Violent Buddhist Monks Clash With The Army – Dambulla
Buddhist monks and lay supporters have protested the construction of a mosque and a Hindu temple built within the area designated as a Buddhist sacred zone in Dambulla.
Is it any surprise anymore to anyone, why the Tamils took up to arms to gain recognition as citizens of this country after these Pseudo Patriots took over matters of afairs in this country after Independence? For one to be driven even to commit suicide, is a tall task as they would have been utterly desperate.
/
Vis8/April 25, 2012
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0
For one to be driven to suicide, one has to be totally brain-washed by blasphemy or insane. Get a life, moron.
/
gamini/April 27, 2012
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0
Yes it is the MORONS of your calibre that are responsible for the chaos the country is enjoying today.
/
Razik Zarook/April 21, 2012
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0
Spot on…Pseudo Patriots. This is a country fought by everyone, not just the Buddhists. Religious extremism can not be tolerated at any cost.
/
Anun/April 21, 2012
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0
Cannot understand why the govt is still silent? If these worship places are in a sacred area, the govt can intervene and request for a re-location.
/
Vasu/April 21, 2012
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0
Again an evidence for a failed state
/
W.R.De Silva/April 21, 2012
0
0
We must protect our Buddhist Heritage in this country.Hope Government will inter vein this matter impartial keeping others rights.
Ven Inamaluwe sumangala thero has desecrated the teachings of Budhism.
these sort of actions will drive the common man to unwarranted hatred against the other communities which live in peace and coherence so long even in Dambulla. Yesterday, i heard the priest of the Mosque stating in BBC , that the general Budhist public around the mosque live with them like a members of one family !
i believe the government should intervene and try to relocate the mosque before things get worst. we have just been supported bu the entire Middle eastern countries at the UNHCR and if things continue in this manner, they will definitely go against us, i mean the entire country.
as muslims we must be patient and Pray any thing worse didnt happen for the sake of the motherland.
May God Almighty take his decision!! he is the powerful
/
The last dinasaur/April 23, 2012
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0
Hassan…
This is the way these people thank the Muslim countries who supported Srilanka in Geneva.
Now those muslim nations would have understood how much stupid they are..
/
Vis8/April 25, 2012
0
0
Just want to tell you that these “monks” who have donned robes for their own gain are just politically-driven ordinary people, with vested interests. “Good” monks can only be found in the forests or forest hermitages.
/
James/April 21, 2012
0
0
Please report the truth. The wording you have used in the news gives an impression that these racist monks have prevented a new mosque being built. But its not the case. They were trying to demolish a mosque which existed in the same place for 60+ years.
/
Observer/April 21, 2012
0
0
What is the value of this “Buddhist heritage” now that 100,000 people have died in the name of Mahavamsa mythology? It will take only a few minutes for any third-party that “Googles” Sri Lanka to decide whether Sri Lanka is an island of “peace loving Buddhists” or something else. Sri Lanka has a few choices to make if it decides to go down this path of associating itself with a fundamentalist religious identity: (1) it can become like the much despised Israel, which is democratic on the outside, but where, under the surface, Jewish interests are given priority before those of anyone else, or (2) it adapt a Muslim outlook, in which other religions are banned, and religious leaders influence public policy. Neither option is particularly palatable.
Sri Lanka has lost its image as a Buddhist anything. That is the reality. Much better to go secular. These monks should be imprisoned for inciting racial hatred.
Theres a way to solve real issues
Too much breeding, then we do the same or better (limited Island resources) popularize/legalize smaller families
Their business sucess, we to blame, we are not that business minded, bussy fighting, drinking, importantly post independence we destroyed our pioneering enterpreneurs….
/
Rohan/April 22, 2012
0
0
Sir John Kotelawala must be smiling somewhere. Didn’t he refer to some Buddhist monks as ‘Rouges in Yellow robes’ and said that ‘some should be buried alive’?
These stupids might declare next the Kandy town, vicinity of Dalada Maligava as sacred area, an begin to evict two or three ancient mosques from their too.
@Jim Hardy
Anything is possible today, in this so called “Wonder of Asia.” There is a pithy Sinhala saying that goes, “Honda honda sellam eli wenna jaametta.”
