Reeling from a massive corruption scandal involving the import of hundreds of thousands of metric tonnes of sugar to Sri Lanka the Government yesterday announced it would be banning the burqa, or full-face veil worn by a fraction of Muslim women in the island.
The ban has no legal basis and has only been presented by cabinet paper by Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Rtd) Sarath Weerasekera. If Cabinet approves the proposal, the Government will have to draft legislation to and get it passed in Parliament to have the ban legally enforced.
However, the premature announcement comes as the Government of President Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa is at the receiving end of a devastating onslaught of criticism over a massive sugar tax fraud perpetrated by the regime for the benefit of one of its most treasured businessmen.
Minister Weerasekera – a hardline Sinhala nationalist inside the cabinet also announced that the Government would ban 1000 madrasas or Islamic teaching schools in the island. The government is also talking about “banning” Wahabiism in Sri Lanka.
Social media users openly mocked President Rajapaksa for race-baiting to distract from the corruption scandal rocking his government. Meme-makers have launched a series of mocking graphics that refer to President Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa as “Seeni-Sena” or “Nanda-seeni”. Sajjad Mawzoon, the businessman at the centre of the sugar scandal is a long time Rajapaksa backer and owner of Shangri-La hotels. Mawzoon offered his hotels to Nandasena Rajapaksa’s Viyathmaga for glitzy meetings and conferences at rock bottom prices and is now cashing back his favours sources said.
The burqa and Madrasas ban is viewed as another way to discriminate and harass members of the Muslim minority in Sri Lanka. The move comes after year long tensions and rising anguish within the Muslim community over the Government’s blatantly racist decision to cremate all those who die of the corona virus. Muslims in Sri Lanka have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19 and some 330 Muslims have been cremated forcibly by the state.
The Nandasena Government has developed a pattern of using racially charged policies to distract the public from growing discontent over the regime’s mismanagement of state affairs and corruptions scandals. The Government of President Maithripala Sirisena used Emergency regulations to ban face veils soon after the Easter Sunday bombings in April 2019. At the time Muslim women wearing merely the hijab or headscarf, and even the niqab which exposes the eyes, were harassed in public spaces and forced to remove their coverings in order to access services like banking and shopping. The irregular ban on burqas could be similarly misunderstood by the public which may not be able to make a distinction between the types of Islamic dress.
Weerasekera’s announcement comes as Sri Lanka struggles to lobby for votes at the UN Human Rights Council where a damning resolution on its human rights record will be taken up for voting on March 23rd. Government sources said that the country had just managed to secure the support of Pakistan at the Council after finally reversing its policy on cremations. This fresh assault on Sri Lanka’s Muslim culture and way of life, will give pause to Muslim nations considering how to vote on the resolution at UNHRC the sources added. (By Janakie Mediwake)
Ajith / March 14, 2021
Sarath Weerasekara is now not only spokesman for Gotabaya Rajapaksa but also a implementation of Rajapaksa policies on behalf of Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalist group. Al-Sabri is an agent of Rajapaksa to complete this programme of genocide of Muslims and Tamils for destroying true Buddhist Sinhala culture.
The country is now facing economic disaster while Corona is killing every day, Rajapaksas are making billions from Sugar Imports and selling part by part of Lanka to China. So, they need the support of Buddhist Sinhala to complete the mission of robbing this Nation which started in 2009.
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Burt / March 15, 2021
Forget about been convicted: how many people have been apprehended committing a criminal act wearing a “burqa”? I don’t think there were any. So why is this even a F King issue.
In Sri Lanka irrespective of the religion the people that follow their faith honestly are the poor and middle class, these are the people the govt is going after as they have no one to turn to.
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GATAM / March 15, 2021
Ultimately Tamils will be paying for the corruption, bigotry and waste by Sinhala politicians and repaying all Chinese loans. 🤣
Sinhalese and their friendly Muslims earn their way by these means and deprive Tamils who do not become party to these crooked deals.
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Eagle Eye / March 17, 2021
GATAM,
“Ultimately Tamils will be paying for the corruption, bigotry and waste by Sinhala politicians and repaying all Chinese loans.”
