By Imtiyaz Razak –
Prof. Imtiyaz Razak
When July 1983 ethnic program occurred, I was a junior high school student from Colombo. I didn’t have any meaningful understanding of what had happened in the third week of July. But I witnessed the looting of properties belong to Tamils in Colombo and burned down bodies by Sinhala-Buddhist extremists (with the help from local cops). That one week horrific violence against the Tamils, negatively affected my own life though I am ethnically Moor (Muslim). I used to be a five-times praying and Allah loving kid than, but that violence against the Tamils during the UNP government critically challenged me and thus my worldviews and political understanding. I then asked very simple question: why did they (Sinhala-Buddhist extremists) attack Tamils?
Now I am not a junior school student, but the question I asked in 1983 inspired me to understand violence by Sinhala-Buddhist extremists. There are many factors that lead to violence and hatred in modern societies. In my published articles on Sri Lanka, I have examined some crucial sources of violence by Sinhala-Buddhist extremists and Sri Lanka state.
One of major sources of hatred and violence against non-Sinhalese is Sinhala-Buddhists’ insecurity. This insecurity among Sinhala-Buddhists has been playing significant role in political psycho of Sinhala-Buddhist extremists in particular. In Sri Lanka, though Sinhala-Buddhists are the majority, experiences suggest that they harbor a kind of inferior mentality and thus grow fears and hatred against non-Sinhalese. Though this development is not very obvious among each and every Sinhala-Buddhists, such a mentality does exist in low income Sinhala-Buddhists, who live in villages where Buddhist Temples and monks have vital role in community making.
March Violence
Last week, Sri Lanka Muslims in the central province district of Kandy experienced violent outbreak. Evidences suggest that Sinhala-Buddhist extremists, including some politicized monks led the violence targeted at properties belong to Muslims. To understand the motivations of the violence against the Muslims, I spent my own resources to interview some Sinhala-Buddhists both in Kandy and Galle.
The followings are some responses for my questions from my respondents:
“Muslims are good, but they’re trying to convert Buddhists to Islam. Iran and Saudi Arabia are helping Muslims to do this”
“Look, our markets, shopping centers and food stores. Muslims own these places and they are rich. They’re having more kids and have good houses.”
“I want to see Muslims go back to Saudi Arabia. I am not comfortable to see Muslims in Sri Lanka. ”
Above three respondents are from Kandy city and are young male between 27-35. They claimed they don’t have university degrees and don’t have regular full time job.
It’s wrong to generalize individual opinions. But individual opinions do carry some critical general tendencies. Above views fundamentally help us to understand the psycho of Sinhala-Buddhist extremists, who would harbor fears and hatreds.
The fears and anxiety fuel people thinking and actions. In Sri Lanka, these factors contributed significantly in Sinhala-Buddhist position to deny meaningful power sharing with non-Sinhalese. Since Sri Lanka state represents the interests of Sinhala-Buddhists, the state struggled to reach an acceptable political settlement to the ethnic conflict, overriding the aspirations of Sinhala-Buddhists. The fundamental fear from the Sinhala-Buddhist community is that any solution along the power-sharing democracy (federalism) would jeopardize Sri Lanka’s territorial unity, because such is concession for an independent state for Tamils. This fear is still exist and strong among Sinhala-Buddhist extremists, who would think that they are the owners of the island and non-Sinhalese can live in Sri Lanka as guests.
Sinhala-Buddhist extremists’ violent campaign from 1957 to 1983 against the Tamils and Sri Lanka state’s failure to negotiate a political settlement along a federal solution, and wave of violence’s against Muslims from 2009 in general and from 2012 in particular highlight the very insecure political mentality of Sinhala-Buddhist extremists.
Sri Lanka’s Sinhala-Buddhists generally believe that non-Sinhalese are guests and thus they shouldn’t have any special privileges in the island, which is, according to them, belong to the Sinhala race. The Sinhala-Buddhists also tend to believe that non-Sinhalese are economically and socio-culturally powerful. These are basically roots of the existing insecurity among Sinhala-Buddhist extremists, who are actually the majority (around 73 percent). These fundamental belief system not only help shape their fears and power over non-Sinhalese, but also contribute to radicalize some Sinhala-Buddhists.