When translated into English it means, “Don’t hold your breath as yet, there will be far better things happening in the early hours of the morning.” ;)
/
gamini/April 24, 2012
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0
Jim, these fanatics have been trying to evict and destroy St. Pauls Church in Kandy, in front of the former Lawyers Chambers for quite some time. If they achieve this relocation of the Mosque which is definitely outside the Dambulle Sacred Area Map, according to a meeting held today, which will be violating the whole Civil Procedure Code, the fools in this country can bask in blood shed for another fifty years.
/
The last dinasaur/April 23, 2012
0
0
If the sinhala budist try to subdue other ethnic groups like this then the country would not be divided into two.. but four (for all four religions)..
/
Satha/April 23, 2012
0
0
Yellow rope vampires in action….
/
Jayarath/April 23, 2012
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0
Disgrace for lord Buddha…
/
jaliya senavirathne/April 23, 2012
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0
in islam, no other religion allowed. no other religion exists in saudi. how many mosques in sri lanka? will they allow any one to build a temple in a land belongs mosque ?
dont post stupid ideas and spoil the community. just let them built it somewhere els.
/
gamini/April 23, 2012
0
0
@ Jaliya with no offense meant, the Muslim countries that you mention as Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, the indegenous people are not multi ethnic and multi Religious as ours. Therefore your argument does not arise and to suggest for this Mosque to be shifted elsewhere, lacks reason. If so next you will ask them to vacate the area also as they are not Buddhists. Tell me frankly, how would you feel if you were a Muslim and your family living in this country for generations?
/
NAK/May 5, 2012
0
0
Then what about Pakistan,Afghanistan,Bangladesh,Egypt?
Sri Lanka was also once long time back was like that we had only Buddhists and Hindus. Because they were tolerant they allowed Islam in and you how the other came in.
In Dambulla,it is a land dispute between the Temple and the Islamic prayers house.It is not even a mosque.
If they are unable to resolve it amicably they will resolve it legally. So why are you denigrating Buddhism and the Buddhists as a whole?
Mr.Beans and the Dinosaurs have to be reminded here how those try to teach human rights and ahimsa came with a bible in one hand and a gun in the other.
/
Ahamed/April 25, 2012
0
0
@ jaliya – Saudi is the place where Islam was born. Sri lanka is not like that. More than 80% of Sri Lankans worship Gods born and lived in India & Nepal. The rest worship Gods introduced from Middle East. Please do not try to make Buddhism a religion and Sri Lanka as its origin. I think I do not have to remind you that Lord Buddha who himself was a Hindu never asked you to declare sacred areas and chase non-followers from that area. He simply preached to give up worldly desires; respects his philosophy of life. But Islam is not like that. It encourages building as many mosques and declares war against anti-Muslims (Note: not non-Muslims!). But it never asked to destroy places of worship of other religions; in fact it is strictly forbidden in Islam.
I am not surprised that people like you who are very ill-willed and narrow-minded, spread misconception within Buddhists and make them radicals, are safe somewhere while the normal people who are struggling here to make ends meet become the victims of violence. Because there are many people here who have made various religions as the profession for their living and they constantly try to make the people proactive towards their religion, unless which the society would discard the religions soon. This is also one simple instance where the Monks are trying to gather followers around them.
/
jaliya/April 24, 2012
0
0
Mr, Gamini, multi religious doesn’t means that you can go and built what ever you want in someone els property. we must respect each and everyone’s right to have their place of worship without disturbing others. will you allow me to build a house at your backyard Mr, Gamini…? so it’s the same situation here. only deference is that there is a mosque at the back yard of the temple. so it is simply illegal. the monk said that he got no issue with building a mosque in dambulla but not in his temple premises.
as i am living in middle east right now, there is no point of argue bout arabic culture of mono religion. coz you got no idea bout this situation here. but glad to tell you that the Dubai is changing fast. but many other countries are still in dark.