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Sinhalayo are paying the Chinese loans taken to buy arms and ammunition to eliminate Tamil terrorism.
Sinhalayo are paying to maintain OMP.
Sinhalayo are paying for the reconciliation project.
Sinhalayo are paying compensation to Tamil victims of LTTE terrorists.
Sinhalayo are paying compensation to the victims of Muslim terrorist attacks.
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leelagemalli / March 16, 2021
FOlks, If Sarath WEERASEKARA was not elected by the donkeys, he would have incited new forms of racial waves, so that he could havest some material to show to Geneva sessions, bitch#s son did this job also in previous UNHRC sessions. This is typical to the racists from the day one. This was well exposed by former president Sorysena. There are also enough evidence to prove that these buggers would live up their politics through sowing the seeds for the racism and extremism: Today I heard Mafia boss Rajakashes saying that children should go to Dahama school for a better life. but ballige putha was unable to produce a decent son in that family… to be said, that he is exemplary. Namal baby and all other two sons are criminals. THer eare enough evidence to prove their crimes if one would make their recherche on the web.
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Not only Sarath WEERASEKARA but also all other so called ministers question, what is wrong with Sugar scandal which is reported to be a loss of 16 billions to the state. Rajapakshes may be thinking that it is their own funds, since braying donkeys voted for them paving their come back ot facistic politics.
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punchinilame / March 14, 2021
The SLPP probably had been financed by the “Seeni deal” planned well ahead –
an income of Rs.49.50 per Kg. on the known extra one lakh tons imported under
this arrangement, among the 4 Regime brothers. Distraction makers are also active
whilst the call from Geneva cannot be avoided. A sweet time for Seeni Nande!
One can be sure that a Minister of Justice has been fully paid for past Services
with fund freely available?
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westham / March 14, 2021
France banned the hijab way back in 2011. The Muslims from North Africa and west Africa have ruined the great French civilization. Without the French, there would not be democracy in its modern form. Muslims are a threat to host populations due to their sheer backwardness. If the French can do it so can Sri Lankans. France is far superior to any of the 57 Muslim countries.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / March 14, 2021
Really! I do not support of encourage this new Arabization trend amongst these Sri Lankan Muslims or Moor, who were following their native Tamil Islamic culture, dress forms and the Indian Sufi Islam, that came from their original South Indian homeland until two decades ago. However, every person has the right to decide and wear what they like and what religion to follow, including what form it takes. This is the basic fundamental human right. If a person wants to dress like an Arab, follow Wahhabism or Shia Islam and a woman want to wear a burqa, shroud herself in a black Abaya in this tropical heat and boil, sweat and be uncomfortable, that is his or her right. Even if this degrades a woman and treats her as a lesser human. We have no right to stop this, as long as we are not forced to wear these restrictive medieval uncomfortable garments. Who the hell is this government and this loud mealy mouthed racist minister to ban this. If I was in Sri Lanka I would have won a Burqa in protest. Have you heard of anywhere in the world women wearing Burqa or black Abaya committing acts of terrorism?
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / March 14, 2021
Have you heard of anywhere in the world women wearing Burqa or black Abaya committing acts of terrorism? Utter racist and religious bigoted rubbish. What is the percentage of Burqa and black Abaya wearing women, amongst the Muslim population in the island. It will be less than 2%. You will be hearing more and more of these bans marginalizing Tamils and Tamil Muslims in the island, especially if Sri Lanka gets defeated in Geneva and the UN Draft resolution wins. The Sinhalese will be whiped to a racist frenzy. Next will ban the wearing of the Sindur or Pottu for Tamil women, or wearing flowers on their hair . Hindus may be banned from smearing the holy ash on their forehead. As this offends the Sinhalese Buddhist sentiment.
Utter racist and religious bigoted rubbish. What is the percentage of Burqa and black Abaya wearing women, amongst the Muslim population in the island. It will be less than 2%. You will be hearing more and more of these bans marginalizing Tamils and Tamil Muslims in the island, especially if Sri Lanka gets defeated in Geneva and the UN Draft resolution wins. The Sinhalese will be whiped to a racist frenzy.