Insecurity And Politicization
In electoral democracy, politicians would compete for votes. Sri Lanka’s electoral democracy experiences suggest that Sinhala-Buddhist politicians use Sinhala Buddhist symbols and fears to outbid their opponents. Those politicians also strategically place Sinhala-Buddhist insecure mentality to shape up their political agendas and positions.
That political outbidding produces success in elections. Tamils were once portrayed as brutal enemies of Sinhala race. It allowed Sinhala politicians and ruling class to wage war against the Tamil Tigers and to deny meaningful political solution for grievances fueled by ethno-centric policies. Since Tamil Tigers silenced their guns, Sinhala-Buddhist extremists actively searched new enemies to consolidate their power and position. Then they found Sri Lanka Muslims, who actually worked so closely with the successive Sinhala-Buddhists dominated regimes for concessions, including religious concessions.
Sinhala-Buddhists extremists now suddenly found that Muslim symbols and identity markers such as Hijab and the rise of Islamic awareness threaten the stability of the island. But careful readers of Sri Lanka know many concessions what Sri Lanka Muslims enjoy in our time, for example, Muslim schools, Islamic dress in public schools were the concessions that Muslim elites received for their cohabitation politics with the successive Sinhala-Buddhists dominated regimes since 1949.
Now the same Muslims became harsh enemy for some aggressive Sinhala-Buddhists extremists and thus Muslims are new-Tamils for Sinhala-Buddhist extremists. Making a new enemy is important for nationalists because strategy of enemy making would help consolidate political agendas of nationalists.
Sri Lanka’s unbalance economic development affect villagers regardless of ethnic background. Economic inequality is real in the island and it’s hitting many low-income people. But Muslims are not running Sri Lanka’s economy. Very good portion of Sri Lanka Muslims also live in poverty and thus they experience economic anxiety. Just because a tiny portion of Sri Lanka Muslims are doing good in business and trade, does not mean that all Muslims are economically well off. It’s wrong to portray Muslims as trade community. But Sinhala-Buddhists extremists are portraying that Muslims are dominating Sri Lanka business and eventually Muslims want to conquer the island.
This breeds both Islamophobia and insecurity among Sinhala-Buddhists. This trend is not going to help Sri Lanka to gain peace and justice. Though not all Sinhala-Buddhists harbor hatred against non-Sinhalese, those who would lead the campaign against Muslims are not isolated. It seems those forces have blessings from top Sinhala-Buddhist politician. Politicized monks have crucial role in the mobilization of violence against Muslims this time around as they played role in the war against the Tamil Tigers.
Whether Sri Lanka would arrest the current tensions and violence against Muslims are remains to be seen. But there are concerns and fears among Muslims: Sinhala-Buddhist extremists would come again with a new wave of violence. Muslims, who responded to my questions, expressed this concern. This is plainly dangerous, because such a fear and anxiety as well as pains may give birth to some unpleasant mobilization, perhaps violent defense and offense. Circle of fears and tensions might help radicalize some Muslims. Sri Lanka shouldn’t forget the sources that gave birth to the rise of Tamil insurgency and terrorism.
*Prof, A.R, M. Imtiyaz is a US based scholar. His scholarly pursuits on Sri Lanka have led to publications at various international venues, including the /Journal of Asian and African Studies/ (JAAS), / the Journal of South Asia/ (JAS), the /Journal of Third Third_World Studies/ (JTWS), the Journal of South Asia/ (JAS) and /Asian Affairs/. His most recent research examines issues pertaining to Muslims in Middle East and Xinjiang province, China.
Rajaguru / March 13, 2018
Go in front of a mirror and ask the question why doesn’t anyone like us and our religion? You will find the answer in two seconds, before you make the next 1000 Rs without doing any work!
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Sam Fernando / March 13, 2018
why do they hate non-sinhalese
1) Lack of education
2) Lack of good upbringing
3) Media would not be impatial and dont care what is being gone to their ears and eyes
4) Rajapakshe or the like So call Patriots abuse them easily for their political surivial.
