28 March, 2024

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Stop The Hate Campaign Against Muslims

By Harim Peiris –

Harim Peiris

The above was the anguished and rather alarming cry that emanated a few weeks ago from Cabinet Minister and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem. That a minister, of justice at that and the leader of the preeminent Muslim political party had to make a plea for an end to ethno religious hate mongering in Sri Lanka was sobering enough. Coming as it does on the heels of a sustained and systematic low intensity civil assault on the Muslim community, that has included attacks on mosques and Muslim owned businesses is alarming. Sri Lanka is just emerging from nearly three decades of an ethnic based civil war and the signs are ominous that we seemed to have learned nothing from our past and are hell bent on starting a new conflict, this one an ethno religious conflict, with religion thrown into the toxic mix.

1.       The hate campaign

The new campaign is spearheaded not overtly by political parties, but organizations led by religious leaders who seem to draw inspiration from the ruling alliance and seemingly have the complete backing on the ground of our politicized police force. It is led by an organization that certainly faces no opposition from the State, which subsequent to a high profile meeting with the nation’s head of state successfully pulled off a show of force in Maharagama, a week ago. Going according to reports, their meeting most closely resembled in rhetoric, atmosphere and attitude, the fascist rallies that swept parts of Europe before the start of the second world war, complete with attacks on ethno religious minorities for economic oppression of the majority, attacks on their family size (as if this is not a free choice available to all), their mode of dress and other social practices. Strangely reminiscent of exactly what the Nazi’s said of the Jews in the early part of the last century. Today it falls on the Muslims, the other descendants of Abraham, to face similar accusations in Sri Lanka.

2.       The Hallal certification

The ostensible irritant is presented as the Hallal certification that informs Muslim community consumers that products are compliant with their dietary laws. In much the same way as a Rabbi in Colombo actually issues Kosher certificates for products that are exported to Israel and before we explode with anger, let us remember that Israeli (read Jewish) Kafir jet squadron contributed significantly to our war victory. What is wrong with Hallal certification or informing a certain community that products are compliant with their dietary requirement? Such a basic and inoffensive facility, on commercial terms should be available in any civilized society, especially one like ours which values its antiquity and a proud historical record of tolerance and plurality. Hallal certification should be nothing more than stating that a product is fat free or lactose free for consumers who are calorie conscious or allergic to lactose. If there is a fair trade issue, that matter should firstly be reported to the Consumer Affairs Authority or the Fair Trading Commission and in the event of unsatisfactory redress referred for judicial adjudication. It is certainly not an issue for mob violence and street (in) justice.

3.       The Sri Lankan Muslims

The Sri Lankan Muslim Community, a religious and linguistic minority has been an ancient community in Sri Lanka, now predominating in the Eastern Province and also scattered throughout the country. An integral part of Sri Lanka’s cultural mosaic, they have contributed significantly to Sri Lanka’s national life. Led politically by secular and moderate leaders, during the ethnic war, they were hounded and brutalized by the Eelam Tigers, ethnically cleansed them from the North and murdered by the LTTE while at prayer  in their mosques. Muslims have been an integral part of Sri Lanka’s war on terror against the LTTE, playing an active part in military intelligence and the long range reconnaissance patrols (LLRP)’s that operated deep behind LTTE lines, their native Tamil language capability an essential requirement for Sri Lanka’s counter intelligence and covert operations. More strategically though, Muslim nationalism, if one may call it that, has since the rise of Tamil militancy, generally sided with the Sri Lankan State and historically seen Tamil nationalism as a greater threat to its own rights and freedom, than Sinhala nationalism. It was a political judgment vindicated by the LTTE’s atrocities against the Muslim people. It is not in the interest of Sri Lanka’s that another minority, the Muslim community also become as alienated from the Sri Lankan State as the Tamil community has become.

Prior to the recent spate of attacks on Muslim mosques and businesses in Sinhala areas, it was the LTTE in pursuit of an ethnically pure Tamil Eelam that persecuted and harassed the Muslim community in the North and East and indeed the Sinhalese in the South. It would now be a great pity if the current crop of Sinhala ethno religious goon squads, in their pursuit of a ethnically pure Sinhala Eelam in the South (as opposed to a multi ethnic, multi religious pluralistic Sri Lanka) was to destroy the peace and create the tragedy of a new ethno religious conflict, to replace the ethnic based civil war we ended three years ago.