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Dayan / March 15, 2021
Part 1
The demand to ban face-covering veils like burqa and niqab worn by muslim woman has gained momentum in many countries in the past decade. Sri Lanka has become the latest country to do this as a law. Some of the countries that outlaw such veils include France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland (part of the country), Netherlands (Some circumstances), Congo, China and Cameroon.
In the greater interest of the society we have to take hard decisions regardless of whether it affects the sentiments and feelings of particular group. It is rather a preventive measure. There are incidents happent like Boko Haram in burkhas suicide attack in cameroon.
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Dayan / March 15, 2021
Part 2
To become a law, we have our legislative body therein discuss and take an appropriate measures. Whether the timing is a distinctive tactics to divert the attention of the mainstream problem is entirely a different issue though.
The problem is you cannot advocate HR to terrorist who are opportunist. Therefore, state has to decide between HR and national security in the interest of all the community. So you better tell your version to rest of the countries already executed and proof your case so that they can lift the ban. It will pave the way for other countries to do so rather than stopping a new country doing that.
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Eagle Eye / March 15, 2021
Siva Sankaran Sharma,
This is the outcome when people behave like barbarians. Before Muslims carried out terrorist attacks there was no problem with burqa.
Demalu should be asked to go naked because they tied explosives to their body and massacred Sinhalayo.
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GATAM / March 15, 2021
EE,
But none of those bombers were Muslim women. The only woman involved in the Easter Sunday attack is a Tamil woman married to a Muslim man.
All Muslim women who gave evidence cooperated with the government.
Why then taking it on Muslim women?
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Pandi Kutti / March 14, 2021
Oh this sad. In some countries if women do not cover themselves or wear the Burqa they are severely punished, whilst in others if they wear the Burqa or cover themselves too much, they are punished. Poor women to wear or Burqa or not to wear. I am glad that I Am Piglet. Then again people call me unclean hate and revile me in some countries but in many others relish and slaughter me for my nice flesh. I also cannot win.
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Eagle Eye / March 15, 2021
Pandi Kutti,
Muslim women should be asked to go naked because two women who have vowed to sacrifice their lives for the Wahhabi cause are still at large. They might follow Tamil terrorists and tie explosives to their body and massacre Sinhala Buddhists. Next target could be temples. They have bought white dresses to come like ‘Upasakammas’.
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Pandi Kutti / March 15, 2021
May be you should be bundled up in a black Burka for the rest of your life and never allowed to speak type or post rubbish any where . Great service to humanity
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GATAM / March 15, 2021
EE,
I knew it!
So that’s why Mahinda gave them white Sil Redda.
I knew it. Just like he paid for those bombers. Wasn’t it Mahinda who paid $2 million to Tamil tigers to boycott the 2005 election?
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Pandi Kutti / March 16, 2021
Jadam(zombie) what was the religion of this so called Thamizh woman? Not Hinduism or Christianity but Islam. She had run away from her home after getting brainwashed converted and her family had no news of her until she surfaced again. Also Jadam the Thullukans are ethnic Thamizh Muslims. This was a name given to them in Kerala to differentiate them from the native Malyali Mappila Muslims,as large amounts of ethnic Thamizh Muslims from Thamizh Nadu started to settle in many parts of southern and south central Kerala to trade. The native Mappila Muslims are largely found in Northern Kerala.
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Naman / March 14, 2021
During the last Presidential Election People voted NGR to bring about real changes to the way GoSL had been performing since Independence.
We wanted to see the end of the Corruption/ of the bureaucracy/ of the wasteful developmental activities/ of the racial and religious hatred/ of appointments of totally unqualified people especially friends or relatives / of targeting innocent public servants or citizens/ of suppressing the voices of reasonable objects or protests or Marches. NGR has to CHANGE for the sake of the country. By promoting racial and religious HATRED you can always win Elections but you can not make a CIVILISED , PROSPEROUS and HARMONIOUS Sri Lanka. We don’t want to be like the FAILED STATES in Africa—Paraiah Country.
