this worthy cause.
Do they need “Banis” buns and a packet of milk to join…..
“Rally for unity” “Hate has no place in Sri Lanka” is the need of the hour.
Sri Lanka’s Governing body is on a Divide and Rule path.
While giving all the comforts to it’s “vandibattayas” goons, it deprive the rest who are against their dictatorial selfish policy.
Therefore to rally everybody on equal rights, freedom, liberty and justice is the most important issue and this is another Great work done by Dr.Jayatillake and the organisers. Keep it up.
We like to see more Yellow robes next time as they are freely available.
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Lester / May 1, 2013
Dear Mahela,
The real oppressors are the men who force their women to wear scarves and abaya in the bright sunshine, and sell their daughters for marriage at 16. These men are so insecure that they believe 72 virgins are waiting for them in Paradise:
Abu Umama narrated: “The Messenger of God said, ‘Everyone that God admits into paradise will be married to 72 wives; two of them are houris and seventy of his inheritance of the [female] dwellers of hell. All of them will have libidinous sex organs and he will have an ever-erect penis.’ “
Sunan Ibn Majah, Zuhd (Book of Abstinence) 39
Learn the truth, my friend. It will open your eyes. :)
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David Blacker / May 2, 2013
All religions must reform from within, not by external pressure. The latter has never brought about reform.
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Jamal / May 2, 2013
Not worth explaining this to this retard, David. You can pull this donkey (doesnt deserve to be called a horse!) to the water but you will never make him drink.
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Lester / May 2, 2013
Why are so many young Muslim men eager to do jihad? Is it not because of the promise of virgins in Paradise? :) Poor Jamal does not want the truth to be old.
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Lester / May 2, 2013
*told
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David Blacker / May 2, 2013
Where are these eager young Sri Lankan Muslim men you speak of, Heshan? Why is it that you can’t find any?
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Jamal / May 3, 2013
The TRUTH is not what you want it to be according to your putrid perverted mind, your lecherous thoughts, your forked tongue. So while the tumor in your brain slowly erodes it keeping spewing your hateful lies till it consumes you.
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Jamal / May 3, 2013
The comment is directed to @LESTER.
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nimalD / April 29, 2013
This must not stop here. We need to broaden this struggle to remove MR and the dreaded executive presidency. No point in removing MR and giving someone else the same powers. Build up a broad coaltition of forces. I saw in the variety of people who assembled, a ray of hope. UNP, SLMC (Nizam, TNA, LSSP (Rev. Samitha), Dayan, Mano, Imtiaz etc. Let us broaden thsi coalition.
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Mohamed Marzook / April 29, 2013
When I see such initiatives I regain my hope that I have not lost my motherland, Sri Lanka, and I could live in peace as before together with my Sinhala and Tamil friends. Let these rallies continue.
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J.Muthu / April 29, 2013
GOOD LUCK TRY YOUR BEST….
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J.Muthu / April 29, 2013
IT WILL NEVER GOING TO WORK, SINHALA MASSES NOT READY FOR PEACEFUL SRILANKA…THEY ALLWAYS LOOK FOR ENEMY AND LOOK FOR BLOOD AND VIOLENCE. SORRY GUYS ITS TRUE GOD BLESS YOU ALL….
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Native Vedda / April 29, 2013
J.Muthu
“THEY ALLWAYS LOOK FOR ENEMY AND LOOK FOR BLOOD AND VIOLENCE”
Only the Sinhala/Buddhists look for trouble.
SINHALA MASSES are simply harmless stupids.
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Buvanes / April 30, 2013
IT IS NOT SINHALA MASSES, BUT SINHALA POLITICIANS. UNFORTUNATLY SINHALA MASSES BELIEVE WHAT SINHALA POLITICIANS SAY WITHOUT QUESTIONING THEM. SEE THE INNOCENT PEOPLE’S REACTION ON DUMINDA SILVA’S RELEASE. WHY THEY ARE SO STUPID, DON’T THEY HAVE BRAIN TO THINK AND ANALYSE THINGS?