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Latest comments

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    If these Islamaphobes are allowed to continue their mission of hate and propaganda, Sri Lanka will once again be the nation of communal disharmony, and most of all, the Arab tourists that now contribute to our nation’s economy will cease to make Sri Lanka a holiday destination. It will also mean that ignorance and hate have won over harmony and unity, an integral fact in the success of this nation.

    Is this an attempt by unseen hands at destabilizing this country, or is it a convenient distraction for a government in hot water with the international community?

  • 0
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    It good to see that respected members of the Sinhalese Community appealing for calm and good sense. It is neccesary that the good people speak up if evil is not to spread and prosper.

    So far very few have bothered to speak on these terms other than to express their support for BBS or finding fault with the muslims for daring to practice their religon in this Sinhala Buddhist country.

    Even the leaders and politicians have been very silent on this vital issue. It is common nuance that to remain silent is to accept – qui tacet consentire videtur, ” he who is silent is taken to agree”, ” silence implies/means consent “. So those who can speak, must speak in the interest of peace and unity. Tomorrow may be too late.

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    100% of oil is imported from muslim countries. Now they should ask to stop halal oil from muslim countries.They should ask to stop running of threewheelers, mobikes,cars, busses, trains, ships and aircrafts on hahal oil from muslim countries. also some of the power plants must stop running on muslim oil. Further, they have to request our middle east migrant workers not to eat halal foods there. Also ask them not to remit the halal money to sri lanka

  • 0
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    The silence of the President and the UPFA ministers proves that the Government of Sri Lanka and the Executive are actively involved in suppressing the minorities in Sri Lanka. Have they ever thought for one minute, what would happen if the middle eastern countries get involved in this issue. All the Sri Lankans working in the middle east will be sent home. Government should take serious note of this possibility and control their supporters the Bodu Bala Sena. Since Bodu Bala Sena is creating tension among the citizens of Sri Lanka, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act they can be taken to courts. Why is the Ministry of Defense not acting on this?

    • 0
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      It will be interesting to find out in which or whose laboratory the suddenly emerged Boda Bala Sena was created. Then the politics behind it would be also revealed.

      • 0
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        The LTTE neary accomplished the task of ridding Maithripala Sirisena on behalf of MR some time back, like what was done to Jeyaraj Fernandopulle. He had a narrow escape and now without the LTTE on whom can the blame be laid once Maithipala is done?

      • 0
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        BBS or Buddhism Betraying Soldiers was the creation of this government.

    • 0
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      THIS WHOLE THING IS ORCHESTRATED BY THE RAJAPAKSE GOVERNMENT.
      B.B.S. IS A NEW OFFSHOOT HAVING THEIR OFFICE IN MIGHTY BUILDING PUT UP BY THE GOVERNMENT.

      IT IS GOOD TO SEE SOME DECENT SINHALA PEOPLE SPEAK UP,AGAINST THE

      THE RABBLE3 ROUSING CHAMPIKA, GAMMANPILLARS, MAPILLAS AND THEIR LIKES.

      IF HALAL OIL,HALAL REMITTANCES STOP COMING, YOU WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

      MINISTRY OF DEFENCE IS WITH THEM. POLICE WERE ONLOOKERS AT ALL INCIDENTS
      AND AT MAHARAGAMA MEGA SHOW AS REPORTED BY B.B.C. CREW WHO WERE THREATENED.

  • 0
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    GOSL realized that,they can’t rule long time without accepting the western engineered power devolution to carve-out the Ealam.hence GOSL given the contract to Milinda and Victor Hettigoda to create disharmony through anti Muslim compaign between Buddhists and Muslims,then Muslims will support the Ealamists.as per the western agenda when conducting the referendum in the north and the east Muslims will support toward the referendum,(GOSL will put the blame on Muslims and scape from the betrayal).one thing is sure that Sri lanka will be devided-eighther by peace or war.)it’s already planed and will be executed by west and India).

  • 0
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    Today in Sri Lanka when a senior minister Maithripala Sirisena declares that he can also be killed, what does it say. When a senior member of the ruling party is not safe, how can the minority community be safe?