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hanchopancha / March 14, 2021
Mr. Dinesh Gunewardana must understand the UK Government and the people of Britain are shielding the People of Srilanka and not those who plunder the poor nation.
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Andare 2.0 / March 15, 2021
Wow really. Who is shielding the people of Britain ?
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Raj-UK / March 14, 2021
Seems to me the rich Muslims are acceptable & the poor Muslims who are at the receiving end for their understanding of the faith. Wonder if it a show of non discrimination in business or non discrimination when it comes to corruption?
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Buddhist1 / March 14, 2021
As I keep on reading the media dramas of Sarath Weerasekera, I begin to wonder if he is “Sane”! I tell this because it appears that he needs to be in the media (electronic, TV and print) every day making various obnoxious statements. May be he is compensating for something he personally miss by his media dramas. Some of them make me wonder if they are legal. For example his attack on Azath Sally’s statement. Isn’t some of the Muslim Laws already part of Sri Lankan legal system? How can Weerasekera demand that Sally should be punished for Sharia law statement when even Islamic Banking based on Sharia laws are allowed by the Central Bank and the Govt? Also how can the Police or CID investigate just because the Minister wants a statement investigated, isn’t this a political interference of the judicial system?
Is Weerasekera “Sane”?
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Andare 2.0 / March 15, 2021
Who allowed sharia law in Sri Lanka ?
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Eagle Eye / March 14, 2021
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Eagle Eye / March 15, 2021
• Came as refugees when faced persecution by Hindus
• Settled down in Western coastal belt
• Faced persecution again by Portuguese
• Went to King Senerath in Kandy and begged to save them
• King Senerath told Sinhala Buddhists to allow them to settle in interior parts of the country.
• Sinhala Buddhists allowed them to settle in interior parts of the country and in Eastern part, allowed them to marry Sinhala women and convert them to Islam.
• When President Gotabhaya Rajapakshe say ‘One Country One Law’ one guy says ‘You can have your law, we will have our law’.
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Noel / March 14, 2021
Why do they need so much money, not happy with the billions in $s already in their hands?
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Mahila / March 15, 2021
When you have, you yearn for more. That’s human failing, definitely so, when you abhor the teachings of the, Lord Gautama Buddha, greatest Indian ever born from Bharath. To forsake Greed. They may claim that they “uphold” Buddhism, to win elections, (SLPP/NFF/SLFP et all) but never ever claim that they will “follow” Buddhism scrupulously. They haven’t, don’t and can’t. So there you are. Politrics explained.
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a14455 / March 14, 2021
burqua ban is long overdue. Now the muslims can start complaining about it to UNHRC.
And lets see if it is brought up by the slaves of the west. or the agents of the west. I wonder how France was treated by Da UNHRC goons?
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Burt / March 15, 2021
Can you explain why burqua is an issue and its ban overdue?
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Svenson / March 15, 2021
It is an issue because it covers the face, just as motorbike helmets were an issue during the JVP insurgency. Further, the burqa is a symbol of increasing extremist arabisation of Sri Lankan Islam. I’m surprised you have to ask.
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leelagemalli / March 16, 2021
Burt, dont take it serious, slaves would agree with any kind of bans, if it would come from Medamulana caves. Look at that minister of health today. She at once believed in Pani DRINK and became the first guinea pig, but later ended up being caught by COVID – few days ago shameless bitch made it clear tha she was shortly before her death…. if Pani Drink which she introduced to the poor folks would have been a pancea, why was she caught by the infection ? ::: Yet today main stream media dont discuss the issue at all ?
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This bastard by name a14455 / March 14, 2021 noright to talk about any kind of bans while living in the US as a refugee. Is that so that almost any right is taken away in the US ? So long
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a14455 / March 16, 2021
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Burt / March 14, 2021
Creating a storm in a tea-cup trying to take mind off SUGAR.