Rajapakshes have always abused the kind of low IQ people to send the message the across
5) Yestreday I happened to see a Youtub video, in which a woman – should be a house maid from ME region addresses the world as if she is grown up on the street.
She has left the country for ME for her living. But she hates muslims…. she calls it is our srilanka that belongs to us.
These people can easily be manipulated by politicians.
They Rajapakshes through Wimal WEERAWANSE and Dayan Jayathilaka focuses
1) Uneducated labour forces – livining in Middle east countries
2) Korea
3) Italy.
Most of these diasphora people are coming from rural areas where poverty is stricken in the country. Except few engineers and few accountants, not many have obtained any knowledge beyond their schooling.
Not even proper schooling.
Each time when travelling back home from Europe, I got to see the kind of people in ME countries. most of them behave so uncivilized even on airports.
It is the nurture of a person should be held important.
If they have not learnt it in their parent house or during schooling, how can they see it beyond.
They call them buddhists but they dont know what real teachings of buddha.
Buddha s teaching and what is being practised in SL today are sky-earth different.
Most just follow the other, … it is like a wave moves further.
This country needs lot more awareness programs to keep the AVERAGE mind set better informed.
Sirasa, Hiru AND Derana time to time, abuse their media freedom not being unbiased.
Most of these PVT media are the problem above anything else.
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Burning Issue / March 13, 2018
“They Rajapakshes through Wimal WEERAWANSE and Dayan Jayathilaka focuses”
I am glad that people are finally seeing the true insidious nature of Dayan J! This man is for more dangerous than MR I am very sorry to say. Whipping up the dangerous Sinhala Buddhist nationalism in order to feed his hatreds inner conflicts is totally abhorrent.
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Real Revolutionist / March 13, 2018
Does anybody hate non-Sinhalese?
Answer- no.
Are Sinhalese hated?
Answer- Yes, especially Sinhala Buddhists. They’re dragged into conflict in tricky ways in order to defame them.
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Gobba / March 13, 2018
Yes in the same manner, ask a Yellow robed thug to stand in front of the mirror and you have will another answer too !!!! How is that a group can be clumped into AN ENTIRE RELIGION, while others are just ISOLATED. This same theory used by Trump and his racist scumbags. WHITE MAN – Lone wolf, mentally retarded et al. MUSLIM – Terrorists and all Muslims are TERRORISTS. Generalization is NOT going to solve any issues, it will bring about a few laughs and smirks , like your comment would have been to a few.
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Ben Hurling / March 13, 2018
Prof. Imtiyaz Razak,
Other INSECURE people: Indians, Burmese, Nepalese, Bhutanese Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Aussies, Kiwis, Jewish Israelis, Americans, Canadians, Brazilians, Argentinians, Brits, French, Germans, Polish, Czechs, Slovakians, Italians, Spanish, Greeks, Norwegians, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic, Russians, Ukrainians, Romanians, Serbs, Croatians, Irish, Swiss, Portuguese, Slovenians, Bulgarians, Dutch, Belgians. Oh, you name it people. The list is endless. As horrendous as it is, why single out the Sinhalese only? Fear of Islam is far bigger among Tamils. HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED INTO WHY PEOPLE ARE SO FEARFUL OF ISLAM?
Cheers!
PS:
How about head-on effort to modernize Islam? Make it more liberal. More tolerant. More integrated with others. Make it private not violently or otherwise political. How about a full-frontal attack on the expansion of fundamentalist Islamic lunatic base in SL? Shall we start by dismantling MMDA? No questions asked. As it is a terrible attack on Sri Lanka’s women, which we must never accept. Just because they happen to be born Muslim by an accident of birth.
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Native Vedda / March 13, 2018
Ben Hurling
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“Fear of Islam is far bigger among Tamils. HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED INTO WHY PEOPLE ARE SO FEARFUL OF ISLAM?”
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I didn’t know paranoia was an infectious disease until you mentioned it. Paranoia was the most favourite disease of Sinhala/Buddhists.
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“How about head-on effort to modernize Islam? “
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How about head-on effort to modernize Sinhala/Buddhism before it is seriously infected by Sinhala/Buddhist fascism?