  • 0
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    Peeris
    It is the right of every Muslim is to follow their cultures and traditions. It not because of their alliance with the Sri Lankan security forces and their contribution towards the war they are entitle for this right. Once again you have spoken for the Muslims, good but you have also tried to divide them from Tamils. You must remember Muslims also were MP is in the Federal Party before. Muslims have been Mayors in the cities in North and East. Muslims mosques and school still exists in Tamil areas. They have not been attacked. They played the opportunistic politics. I don’t for one moment endorse the attacks on Muslims. But Muslims also took part in the atrocities against the TamiSome of them even took part in the communal riots and profited handsomely. In fact Muslim officers in the army and the police were the most brutal and they are the brokers in collecting ransoms in kidnapping. They know how to play the government and majority. If you want to speak for justice and rights it is applicable to all races. Selective rights and justice is not justice.

    • 0
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      HA HA HAA. MUSLIMS AND RANSOMS.
      THE WHITE VAN ABDUCTORS WERE GOTA’S BOYS. MUSLIMS COUGHED OUT 50 MILLION EACH TO SAVE THEMSELVES. HOW DID THESE VANS WITH LARGE SUMS OF MONEY PASS THROUGH CHECK POINTS, IF THEY WERE NOT DONE UNDER GOTA’S ORDERS.?
      LANKA LIAR, TRUE TO YOUR NAME!!!

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    Even last night there has been an incident in kegalle where a mosque has been stoned in the middle of the night and glasses shatterd. Today all parties including the buddhist and muslim clergy, police had got together to restore the piece.

    These are minor incidents but the flames are being lit by BBS and JHU. The man with the matchbox is allowed to run amok and others have to douse the flames. Govt should move swiftly to arrest the man with the matches.

  • 0
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    ” ….playing an active part in military intelligence and the long range reconnaissance patrols (LLRP)’s that operated deep behind LTTE lines…” – is now mentioned by many from the Muslim side. Does this and similar events explain the untied knots of the LTTE’s attitude towards the Muslims during the 1990s. There was also the speculation of solicited arms made available to Muslim militant sections by the Pakistanis and Libya’s in particular that Thamilchelvam referred to in relation to events in Kattankudy and other areas.

    Senguttuvan

  • 0
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    – More nonsense from fear mongers

    – Sri Lanka will not be divided as the powers that be ( India & USA ) will not benefit by such a division. Especially India will be affected negatively as Kashmiris,Sikhs and Nagaland separatists will get “ideas”as they say.

    – There are many connections to the US in the Sri Lakan establsihment under the table.

    – The resolutions are just a big farce of going through the motions to show the world that they (UN)are doing something for the minorities.

    – I dont think the Sinhala Buddhists will let the Muslims take undue advantage of this situation to further unnecessary agendas

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      American Mama

      “Sri Lanka will not be divided as the powers that be ( India & USA ) will not benefit by such a division.”

      India would not dare to divide the country.

      Why would it divide the island when it considers Sri Lanka as the Sinhala state of India?

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        The end justifies the means. If the shoe fits wear it.

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    Crazy muslims kill fellow muslims. So much for a religion of tolerance!

    http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/02/201322815546843982.html

    • 0
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      We are discussing the Muslims in Sri Lanka. Kindly stop generalizing ALL Muslims in the world, and take your anti Muslim comment elsewhere. We do not need anti Muslim propaganda adding fuel to what can be a serious fire here.

    • 0
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      Senaka,

      you are clueless about what is happening in Iraq under American occupation.

      you are littering this thread with irrelevant info, because it simply makes you happy to throw mud at muslims.

      see if you can add to the discussion in a constructive manner. Otherwise silence is better!

    • 0
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      What have the Buddhists been doing all these days:

      01. Myanmar-More than 100,000 Rohingyas have been displaced since the sectarian violence broke out in June, according to the UN. Rohingya Muslims have faced torture, neglect, and repression in Myanmar for many years.

      02. Sri Lanka has repressed minorities since 1915, with riots in 1915,with loss of life and property based on Race based violence. Thousands killed over 300,000 displaced

      03. More than 5 women are raped everyday and rapists go Scot free.

      04. Sri Lanka has one of the lowest rates of murder conviction in the world.

      And you call Muslims what?

      • 0
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        What about 1.5 million chased away into Bangladesh?