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Lester / April 30, 2013
Says the man with an axe. What civilization did your people create? Wandering through the jungles for thousands of years, without building a single great architectural structure.
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Native Vedda / May 3, 2013
Lester
“Wandering through the jungles for thousands of years, without building a single great architectural structure”
Are you certain about what you wrote above?
Please reread your comment and refer to archaeological excavations of this island.
Then we can sit down and talk about it under many full, half and quarter moons.
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TRN / April 30, 2013
J.Muthu
Please remember we are against hate speach ! No more hate speaches here.
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M.Sivananthan / May 4, 2013
Oh.. You want a VVT smuggler criminal to lead the civilization! What a funny idiot you are!
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Ben Hurling / April 29, 2013
Sri Lanka will prevail.
There is overwhelming decency in Sri Lanka. Untapped and silenced.
Great start. Let us keep marching.
It will grow from stregth to strength.
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Native Vedda / April 29, 2013
Ben Hurling
Are you sure this not a diasspora funded, Wahhabi financed rally?
Please make sure the International Community does not tarnish this country’s image.
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Anura / April 29, 2013
There is only one Buddhist monk in these photos. I remember seeing more than 15 monks in the vedios of Fashion Bug incident.
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imaana / April 29, 2013
Do not worry, this is JUST THE BEGINNING. More will follow suit.
I myself could not participate, bcos I am out of the country at
the moment.
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Abdullah / April 29, 2013
People are scared damn scared come to the open,this government is ruthless will not tolerate anybody or persons showing an iota of anti establishment ,they will be eliminated…only way to eliminate these ruthless men tuning the country is internationalize their atrocities
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Probono Publico / April 29, 2013
Though small in numbers its a good start and as someone pointed out the real spirit of Lanka is shown here (of course the likes of Malinda will disagree )
Over to ‘pseudo’ patriots like Leela and Hela for their comments!
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Burt / April 29, 2013
This is mostly preaching to the converted. Racial and religious hatred has been in Sri Lanka for a very long time and to get out of this you need both, education of the public and enforcement of the law.
If J. S. Tissainayagam could be charged for writing two articles in a magazine that very few saw and sentenced to 20 years why was BBS not charged for its public speaches in Kandy and Maharagama and acting on the speeches in papiliyana along with some uneducated thugs.
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Shiva / April 29, 2013
you guys are really …. really.. really… funny
its a protest against all HATE… and then the story is about Buddhists….
SO now we know the ULTERIOR MOTIVE…
sometimes you give yourselves a way …. lies emerge always… truth prevalis always…
try another demo
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David Blacker / April 30, 2013
So then, Shiva, you can figure out where the hate is coming from: the Buddhist extremists.
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Citizen / April 29, 2013
The issue in a country like Sri Lanka practising pluralism – ‘has the unitary form of government ever solved the problem of hatred of ethnic race or religious community’. This has been a never ending problem, since independence. It could be even said that such issue began to surface in the 1930’s and had even shown its ugly face in the 1915 riots over the issue of licence to conduct the procession of celebrating Wesak through the streets of Kandy.
During the 1930s, several politicians like Dr.N.M.Perera and even J.R.Jayawardena suggested the concept of Federalism as the most suitable form of government in the country that would promote unity. However, there were other politicians who showed their dissent opinion. Instead of experimenting Federalism in Sri Lanka, politicians were selfish to gain power began with the Sinhala Only Act – a message that hate has due place in Sri Lanka. Eventually MR has told in an interview with the Hindu Editor Ram not to take the issue of Federalism. It is regret to observe that Sri Lanka Sinhalese political leaders failed or reluctant to realize that Federalism is a designed political system where the legislative power is divided between the Central Legislature and a number of Provincial Legislatures. The distinction between these two levels of government is that Provincial governments derive their authority from the Central Government and are subordinate to it, though both levels of government derive their authority from a written constitution. It should not be forgotten that Federalism which signals the concept of ‘Unity in Diversity’ and has the force of discouraging hatred towards others.