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Tamil from the north / March 14, 2021
Yes, Nandasena the gamaya from Hambantota is at it again. This time he has no one to kill, so he brings in the BUrqa ban to divert attention from him on this scandal. Bloody jokers in SL will keep voting for these killers and thieves.
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Andare 2.0 / March 15, 2021
And you probably are descending from the lowest of the low among Tamilnadu castes known as vellalalas. Who were imported en mass by the european colonial thiefs. You should be thankful to them for making your bottom feeding ancestors relavant in the society.
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Tamil from the north / March 15, 2021
Andare, so must be from the lowest untouchable caste that was brought from Orissa to serve the Tamils from Tamil Nadu, who were brought to Ceylon by the colonial powers. This shows you fool don’t even know the history of Ceylon. Tamils have been in the country for more than 3000 years. Idiot, write facts not fiction.
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leelagemalli / March 16, 2021
We never expected former Petrol SHED assistant, NANDASENA, today s President of Srilanka that he would ever be able to perform his role well, because we knew that his profile is even not comparable to that of former President SORYSENA.
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So knowing the nature, we did not go to vote for the bunch of thugs. Today those who worked diehard for their come back behave as if they are fed with clay. They are speechless. They dug their hole by their own – Good riddance ! May all the curse be with those voters that elected Rajapakshes criminals.
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Mallaiyuran / March 15, 2021
The Weerakuddy Rear Admirable is taking the ship to Inchcape Rock. Aanduwa backed off from Burning Muslims’ bodies when the case went up to UNHRC & UN GA. To create a new problem out the getting solved one, they tried to take Muslim bodies to North. Muslim didn’t want their bodies go to unrelated area. Now Aanduwa saying they are going to allocate 25 places for all districts one each. Is this all really needed?
The Communist Moda Dinesh already wrecked his part. When Canada wanted bring one resolution, in 2009, it lost and it was abandoned. Then in 2012, American undersecretary brought one, but Chitanta Aanduwa refused to corporate so he softened it to get enough votes. In 2015 Yahapalanaya dictated terms to Obama Government and signed the resolution, after watering it down. The stupidity of Communist Denesh is, he abrogated it one sided, shut the engine, left the ship to toss in wind, ruder not functioning. In 46th, UNHRC is mulling to bring its own, thus throwing the Aanduwa right on the rock. This is test run for UNHRC. If UNHRC is success on this, it will bring its next one without consulting Communist Denesh. Now the communist Denesh is crying worse than Thiyagarajah Jr cries in CT. Is this all bravery needed for the Communist and Weerakuddy?
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Tony / March 15, 2021
Well done for liberating Muslims from their own misery!!!
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Criminalise polygamy, marrying youngsters (the minimum age of marriage must be 18 years of age), triple Thalak, cow slaughter, burqa, madrassas, shariya law, etc,etc.
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And everyone must marry under national law.
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Now arrest all those Muslim politicians who are responsible for Easter Sunday Muslim terrorism!!!
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Burt / March 15, 2021
“President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has promulgated new regulations under the Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) Act for the deradicalisation of those holding violent extremist religious ideologies.”
Go place a Buddha statue or plant a Bo tree in a Christian, Muslim or Hindu neighborhood where it is not wanted and when people protest arrest them under PTA. What a F king joker.
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Svenson / March 15, 2021
However Burt, the foreign funded evangelists planting churches in every Buddhist and Hindu village is quite acceptable is it?
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old codger / March 15, 2021
Svenson,
If there are “Buddhist and Hindu villages” then it follows that there are “Buddhist and Hindu” towns, cities, and provinces. Even Muslim ones. Be careful what you wish for.
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Tamil from the north / March 15, 2021
Svenson, make note of this;
Buddhsim is neither a faith nor a religion…………….it is a philosophy or following of a good man called Gautama.
Hindus do not allow lower caste people inside their temples not allowed to do the rituals.
Christianity is open to all. Maybe you should try that and it might make you a better person.
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davidthegood / March 16, 2021
Svenson, Have you counted the foreign funds you so talk about so imaginatively. It is possible that you might stand before the great white throne of judgment one day and regret what you spewed forth.