  • 0
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    Harim Peiris’s plea is acceptable. But it should be borne in mind that non-violence should be at the heart of every religious thinking and behaviour. The vital issue is whether the behaviour of the Muslims which lead to the detriment of the country’s security is tolerable. Condemning the behaviour of Islamic terrorists does not amount to deliberately promoting hatred against any identifiable group. Take the instance of the Twin-Tower tragedy case. Has any Muslim ever condemned such cowardly acts. Have they ever declared that what the Islamic terrorists targeted are home for hundreds of races. On the contrary, they have been praising Bin Laden as their heroes after their prayers in Sri Lanka. Similarly everyone knew what happened to the London and Mumbai and recently at Hyderabhad bombings. How are the Muslims going to account for such loss of human lives and property. There is a moral obligation for the Muslims to realize that religious behaviour should also signal the due respect for human rights and its protection.
    At the beginning the Tamil militant organizations collected arms because the legitimate aspirations of the Tamils were ignored. But the Tamil militant organizations were indirectly supported by India. Yet a section of the Tamil community criticized the behaviour of the LTTE at the expense of their lives. At this juncture, there was a notorious Muslim resident by the rail-crossing in Puttalam area who was engaged in stealing motor vehicles and selling to the LTTE, as well as participating in abduction matters on contract basis. There are number of cases in the courts against him. The Police from Puttalam and Manner was fully aware that this Muslims along with undesirable characters from other communities were in the practice of committing such crimes. Such characters also had secret links with Muslim politicians. I do not want to elaborate how they wanted to do away with life of a person who had come to know of their illegal activities and how that Police Inspector was transferred. One can imagine the behaviour of these unscrupulous characters which are all true. Apparently, during this period a new Pajero jeep belonging to the Deputy High Commissioner of India was also stolen at Kandy when they parked near a hotel. Only God knows who stole the vehicle.
    Now watch the behaviour of the Muslim politicians. When the IPKF was sent to Sri Lanka to maintain law and order, convoys of arms and ammunitions were sent to the LTTE in the Vanni region directly from the Colombo harbour with the approval of the then President Premadasa to fight the IPKF. Similarly, during Chandrika’s period when the late Ashroff was the Minister of Port & Shipping, number of convoys of arms and ammunitions were sent directly from the Colombo harbour to the Eastern Province where a specific Islamic Terrorist Organization was alleged to be in operation in collaboration with major Islamic Organizations such as Al-Quaeda, Al-Jihad & Mujahideen. Mention should be made that Customs Officers were instructed not to interfere with the transfer of such convoys of arms and ammunitions. Since these acts were politically motivated, people were reluctant to criticize such behaviour of the Muslim because of their lives. Likewise, a particular brand of cigarettes with other items were imported and transported directly from the Colombo harbour without any payment of duties by a Muslim politician carrying on business with the famous underworld drug king, Pottu Nauffer. Only God knows whether heroin was also imported on the pretext of this specific business. Eventually the High Court Judge of Colombo had to pay the price of his life for discharging his duties honestly in the best interest of the country (for refusing bail). The hands of the Police were tightened by various means because of the pressure of the politicians who were relying on their vote bank. Briefly the politicians were at the mercy of these unscrupulous characters or in the alternative it has to be assumed that the politicians were not genuine. Such assertions cannot be deemed as hate propaganda against a particular race. These events are detrimental to the interests of Sri Lanka and its people as well as to the world.
    Even Rauff Hakim is no better. He remained silent over the impeachment of the CJ Dr.Shirani Bandaranayake. Moreover, there was a news item that a lady committed suicide over some issue, with whom he had some affair. Everything was hushed up. There was also suspicion over the death of former Minister M.Ashroff. More than everything, none of the Muslims dared to condemn the punishment meted out to the innocent girl Rizana.
    During the peak period of the LTTE there was a case of Muslim official in the Department of Registration of Persons, issuing identity cards for the LTTE preferably upon some payment of Rs.25,000/= per card., and now he is languishing in jail. Simultaneously, what is the guarantee that this particular Muslim official was not issuing identity cards to Islamic terrorists coming from Pakistan via Bangladesh. Won’t a Sinhalese think that the country been ruined by these undesirable characters. One ponders when there is a possibility of promoting and encouraging fanaticism, allegation against such an individual character cannot be taken as directing at Muslims.
    In addition, there are reports or news that MR’s brother Chamal has imported formalin to the value of Rs.2,000 million for kasippu business. What is the guarantee that such formalin will not be supplied to a particular group which will administer in fish and lobsters. And will this affect the Sri Lankan export of lobsters. Already there are cases of injecting water in the dressed chicken to add more weight. Such allegations are made in the interests of the public and for public benefit. I am not blaming the Muslim community, but the behaviour of a section of Muslims eventually compel the accusing finger to point at the Muslim community. I am not against the Muslim community. I have defended my Muslim friends. My very close relatives also got married in the Muslim community, and that too, in the high society. My view is that Muslims should adapt themselves to changing conditions, while retaining their identity. For example, if they are living in Britain as a British, in Canada as a Canadian, etc., – respecting the rights of others and not to indulge in nefarious activities which are a threat to the security of a country.
    There is an interesting case. I just want to know whether Muslims are law-abiding citizens. When they arrive in a country that cherishes civil liberty, can anyone let me know how they should respect the law. Even I am confused. The case is given below.
    Now there is a dispute between a Muslim barber and a woman who has requested service. The Muslim barber refused because his Muslim faith from touching women. As far as the woman is concerned, the Muslim barber’s religious freedom is against a woman’s right to request without discrimination. The woman who wears her hair short did not seem to expect the response she received. Now the woman filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario stating that she was treated as a “second-class citizen” because she was a woman. The Muslim barber’s position is that if he is forced to cut the woman’s hair, would violate his religious rights. In a country where civil liberties are cherished, what would happen if there is conflict between two equal human rights. Over to the readers.