But today we see that everything is politicized on various pretexts. We talk of religious unity, but Muslim Ministers are keen on marginalizing the Tamils and kept on harassing the Tamils by way of grabbing their lands and sometimes torching their houses while Tamil Parliamentarians have condemned the execution of Rizana and the actions of the BBS towards the Muslims. Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Armed Security Forces has engaged in destroying the Hindu temples, while MR was engaged in religious activities at Thiruppathy. Has the Muslim politicians ever suggested the suitability of Federalism in the country. Even Dr.G.L.Peiris has forgotten about the Draft Constitution which he has tabled before the Parliament and is dancing to the tune of the MR & his siblings with their command over the Military Forces. Look at the double standard by the Congress Party led-Government in India which is keen to support MR in crushing the Tamils, though Sri Lankan Navy consistently attack and arrest the Indian fishermen, and its security been threatened by bombings by Islamic terrorists and China. Had Federalism been introduced or experienced in Sri Lanka, would there have been tension & conflict in the country. On the whole, it appears that Sri Lankan rulers are cheating the world. Only Gamini Dissanayake & Ranil Wickremasinghe had suggested the suitability of Federalism in Sri Lanka, which signify that ‘Hate has no place in Sri Lanka’. After the unlawful impeachment of the CJ, there is no rule of law – showing disregard for democratic practices. Will all the religious leaders realize this.
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Ahmed / April 29, 2013
And whoever speaks against the government and its ruling family is targeted with the help of state media. Now Asath Sally is in hiding as all the killer dogs of Gota-baya are let loose……
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aiyo / April 29, 2013
This is only the first protest and i’m sure numbers will swell in time.well done to those who marched and those who organised it…..now all we need to do is ignore malinda’s take on it!!! Im sure he’ll do a piece on nightclub protesters and nuns with hidden agendas!
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sunila Mendis / April 29, 2013
Most of commentaries are positive in outlook.The ideas presented by Sandiya should be pursued by all political parties and civil society groups and religious groups to bring in inclusive governance where all citizens are involved in governance.This can be the starting point and could in future be named a Platform for inclusive governance.Well done and hope to see many more activities to garner support of the massess not only to condemn hate speech but to go beyond for the ultimate goal of inclusive governance.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / April 29, 2013
The crowds thronging around Navaloka hospital to witness the departure of Duminda Silva and the number of persons attending the ‘ Hate Has No Place’ vigil are stark contrasts. It is a contrast between what is staged and what is voluntary. It is a contrast between the madness and sanity. It is a contrast between the profane and the profound. It is a contrat between evil and good. It is a contrast between low value and high value systems. It is a demonstration of the numbers game that is played in the name of a third rate democracy. It is also a demonstration of what is wrong and what is what is right in Sri Lanka. The right however is always might.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Maghribi / April 29, 2013
Hope Intellectuals such as Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Dr. Rifai Naleemi, Dr. Laksiri Fernando, Justice C.V. Wigneswaran, Dr. Thrishantha Nanayakkara and others join and pool their knowledge and experience to work out a solution to the country before a severe social and economic meltdown.
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Jim Hardy / April 29, 2013
Go ahead guys make more protests to chase all Racists & communalists out.
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muragedera / April 29, 2013
There is no BBS in SL nor is there JHU , .SU, ACJU, or any other alphabet soup. Heck , there even is no MR! THERE IS ONLY GOTA and the buck stops there!
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Police Dog / April 29, 2013
We should not forget there were some young guys ( about 10 IRC ) who came and distributed some leaflets against the event ( sabotages ), some even forcefully giving the leaflets. when they were identified the Police quickly came in and advised them to leave the area scot-free( calling them Putha ) No attempts were taken even to identify the people. Looks very fishy……
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David Blacker / April 30, 2013
There’s nothing wrong with handing out leaflets. They were not shouting or being disruptive. So there was no reason to arrest them or question them.
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