/
gamini/April 24, 2012
0
0
@ Jaliya, I believe it is best that you get your facts straight. This property does not belong to the Dambulle Temple nor it is in the backyard of the Temple either as you allege. It is a private property belonging to a Muslim at Kandalama Hotel junction on the main road. The property has been in possesion of this family long before this area has been declared as sacred and it is yet to be established whether the sacred area has been gazzetted by law, which the UDA has to furnish evidence. Besides one of the temples at Dambulla is built by my great grand father and these Moors who came to trade married Sinhalese women and there are pockets of Muslim settlements all over the countryside. Possibly where their Sinhalese spouses lived and these properties would have once belonged to the spouses. So remember when you try to chase these Muslims they are 50% Sinhalese now and some of these Muslims have Sinhalese names as their wasagama.
/
Prasath/April 24, 2012
0
0
Dear Jaliya
Don’t be like a silly person. Use your brain aand heart. Try to be a human being by giving respect to all religion, languages, race etc. Please be remind that Lord Buddha has emphaized harmony in terms of every thing. But under the globalized contecxt, we forgot everything including what he preached
/
gamini/April 24, 2012
0
0
At a Meeting held at the Ministry of Lands this morning 24th April, attended by all the parties, it has transpired that this land where the Mosque is, is outside the Sacred area of the Dambulle Temple. The Gon Prime Minister having lied of Muslim leaders attending a meeting having consented to move the Mosque out, where it was denied by the relevant Muslim Leaders of having attended the meeting, the PM should now resign. This issue is not going to stop at this, as this Inamaluwe (A)seelaratne type characters are flaming hatered on issues that bring disrepute to this Nation and Country. In the tone of one commentator in this blog, where he use to sing, ‘Where have all the losers gone, they have all gone to South Korea’…
/
non/April 24, 2012
0
0
These are not monks, they are devil of Sri Lanka they are trying to bring the black july…. and helping to support the UN reports indirectly
/
DAS/April 24, 2012
0
0
I remember how Sirimavo Bandaranayake ordered the take over of the Ramakrishna Mission madam at Kathirgamam, which had been erected by public contributions after due approval & which was a place of refuge,rest & meditation for all pilgrims,and also offered tasty vegetarian meals free,to all.
She did this by “declaring” the place a “sacred area”.
It was converted into a Bhikkus’ Hostel.
Now, the Dambulla mosque, more than 60 years old and the Hindu Temple nearby are in danger,due to demands of bhikkus.
Religious intolerance commenced long ago,and is becoming worse.
Hundreds of Buddha statues and dozens of buddhist temples have been erected in the north,after the war. But citizens there dare not protest.
/
Rohan/April 25, 2012
0
0
The main point is… Christians convert people in the past. In an attempt to revive the religion – at least to keep it alive – Hindus also converted people in the past. Buddhism? WOW – unbelievable!!!
/
gamini/April 24, 2012
0
0
It must be understood by the intelligent that the State cannot legislate Religion to society or legislate societies out of Religion as was seen in Communist Russia or Socialist China adopting the Principles of Marx that Religion is the opium of the masses.
/
Sub/April 26, 2012
0
0
Thank you Yellow Moda Ropes… you make our job easier at UN… God bless Facisitpaksas…
/
Hussain/April 26, 2012
0
0
The friendly Arab / Muslim countries, who supported Sri-Lanka in Geneva, will definitely vote against Sri-Lanka in the next session. It is very clear that the Government is trying to create divisions among the people by inciting religious hatred through some cheap so called religious priests only to deviate people’s attention from basic burning problems in the country.
/
Lasantha Pethiyagoda/April 26, 2012
0
0
DAMBULLA: HISTORICAL FACTS OR FICTION?
The average Sri Lankan, hearing various versions through the media that serves as propagandist, and being ill-equipped to challenge the vilifying assumptions against an enemy of choice, will be inclined to embrace or tolerate a rationale for unfair decisions. Fear and ignorance, not countered by a rational presentation of historical fact, become the basis of any future attitude.
Disinformation and deception can be cleverly used to frame the public’s attitudes. These sorts of claims, even if later disproved, can effectively set up targets for attack.