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      Citizen, your harangue against the Muslim community is weak, baseless and full of bunkum, as these were crimes by individuals who just happened to be Muslims as alleged by you. How does this compare with Islam’s religious teachings? Yes, just the opposite. Islam doesn’t teach them to do crime. You can write about all crimes committed by Muslims till the cows come home, but will not care to write about all the good things they have done for this country, since yout hostility and negative attitude towards them will not permit you to do so. Your warped mind brainwashed by BBS.JHU.SR rhetoric has created a monster out of you, and go on at a tandum blaming Muslims for all the ill-wills and evil that is happening around the world today. Just look at all the daily occurences of horrendous crimes committed by many of the local Sinhalese, to realize they are no different. Surely this must humble you to think that crime is not linked to those of any ethnic group or community, but is committed and common to all of humanity wherever in the world they may be. You need to get more mature in both thinking and outlook to ponder along those lines, and further realize that religion plays no part in crime. Of course if you do some studies on comparative religion, you will gain more light on what or where the differences are, and not generalize it or blame one cdommunity only for all the crimes being committed in the name of religion.

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        It is always bitter to hear the truths. There is a difference between hate propaganda and comment. My comments are for the sole purpose of public benefit and in good faith and above all to discourage all forms of illegal activities that are detrimental to the security of the country. I have condemned the LTTE, MR’s regime, and the Muslims without any discrimination. I am not supporting the BBS/JHU or assert that their actions are correct. But why not a fair hearing be given to them and have a healthy dialogue or discussion. What is essential is to alleviate the fears in their mind. They are also human beings who will also listen and cannot arrive at an immediate conclusion that they are extremists. Do you want to maintain that the collection of arms and ammunitions, carrying on the illegal business of heroin, killing of the Colombo High Court Judge, etc are acts of individuals. Remember, any Minister or politician (whoever he/she may be) acting on behalf of the government is not only reflecting the face of the people, but also of his community, at a time when his own community fails to condemn such illegal behaviour. If they fail to condemn such illegal activities committed by their own people, then it is deemed to be a signal that perpetrator is reflecting the face of the Muslim people. Where is the religious teaching? It is sportsmanship to accept the fault. My message is that Muslims should never engage themselves (be they Ministers or their agents) in illegal activities that are detrimental to the sovereignty and security of the country. That is why I always maintain that one should always adapt himself/herself to changing conditions. Watch how Canada, UK, and other democratic countries respect other’s rights and how they accommodate the people throughout the world. Even when a person is found guilty of committing a crime, they wanted the accused to be rehabilitated before punishing. The Westerners always think that they have no right to take accused’s life (which was created by God) other than God. For a moment just watch what is happening in the Muslim countries – Are they not killing their own people by bombing in public places, executing women at public places. Are these civilized actions. Where is the respect for humanity? The problem with some extreme Muslims is what they think is right, should be accepted by others. If that is so, they can remain in their country like what the Australian Prime Minister said. The Westerners never have the habit of cutting the stoning the woman, cutting the head, cutting the hands, nose, or thrashing the accused with lashes in an uncivilized manner. In my view it is the Westerners who are really practising the Divine Law. We love the Police in the Western countries and treat them as our friends. I have seen how they even save the dogs and cats. If the Muslims think that Western democratic countries are uncivilized, why should they enter those countries and create unnecessary problems. I have found the Western countries accommodating the Muslim like other races. The Muslims in Western countries are very happy and very peaceful. I heard their tales of what happened to them in their countries. I had the privilege of associating with the Jews who in my view are very kind and very helpful. We shared many things. It was a surprise that there are similarities between Judaism and Hinduism. Won’t it be advisable to change ourselves to their life style while retaining our identities and not engaging in illegal activities that are detrimental to the security of their countries. I am really happy to see that there is unification of religions in Canada and practising non-violence by all means. That is why Canada is blessed by God, the Almighty. Long live Canada.