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Ben Hurling / March 13, 2018
Native,
Thanks a lot for granting us Sinhalese Buddhists, those exclusive copyrights to “Paranoia”. What shall we call all other nations I mentioned above running amok, scared of Islam? Some want zero Islam within their borders. YES! Some say so publicly. It has gone that far. Believe it or not. Those are not fraudulent democracies like SL. I have no illusions about Christian Fundamentalists either. They can be as intolerant, violent & medieval when push comes to shove. Do not be deceived by their Westernized outlook. Having said that, there is no doubt, I think most moderate Muslims would agree biggest challenges are about making Islam tolerant of modernity. These Muslim writers who jump to write mile-long articles on CT, whenever we have an issue, maintain a pin-drop silence on MMDA, Wilpattu destruction & infusion of Wahabism lately in SL etc. By avoiding these difficult, sensitive topics openly and defeating those ideologies, we can only delude ourselves. There can be no progress. HAVE THE COURAGE TO CRITICIZE ISLAM ON A FACTUAL BASIS. IT IS NOT RACIST TO DO SO. Criticism of Islam is not an attack on Muslims.
Cheers!
PS: My comment was no praise of the marauding Sinhala Buddhist fascists. Everybody knows what a curse I consider those clowns to be for Sri Lanka. That does not mean we give a clean bill to Islamic religious fascists either.
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Burning Issue / March 13, 2018
Ben,
“Fear of Islam is far bigger among Tamils. HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED INTO WHY PEOPLE ARE SO FEARFUL OF ISLAM?”
You are trying to soften the blame and divert attention! The relationship between the Tamils and Muslims indeed has deteriorated during the war for obvious reason. The GOSL played a major part in their endeavour to drive a wedge between them. That said either of them attacking each other are they?
The truth is that, the Sinhala are the majority, it is they who are attacking the Muslims and no other! The Sinhala Buddhists have no reasons to be insecure but they are chronically insecure. This is why Buddhism has been enshrined in the Constitution! The monks who involved in the attacks from Aluthgama to Ampara to Kandy are still roaming free despite ample visual evidences present! Why?
I know there is an issue with the global Islamic antipathy but it has nothing to do with the attacks in Sri Lanka. Not if but when the same force attacks the Christians, who are you going to blame?
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Anton Fernando / March 13, 2018
The change in muslims attire have made sinhalese suspicious .
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Palitha / March 13, 2018
So you think because Muslims dress in a different way, it makes the Sinhalese suspicious and warrants the violence against the Muslims?
That is primitive thinking, and justification of the attacks on innocent people, many who may not be wearing that attire, as photographs show.
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rbh / March 13, 2018
The change of attire to Trouser people have different thought .
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Gobba / March 13, 2018
Suspicious of what Sir ? Can a change of Dress ONLY, bring about this kind of hatred and fear ? They are SEVENTY PERCENT Sir to the Muslim 10% !!!!! Where does this fear come from ?
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Navin / March 13, 2018
From anti Muslim propaganda spread by terror priests, paid trolls, and hate comments, peddling unsubstantiated rumors, ridiculous claims of wanda pethi, and sweets, to make Sinhalese women barren, and the stories that the Muslims are going to take over the country. All deliberately spread, and those who are behind this anti Muslim campaign, are taking advantage of the ignorant, and backwardness of uneducated thugs, to fill their minds with fear, so that they will turn against fellow Sri Lankans, and attack them.
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A.C.M. Inayathullah / March 13, 2018
It is true, but I assure you that these change of attire and dress in Muslim community in Sri Lanka has in fact nothing to do with their notions and believes. Since the open economy and the petroleum based economy boom in the middle east countries people including Muslims migrated to the middle east for petro dollars which made them to adopt their dress and a bit of culture, and people who belonged different sectors and believes arrived in Sri Lanka and preached their ways of lift etc. which too impact on the culture and attire of Muslims here, which in fact did not create any hatred feelings and negative minds towards their fellow non- Muslim brothers here in Sri Lanka. I would say perhaps these Sri Lankan Muslims blindly adopted attires and dresses of other countrymen, ie Saudi Arabia and India, yet they do not have any inner sense of ideas or believes towards their religion either.