Take the following facts for example. Many Sri Lankans are ignorant of the fact that Hezbollah, which represents the Shia in Lebanon, is a popular political party (with no record of “terrorism”, by the way). It is highly valued for its efficient dispensing of myriad social services to all Lebanese. As a resistance movement it was instrumental in evicting the Israelis from the south, more than once.
The international media has conditioned us to perceive Muslim hostility towards Israel as religious animosity, anti-Semitism and intolerance rather than justifiable anger at the occupation, annexation, abuse, displacement and oppression of Palestinians. Atrocities are committed against Palestinians in order to provoke revenge attacks termed as “suicide terror”, which ostensibly justifies perpetuation of coercion and lack of diplomacy.
Hamas, widely acknowledged as pious, capable and honest in contrast to the corrupt, inefficient but secular Palestinian Authority is portrayed as “terrorist” although it won a democratic election conducted fairly and reflecting the aspirations of the Palestinian people. Do we question the refusal by Western governments, to recognise a democratically elected party while preaching about democracy?
Similarly, one must become cognizant of facts before allowing oneself to be influenced by innuendo, deception or campaigns for vilification. Popular sentiment against a minority can be instigated at the will of a party with a variety of political interests. As in the case of geopolitical manipulation of sectarian differences and the fomenting of violence in order to cause instability within an otherwise independent nation, forces within a community can also act with similar motivations in order to use the ensuing mayhem to their own nefarious advantage.
How come a Buddhist temple is coming up in Thrukeetheeswaram a sacred area and how is that there is a mosque and a Vihara in Kataragama another sacred area?
Whole thing is a setup by Gotha, he is the whole cause of all the trouble in SL, if he is kicked out SL will be a good place to live as before, did we not live as brothers & sisters ? how come these things started only after MaRa & family came to power???????
/
Hussain/May 3, 2012
0
0
In genewa out of 10 muslim nation 9 have been voted to srilanka and one country not voted for any one.. these is the manner of treating muslim nation for there kind help
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gamini / April 21, 2012
Is it any surprise anymore to anyone, why the Tamils took up to arms to gain recognition as citizens of this country after these Pseudo Patriots took over matters of afairs in this country after Independence? For one to be driven even to commit suicide, is a tall task as they would have been utterly desperate.
/
Vis8 / April 25, 2012
For one to be driven to suicide, one has to be totally brain-washed by blasphemy or insane. Get a life, moron.
/
gamini / April 27, 2012
Yes it is the MORONS of your calibre that are responsible for the chaos the country is enjoying today.
/
Razik Zarook / April 21, 2012
Spot on…Pseudo Patriots. This is a country fought by everyone, not just the Buddhists. Religious extremism can not be tolerated at any cost.
/
Anun / April 21, 2012
Cannot understand why the govt is still silent? If these worship places are in a sacred area, the govt can intervene and request for a re-location.
/
Vasu / April 21, 2012
Again an evidence for a failed state
/
W.R.De Silva / April 21, 2012
We must protect our Buddhist Heritage in this country.Hope Government will inter vein this matter impartial keeping others rights.
/
hassan / April 21, 2012
its really sad!!
Ven Inamaluwe sumangala thero has desecrated the teachings of Budhism.
these sort of actions will drive the common man to unwarranted hatred against the other communities which live in peace and coherence so long even in Dambulla. Yesterday, i heard the priest of the Mosque stating in BBC , that the general Budhist public around the mosque live with them like a members of one family !
i believe the government should intervene and try to relocate the mosque before things get worst. we have just been supported bu the entire Middle eastern countries at the UNHCR and if things continue in this manner, they will definitely go against us, i mean the entire country.
as muslims we must be patient and Pray any thing worse didnt happen for the sake of the motherland.
May God Almighty take his decision!! he is the powerful
/
The last dinasaur / April 23, 2012
Hassan…
This is the way these people thank the Muslim countries who supported Srilanka in Geneva.
Now those muslim nations would have understood how much stupid they are..
/
Vis8 / April 25, 2012
Just want to tell you that these “monks” who have donned robes for their own gain are just politically-driven ordinary people, with vested interests. “Good” monks can only be found in the forests or forest hermitages.