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          In the West,Muslims and Jews are friends,but citizen
          don’t you remember Jews called you “monkeys?”

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            Dear whywhy, who said they are not friends. All are happy. You wouldn’t be aware that when I met a Jewish scholar with the late Lalith Athulathmudali, after I passed the Master’s Degree, we were all dicussing how to counter the terrorist attacks and their sabotages. You won’t believe that he wanted me to come to Tel Aviv to do a Research on neuttralizing the movements of terrorists and Lalith also encouraged it. All what I say is fanaticism is evil.

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              My dear Citizen,Fanaticism is evil regardless of
              where it’s coming from and not selectively.A
              government engaged in protecting law breaking
              uniformed elements also can be identified as
              Fanatics.Who are these BBS to raid businesses of
              Muslims?Where’s the law?Which part of your master
              degree teaches you to be selective on justice?
              The whole Lalith family is close to my wife’s family
              I’m personally not interested in giving my identity or
              qualifications or even my relationship and experiences
              with prominent personalities.All I want is to share my
              knowledge and experiences with reasonable guys on this
              forum and contribute positively towards a better society.
              I was personally subjected to racial harassment by these
              monks in one area and my friends had faced the same in a
              different area just for being Muslims but I still stand
              for the truth without any bias towards the Budhist clergy
              because of the fact that majority of the clergy is not
              evil.But the situation is being made worst by powerful
              sources for personal gain using public trust.You are
              talking about your friendship with L Athulathmudali and
              walking the walk in support of BBS.Is it not?

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              Dear whywhy,
              Time and agin I wish to reiterate that I do not assert what the BBS is doing is correct. I also wish to inform I have defended Muslim Parliamentarians at the crucial hour and won. To my knowledge the BBS is a creation of MR’s regime. But we have to give them a fair hearing and arrive at a healthy negotiation. What I meant was we discussed and analyzed various aspects of terrorism and how to encounter it. It does not mean all Muslims are terrorists. But when a Muslim Minister does an act he is refelecting the face of his community, when his community fails to condemn such acts that are detrimental to the country. My allegations about the Muslim politicians and their associates are true and an honest Sinhalese Police Inspector was unjustifiably transferred to suppress or deviate the case. (This was a case where the Muslim politician had given a contract to the underworld to do away with the person’s life. Even the Judges were aware of it.) One cannot hide a full-sized pumpkin within a plate of rice. What has happened to the Colombo High Court Judge. Also I have criticized the LTTE for being brutual. My close relatives are married in Muslim community, as well as Buddhist, Christian and Catholic communities. In the 1970s, we were moving with persons of every community. During the period of Premadasa countless number of Sinhalese youths and young monks were saved by me and they have never forgotten the assistance rendered by me. But there are evils in every community, but politicians should lead an example. Among the Muslim politicians I have great respect for Ahamed from Kalmunai and A.C.S.Hameed, both of whom are very accommodative. Ashroff was my contemporary, but emotional. Atleast hereafter let us forget all the past deeds and re-start our lives with mutual understanding in the best interests of the younger generation.

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      Another hate campaign against Muwlims, opposite to what Harim Peiris suggests in this dissertation.