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Burning Issue / March 13, 2018
A.C.M. Inayathullah,
It is conspicuous that Sri Lankan Muslims are being steadily arabised! But that should not be used to attack them. The Sinhalese are weak and insecure and they are being used by the likes MR aided and abetted by the likes Dayan J et al.
However, it is sad to see that the Sri Lankan Muslims are loosing their own unique Sri Lankan Muslim identity that existed for centuries!
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / March 14, 2018
You are correct , they are loosing their own 1000 year old Sufi Tamil Muslim identity that was very rich and tolerant and now becoming pathetic carbon clones of Saudi Wahhabi Arabs , whom even other Arabs from Syria Iraq ETC hate, and have now become very aggressive and intolerant. You can see this behaviour , especially in the east( they are still scared of the Sinhalese , so more contained in their areas) where they think , they now have the upper hand over the defeated helpless Tamils, so go around stealing their lands , destroying Hindu temples and claiming large chunks of the east , where they only arrived as refugees a few centuries ago as theirs. Go and visit the Islamic Caliphate of Kattankudi and very soon Kalmunai will be like that too. There is an aggressive move there to forcibly acquire Tamil Hindu homes lands and farms , with all sorts of ploy. Eg Town expansion ETC , which strangely seem to be affecting only Tamil owned lands. Money is also coming to them from some unknown source to overbid and purchase Tamil lands.
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Dr Quintus Kalpage / March 13, 2018
Everyone in Sri Lanka with the exception of the defendants of the Veddah have reached Sri Lanka from Overseas. So the Sinhala Buddhists are guests too. It is their insecurity that makes them demand special privileges. So let everyone in SL learn to live together in peace and harmony. There are plenty from all the diverse groups that make up modern SL who are peaceful and want to live in peace with their neighbours. Let their voices be heard.
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Jim softy / March 13, 2018
Dr. Quintus Kalpage. YOu are an first class Idiot. So, saying every human being came to the world from Africa and why Africans from tropics are not treated the equal in the world. IS this the modern CRusades and conquests, in a new different form. How do you treat the Kaluthara Bodhiya when you go near by it ? Are you working for confused –
Orumiththa govt who lost the common candidate dream ?
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Ben Hurling / March 13, 2018
Softy,
Which class of idiots do you belong to?
Cheers!
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Rationalist / March 13, 2018
Dr Quintus Kalpage:-
According to Genetics, the Veddahs also arrived in Lanka during the Great Migration of Homo Sapiens, from Africa!
Are you trying to makes us believe that the Veddahs dropped down from Heaven?
Even the Australian Aborigine who is the closest relative to the Veddah, started off from the same Roots!
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Native Vedda / March 13, 2018
Rationalist
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“Are you trying to makes us believe that the Veddahs dropped down from Heaven?”
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Probably yes if there was a heaven at the time of their arrival. All you have to do is compare our behavior with that of descendants of Kallathonies whose ancestors started arriving on boats in the last 2500 years.
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Whether my ancestors dropped from heaven or came from Africa does not matter as long as the fact remains they came here more than 35000 years ago, first people to settle down.
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The various DNA research prove my point.
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Perhaps the other lot probably would have come here crossing the Palk strait with Rama and Laxmana. Most of the Rama’s labourers and engineers didn’t return to whence they came, stayed put and created new races, Tamils and Sinhalese.
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Taraki / March 13, 2018
The Veddahs are from Africa as are all humans.
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Rationalist / March 13, 2018
Imtiyaz Razak –Why Do They Hate Non-Sinhalese?
Banda’s Language Policy Started the Rot!
One Sri Lankan could not Understand The ‘Other’!
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Navin / March 13, 2018
The country always pays the price for stupid nationalistic policies, favoring one side. In multi-religious nations, it is always better to find common ground, and that idiotic policy, has made our people look like misfits, unable to communicate in the business world, and the international arena. In certain African countries, where the nation is full of tribes with different dialects, English is the main common language. English should have been the 2nd language in Sinhala and Tamil streams, and given high priority.