/
James / April 21, 2012
Please report the truth. The wording you have used in the news gives an impression that these racist monks have prevented a new mosque being built. But its not the case. They were trying to demolish a mosque which existed in the same place for 60+ years.
/
Observer / April 21, 2012
What is the value of this “Buddhist heritage” now that 100,000 people have died in the name of Mahavamsa mythology? It will take only a few minutes for any third-party that “Googles” Sri Lanka to decide whether Sri Lanka is an island of “peace loving Buddhists” or something else. Sri Lanka has a few choices to make if it decides to go down this path of associating itself with a fundamentalist religious identity: (1) it can become like the much despised Israel, which is democratic on the outside, but where, under the surface, Jewish interests are given priority before those of anyone else, or (2) it adapt a Muslim outlook, in which other religions are banned, and religious leaders influence public policy. Neither option is particularly palatable.
Sri Lanka has lost its image as a Buddhist anything. That is the reality. Much better to go secular. These monks should be imprisoned for inciting racial hatred.
/
kamal nissanka / April 21, 2012
Act of these involved ss against the LLRC recommendations.
/
KUMA / April 21, 2012
These Muslims breed like rabbits and try to take over the entire world.
/
Gota / April 26, 2012
Theres a way to solve real issues
Too much breeding, then we do the same or better (limited Island resources) popularize/legalize smaller families
Their business sucess, we to blame, we are not that business minded, bussy fighting, drinking, importantly post independence we destroyed our pioneering enterpreneurs….
/
Rohan / April 22, 2012
Sir John Kotelawala must be smiling somewhere. Didn’t he refer to some Buddhist monks as ‘Rouges in Yellow robes’ and said that ‘some should be buried alive’?
/
PresiDunce Bean / April 22, 2012
Not a sound from Max Silva. Maybe he is in Dambulla spearheading the attack on the mosque along with the Buddhist punks/monks? ;)
/
nissanka / April 22, 2012
it is sad buddhist monks behave like punk.what we seen in gujarat.
these monks thinks they have only rights to live in sri lanka.
shame for buddhisam.
/
Jim Hardy / April 23, 2012
These stupids might declare next the Kandy town, vicinity of Dalada Maligava as sacred area, an begin to evict two or three ancient mosques from their too.
/
PresiDunce Bean / April 23, 2012
@Jim Hardy
Anything is possible today, in this so called “Wonder of Asia.” There is a pithy Sinhala saying that goes, “Honda honda sellam eli wenna jaametta.”
When translated into English it means, “Don’t hold your breath as yet, there will be far better things happening in the early hours of the morning.” ;)
/
gamini / April 24, 2012
Jim, these fanatics have been trying to evict and destroy St. Pauls Church in Kandy, in front of the former Lawyers Chambers for quite some time. If they achieve this relocation of the Mosque which is definitely outside the Dambulle Sacred Area Map, according to a meeting held today, which will be violating the whole Civil Procedure Code, the fools in this country can bask in blood shed for another fifty years.
/
The last dinasaur / April 23, 2012
If the sinhala budist try to subdue other ethnic groups like this then the country would not be divided into two.. but four (for all four religions)..
/
Satha / April 23, 2012
Yellow rope vampires in action….
/
Jayarath / April 23, 2012
Disgrace for lord Buddha…
/
jaliya senavirathne / April 23, 2012
in islam, no other religion allowed. no other religion exists in saudi. how many mosques in sri lanka? will they allow any one to build a temple in a land belongs mosque ?
dont post stupid ideas and spoil the community. just let them built it somewhere els.
/
gamini / April 23, 2012
@ Jaliya with no offense meant, the Muslim countries that you mention as Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, the indegenous people are not multi ethnic and multi Religious as ours. Therefore your argument does not arise and to suggest for this Mosque to be shifted elsewhere, lacks reason. If so next you will ask them to vacate the area also as they are not Buddhists. Tell me frankly, how would you feel if you were a Muslim and your family living in this country for generations?
/
NAK / May 5, 2012
Then what about Pakistan,Afghanistan,Bangladesh,Egypt?
Sri Lanka was also once long time back was like that we had only Buddhists and Hindus. Because they were tolerant they allowed Islam in and you how the other came in.