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        Exactly.Polite hate campaign.As if the whole world
        was a place of sheep before 9/11.What these guys
        forget and totally forget is,how closely Mediterranean
        countries connect with Muslim world and share culture
        and civilizations.Why waste time trying to convince a
        guy who wants to pretend that he’s blind?

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      Citizen,

      What exactly are you trying to say?

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    Every time SLFP led coalition forms a government,we find
    the trend of going after minority communities in some or
    other ways.The whole bunch from the beginning is,racist.
    We had Puttalam mosque issue in 70s,arrest of prominent
    Muslim figures under various charges and even creating
    the Gem Corporation was partly to punish Muslim Gem merchants.
    Whatever harm they could do to Muslim’s businesses,they did.
    They failed to succeed and in the process Sinhalese too got
    punished as a consequence.What’s happening now is a different
    kind of strategy of creating long term hatred among communities
    so that Sinhalese vote base is their everlasting customers.Churches
    Temples and Mosque play vital role in keeping democracy vibrant
    especially in third world countries and targeting these institutions
    for petty political gain is,destroying some of the main pillars of
    democracy.One objective of the BBS possibly is to harass,intimidate
    and block advancing or non stop Muslim economic prosperity.

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    People talk about bin laden, taliban to justify their acts which are on par with the same. Hate mongering and attacking others is the name of the game. The human being can rise to the level of a god or fall to the level of an animal.

    Amongst the reptiles is the venomous snake which attacks anything that moves. There are the carnivorous animals who kill for food. So take your pick. Religon is not required to emulate the lower species. Religon is not served by turning ones selves into beasts.

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    My dear fellow Sri Lankans, if you don’t know how to sort your issues in a civilized manner and come for a fair solution, you always letting the room for outsiders to come into sort it for us. The way things are going and looks. I wouldn’t a have slightest reservation that very soon the country would be divided by the international community for the Tamils and Muslims. So its the paramount duty of the people of Sri Lanka to keep this utmost in their mind when they are trying to find fair solution for these issues. I hate to tell this but for the good of the country and people have to tell it. For it would put some sense into them and I really love this country as there is no other like in this world.

    There are examples in the recent world history. The Serbs of Yugoslavia were making life difficult for the Croatians, Bosnian, Kosovoians and Mercidonian, what was the result, the NATO bombed the Serbs and each of these people got their separate countries. Indonesia was playing with East Timorians and the UN made it a separate country. Same with Sudanese, they were fighting with the Christians of Southern Sudan and UN made it a separate country. Pakistan was fighting with the Bangales in East Pakistan and India fought and made it Bangladesh. Same for the Jews, the UN made Israel out of Palestine for all the European Jews who were ill treated during the world war.

    In the case of Bangledesh, all are Muslims, the Bangales in the Indian state of West Bengal are Hindus so India was comfortable, when they did it. But for the Sri Lankans right now India is the insurance, if there was a separate country for the Tamils of Sri Lanka, that would create problem for them as there are 70 million Tamils in Tamil Nadu, they too demand the same and that would make lot of others to follow suit. The international community needs India, they follow what India says. If India lifted a finger and said alright by now the match over for us.

    We Sri Lankans behave as if either we are the only people living in this world or the world wouldn’t notice what we are doing. Now the time is very sort for us unless we find solutions for these issue very urgently. I’m sorry to say that this would soon going to happen. Please my Sri Lankan brothers and sisters be very thoughtful, get moving and find a solutions for these issues other wise things are going to be very difficult for us. You must always think we live in a Global village and every one this think of their fellow being though we don’t do so.

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    My dear citizen,thank you for your 02/03/13 post.
    We may not be able to come to a realistic approach
    on this controversial issue due to our stand based on
    religious lines.But thankfully we manage to recognize
    the fact that we should live side by side in peace.And
    I notice increasing number of scholars coming forward to
    warn us of alarming levels of anti Muslim activity
    unleashed by the BBS which is racially motivated and covered
    by high powered political influence.I still wonder how one’s
    knowledge says that it’s the creation of MR and again believes
    that the creation itself deserves a fair hearing.How come a
    vicious creation created to cause trouble deserves a hearing,
    let alone “fair,” and not warning of consequences and
    eventually punishment!Nevertheless,I really admire your desire
    to distance yourself from evils and contribute to common good
    of all.Good luck.

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