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Burt / March 16, 2021
Evangelists don’t plant churches, they are more based on the word of God that the place/dwelling of God.
So I think you should get your facts right before before trying to blow Seenisena’s trumpet.
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Eagle Eye / March 15, 2021
Burt,
There were no churches before European colonial rulers came to Sinhale. They not only built churches in Sinhala Buddhist neighborhoods, but demolished Buddhist temples and built churches on those sites. There were no mosques in Sinhale until King Senerath saved Muslims from persecution by Portuguese and gave asylum. After they got asylum, Muslims started building mosques in every corner in the country of Sinhala Buddhists.
This is the Land of Sinhala Buddhists. They can build temples, place Buddha statues or plant Bo tree in any place in their country. No need to take permission from the descendants of those who sought asylum in Sinhale.
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Burt / March 16, 2021
“There were no churches before European colonial rulers came to Sinhale.”
They did not have pants nor did they know how to properly cover their nakedness.
So what is your point?
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Native Vedda / March 17, 2021
Eagle Blind Eye
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“There were no churches before European colonial rulers came to Sinhale.”
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Remember there were no Vihares and temples before Kallathoies came to this island.
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“This is the Land of Sinhala Buddhists. “
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No you are wrong.
This land doesn’t belong to you nor your brethren.
Kallathonie converts (you) continue to grab land which belong to my people.
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Why don’t you go back to your homeland, wherever it is and claim it back if you have b***s?
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Mallaiyuran / March 15, 2021
When UNHRC passes resolutions with Lankawe’s consent, UNHRC is liable to respect Lankawe’s requests, because UNHRC is also a members’ club, just like UN is. If Lankawe is not in, in those circumstances, HC gains authority to recommend members to go for individual actions. US had earlier said if HC’s recommendations adopted as resolution, members will be following them. What is hedge Lankawe has this time? I am waiting to see what Communist Denesh will be doing if the UNHRC passes its own resolution, without Lankawe’s consent. Last Resolution 30/1 is something for Lankawe only. Ranil and Communist Denesh did not fulfill even one OP article in that. Then Communist Denesh withdrew from that resolution to create arousal in Lankawe. This time some are for UNHRC members and some are for Lankawe to fulfill. (In Res 30/1 and 46/L1 there is something for HC. Sadly Lankawe did not realize that the HC will be completing her/his part, irrelevant of what Lankawe would do. Now what Ms. Bachelet completed was given to Prince Zied that is assessing Lankawe’s progress and reporting to UNHRC. But Prince Zeid had left with one term, so didn’t have time to finish the reporting.) If Resolution 46/L1 is passed, without waiting for Communist Denesh, they both will be completing their parts. Then all what will be left for Communist Denesh is parading in “Colombo streets in king’s new cloth.”
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Andare 2.0 / March 15, 2021
Hey dirty smellygraph, No more op-eds from your main sponsor m Arjun Mahendran ?
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chiv / March 15, 2021
Lawful and moral citizens (sugar daddy) promosied by Mr.Sircular. Vistas of splendour and prosperity for the very few who sponsored to create such dream project.
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Pandi Kutti / March 15, 2021
Will the minister ban this hit bollywood song, just because the woman wears the veil at the beginning or will dance for it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nd5NLbUu44
The mystery behind the veil
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GATAM / March 15, 2021
It’s election time for Rajapaksas. This time they have picked Muslims to bash.
2005 – Rajapaksas bashed Tamils for the election
2010 – Rajapaksas bashed Tamils again for the election
2015 – Rajapaksas bashed Muslims for the election
2019 – Rajapaksas bashed Christians for the election
Kaalangalil awan election!
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Black Lankan / March 15, 2021
It is their right to wear this black burga. But to be honest is a horrible attire and totally unsuitable for this warm and humid weather. But the big mouthed Weerasekara is just a paid mouth piece to throw shit and no one can take him seriously. He is like the Blind Eagle idiot without any knowledge of SL history.