In Dambulla,it is a land dispute between the Temple and the Islamic prayers house.It is not even a mosque.
If they are unable to resolve it amicably they will resolve it legally. So why are you denigrating Buddhism and the Buddhists as a whole?
Mr.Beans and the Dinosaurs have to be reminded here how those try to teach human rights and ahimsa came with a bible in one hand and a gun in the other.
/
Ahamed / April 25, 2012
@ jaliya – Saudi is the place where Islam was born. Sri lanka is not like that. More than 80% of Sri Lankans worship Gods born and lived in India & Nepal. The rest worship Gods introduced from Middle East. Please do not try to make Buddhism a religion and Sri Lanka as its origin. I think I do not have to remind you that Lord Buddha who himself was a Hindu never asked you to declare sacred areas and chase non-followers from that area. He simply preached to give up worldly desires; respects his philosophy of life. But Islam is not like that. It encourages building as many mosques and declares war against anti-Muslims (Note: not non-Muslims!). But it never asked to destroy places of worship of other religions; in fact it is strictly forbidden in Islam.
I am not surprised that people like you who are very ill-willed and narrow-minded, spread misconception within Buddhists and make them radicals, are safe somewhere while the normal people who are struggling here to make ends meet become the victims of violence. Because there are many people here who have made various religions as the profession for their living and they constantly try to make the people proactive towards their religion, unless which the society would discard the religions soon. This is also one simple instance where the Monks are trying to gather followers around them.
/
jaliya / April 24, 2012
Mr, Gamini, multi religious doesn’t means that you can go and built what ever you want in someone els property. we must respect each and everyone’s right to have their place of worship without disturbing others. will you allow me to build a house at your backyard Mr, Gamini…? so it’s the same situation here. only deference is that there is a mosque at the back yard of the temple. so it is simply illegal. the monk said that he got no issue with building a mosque in dambulla but not in his temple premises.
as i am living in middle east right now, there is no point of argue bout arabic culture of mono religion. coz you got no idea bout this situation here. but glad to tell you that the Dubai is changing fast. but many other countries are still in dark.
/
gamini / April 24, 2012
@ Jaliya, I believe it is best that you get your facts straight. This property does not belong to the Dambulle Temple nor it is in the backyard of the Temple either as you allege. It is a private property belonging to a Muslim at Kandalama Hotel junction on the main road. The property has been in possesion of this family long before this area has been declared as sacred and it is yet to be established whether the sacred area has been gazzetted by law, which the UDA has to furnish evidence. Besides one of the temples at Dambulla is built by my great grand father and these Moors who came to trade married Sinhalese women and there are pockets of Muslim settlements all over the countryside. Possibly where their Sinhalese spouses lived and these properties would have once belonged to the spouses. So remember when you try to chase these Muslims they are 50% Sinhalese now and some of these Muslims have Sinhalese names as their wasagama.
/
Prasath / April 24, 2012
Dear Jaliya
Don’t be like a silly person. Use your brain aand heart. Try to be a human being by giving respect to all religion, languages, race etc. Please be remind that Lord Buddha has emphaized harmony in terms of every thing. But under the globalized contecxt, we forgot everything including what he preached
/
gamini / April 24, 2012
At a Meeting held at the Ministry of Lands this morning 24th April, attended by all the parties, it has transpired that this land where the Mosque is, is outside the Sacred area of the Dambulle Temple. The Gon Prime Minister having lied of Muslim leaders attending a meeting having consented to move the Mosque out, where it was denied by the relevant Muslim Leaders of having attended the meeting, the PM should now resign. This issue is not going to stop at this, as this Inamaluwe (A)seelaratne type characters are flaming hatered on issues that bring disrepute to this Nation and Country. In the tone of one commentator in this blog, where he use to sing, ‘Where have all the losers gone, they have all gone to South Korea’…
/
non / April 24, 2012
These are not monks, they are devil of Sri Lanka they are trying to bring the black july…. and helping to support the UN reports indirectly
/
DAS / April 24, 2012
I remember how Sirimavo Bandaranayake ordered the take over of the Ramakrishna Mission madam at Kathirgamam, which had been erected by public contributions after due approval & which was a place of refuge,rest & meditation for all pilgrims,and also offered tasty vegetarian meals free,to all.