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leelagemalli / March 17, 2021
bLACK LANKEN
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So long no nothing kind of huge danger is there, why not them to allow what they would like wear. If Bitch s sons born to Medamulana can wear ” blood soaked read colour, loin cloths around their necks”; if all sin making pingutharaya could wear – so called sanga constumes of modern nature”, why not srilanken muslims as the citizen have no right to wear burka ?
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When it turns out to be beyond their capacities, just to serve the nation with another redherring, hoodwinking current regime has now focused on the burka. It may well be to bury that ” 16-billion SUGAR” fraud, which is said to have emptied the state treatury. These thakadiyas are no better to those being imprisoned in Guanthanabe prison.
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S-A-R-A-T-H W-E-E-R-A-S-E-K-A-R-A is equally ultra racist so as EAGLE EYE of CT.
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This bugger produced fake evidence material each time before an UNHRC-SESSION. This was exposed by former President SORYSENA.
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SORYSENA is now in their laps but SW has any doubts, he could go to him and clear the issue.
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Jack / March 16, 2021
Forget about your religion and ethnicity for a moment. Burqa is pre historic attire and insult people who are not wearing it as sexual deviants. Anyone can wear this garment in private places of their own but not in public. This not about religion it is about forming civilized society
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Mallaiyuran / March 16, 2021
We see Burka and Niqab as women rights denial. But correcting it is though the MMDA reform. There has to be a way to deal with it in a time when Sinhala Buddhist Extremism is dancing its wild exorcism. Tamils cannot support they do it though Racist, Weerakuddy Rear Admirable’s department. That shameful soul should have been put on the UN Electric Chair long before any religious reform bills are passed. He is not just a decedent of lion, but a horrible demon birth of tens of Millenniums ago, remaining not extinct from Tyrannosaurs time. I don’t know how woman would accept him as her child.
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Humble / March 16, 2021
Banning the burqa at a time where nearly everyone is forced to wear a face cover (covid mask) is highly ironic!
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hanchopancha / March 16, 2021
When little children see someone clad in a Burqa, it reminds them “baby here comes the baby snatcher who put them in his sack to sell them to pay for his tot of toddy,”
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Sinhala_Man / March 16, 2021
I’m intrigued by this talk of a thousand madrasas. One gets the impression from present reports that they are rather like Dhamma Schools or Sunday Schools. May be.
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Irrespective of that, the great need right now is to stop harassing and build bridges. Let’s forget, for the moment the re-emergence of English Medium Education. The education traditionally available to all was in either the Sinhalese Medium or the Tamil Medium. It will continue to be so for a long time to come because those are the languages that the teachers know.
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There used to be Tamil Schools which educated (usually co-educationally) all those who used Tamil, irrespective of religious background. Makes sense. It also makes sense to have students from adjacent Sinhalese and Tamil Schools interact. I’m talking common sense here, and what could be done with no special inputs.
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However, there was a new move to segregate Hindus and Muslims about thirty years ago. New Muslim schools were actually commenced. They are run by the Department of Education; could these be the “thousand madrasas”?
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Thankfully segregation is not complete yet. A Muslim school will usually have a few Hindu/Christian children owing to proximity.
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Sinhala_Man / March 16, 2021
Three or four years ago there was such a lot of planning by educated Muslim women to ring in changes in the lives of Muslims in the country, through MMDA reform, etc but it all came to nought. Sad.
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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/16/sri-lanka-says-it-requires-time-to-consider-proposed-burqa-ban
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I would still like to see the end of the burqua, by banning if need be, but the fewer such reforms are carried out in a spirit of vengeance the better. Reform of marriage age in particular ought to be presented as something desirable – the problem there being that it was lowered only after Independence.
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So many reforms that could be undertaken through consensus are not possible because of the prevailing Islamophobia. It will take a long time for the forced cremations to be wiped off the minds of Muslims in the country. We, Sinhalese, would have forgotten in a year’s time all the nasty things that we inflicted on minorities.
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I unfortunately never learnt Tamil; in the Hill Country most Tamils speak Sinhalese, but that is not the case in the North and the East. We must never force languages on people, but trilingualism must be encouraged.
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