She did this by “declaring” the place a “sacred area”.
It was converted into a Bhikkus’ Hostel.
Now, the Dambulla mosque, more than 60 years old and the Hindu Temple nearby are in danger,due to demands of bhikkus.
Religious intolerance commenced long ago,and is becoming worse.
Hundreds of Buddha statues and dozens of buddhist temples have been erected in the north,after the war. But citizens there dare not protest.
/
Rohan / April 25, 2012
The main point is… Christians convert people in the past. In an attempt to revive the religion – at least to keep it alive – Hindus also converted people in the past. Buddhism? WOW – unbelievable!!!
/
gamini / April 24, 2012
It must be understood by the intelligent that the State cannot legislate Religion to society or legislate societies out of Religion as was seen in Communist Russia or Socialist China adopting the Principles of Marx that Religion is the opium of the masses.
/
Sub / April 26, 2012
Thank you Yellow Moda Ropes… you make our job easier at UN… God bless Facisitpaksas…
/
Hussain / April 26, 2012
The friendly Arab / Muslim countries, who supported Sri-Lanka in Geneva, will definitely vote against Sri-Lanka in the next session. It is very clear that the Government is trying to create divisions among the people by inciting religious hatred through some cheap so called religious priests only to deviate people’s attention from basic burning problems in the country.
/
Lasantha Pethiyagoda / April 26, 2012
DAMBULLA: HISTORICAL FACTS OR FICTION?
The average Sri Lankan, hearing various versions through the media that serves as propagandist, and being ill-equipped to challenge the vilifying assumptions against an enemy of choice, will be inclined to embrace or tolerate a rationale for unfair decisions. Fear and ignorance, not countered by a rational presentation of historical fact, become the basis of any future attitude.
Disinformation and deception can be cleverly used to frame the public’s attitudes. These sorts of claims, even if later disproved, can effectively set up targets for attack.
Take the following facts for example. Many Sri Lankans are ignorant of the fact that Hezbollah, which represents the Shia in Lebanon, is a popular political party (with no record of “terrorism”, by the way). It is highly valued for its efficient dispensing of myriad social services to all Lebanese. As a resistance movement it was instrumental in evicting the Israelis from the south, more than once.
The international media has conditioned us to perceive Muslim hostility towards Israel as religious animosity, anti-Semitism and intolerance rather than justifiable anger at the occupation, annexation, abuse, displacement and oppression of Palestinians. Atrocities are committed against Palestinians in order to provoke revenge attacks termed as “suicide terror”, which ostensibly justifies perpetuation of coercion and lack of diplomacy.
Hamas, widely acknowledged as pious, capable and honest in contrast to the corrupt, inefficient but secular Palestinian Authority is portrayed as “terrorist” although it won a democratic election conducted fairly and reflecting the aspirations of the Palestinian people. Do we question the refusal by Western governments, to recognise a democratically elected party while preaching about democracy?
Similarly, one must become cognizant of facts before allowing oneself to be influenced by innuendo, deception or campaigns for vilification. Popular sentiment against a minority can be instigated at the will of a party with a variety of political interests. As in the case of geopolitical manipulation of sectarian differences and the fomenting of violence in order to cause instability within an otherwise independent nation, forces within a community can also act with similar motivations in order to use the ensuing mayhem to their own nefarious advantage.
/
sepala seneviratne / April 26, 2012
How come a Buddhist temple is coming up in Thrukeetheeswaram a sacred area and how is that there is a mosque and a Vihara in Kataragama another sacred area?
/
Jerryo / April 27, 2012
Whole thing is a setup by Gotha, he is the whole cause of all the trouble in SL, if he is kicked out SL will be a good place to live as before, did we not live as brothers & sisters ? how come these things started only after MaRa & family came to power???????
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Hussain / May 3, 2012
In genewa out of 10 muslim nation 9 have been voted to srilanka and one country not voted for any one.. these is the manner of treating muslim nation for there kind help
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