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Rationalist / March 13, 2018
You are right Navin:-
Muslims were allowed to choose their Medium of Education, because neither Sinhala or Tamil was their Mother Tongue!
Being the Pragmatic People they are, they chose English as their Medium of Instruction. Therefore they had access to the Current Developments in Science and Economics.
Whereas the Sinhala and Tamil Children had to depend on the Translations by Sinhala and Tamil Scholars, who had no idea about the Subjects they were Translating!
Make English the Main Common Language, with Imported Teachers if Necessary, so that All Children, not only those who Can afford Private Schools, have access to the rest of the World!
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vithura / March 13, 2018
And all schools should have had both Sinhala and Tamil streams too!
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Buramphisincho / March 13, 2018
No man, Banda did what he should have been done at the time.
If Banda let it go, today, there woul dno have been a middle class that are that highly literate in the country and region. He gave the place where it was due. Sinhala should have been given a place as a langauge, but not neglecting English.
Not just Banda but those ruled since then, have failed to get the pulse of the people.
This country today, most of them are very manipulative.
Most of them have no knwlwedge about the global politics
They are just like FROGs in wells.
They talk but not having general knowledge in the head.
Those got migrated to europe and other countries would not get racial attacks the way local minorties face it .. is the right statement i can make
We should be ashamed to be sinhalaya
I think ifeach one of us would see it beyond… only we can see things move to positive site.
Those eunachs hidden behind SANGA sivura should be kept in prisons until their psychologies change and adapt accordingly.
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Mohomad / March 13, 2018
You are correct. instead of bringing Sinhala language policy they could have taken English to village level. If that had happened the Sinhala Buddhist by now will be well advanced and more prosperous than other communities. I don’t understand why these Sinhala and Tamil which are fit for the frogs in the well made the languages foe administration and technology. I think Indians understood this and that is why they kept the technological language as English.
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Thengai Srinivasan / March 13, 2018
Banda started Paksa destroyed and Sillysena continued!
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Ariyasena Gajanayake / March 13, 2018
We Sinhalese boasts a 2500 history fake Mahawansa which is a collected of lies and BS.
Those guys like Rajapaksas and Buddhist fundamentals have taken the opportunity to make havoc and gain political advantage in this situation.
Then those saffron robbed, 99% ordained for the very fact their parents cannot afford to feed them or provide a shelter have no feelings of the Sasana and those homosexual need to send their anger towards something and Muslims are the new ‘Tamils’.
On top of all this., Muslims are into Business as most of them are neither block from gaining Govt Jobs of good private sector jobs and the only mainstream job is go into business and this may have instill jealousy which makes anger among Sinhala nationalists though I believe 95% of Sinhala Buddhists do want to live in peace with other nationalities.
Did I mention, the present so called Yahapalana Govt have no clue in governance and its a pity how the 2 or more factions carry their day to day business.
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Dalit / March 13, 2018
History of Ceylon goes back more than 100,000 years. Ramayan is at least 5000 years old,
Tamils are Indian Colonial Parasites Indian Colonial Parasites who went to lots of tropical countries under the cover of British fire power.
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Burning Issue / March 13, 2018
Dalit,
It is fare to say that you hate Tamils! What did they do to you?
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Vettivelu Thanam / March 13, 2018
Hello Dalit!! You say “Ramayan is at least 5000 years old”!! Hello! Ramayan could not have been composed before 1073 AD! In this year only, after 70 years of Cola domination, Vijayabahu the first liberated Lanka, re-organized Sanga, built a temple in Polonnaruwa to keep the sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha, renovated the looted Buddhist temples and crowned himself as the Buddhist King of Lanka! That is, this is the year in which Lanka became a Buddhist country again! This is something like Buddha re-appearing on earth and preaching Dhamma! Ramayana was based on this. Because of this only, at the beginning of Ramayanam the Tamil Poet Kambam placed three verses that praise Buddha, Dhamma and Sanga! “Tamils are Indian Colonial Parasites” ….. You are a real idiot who does not know history!
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Jim softy / March 13, 2018
WOW, US BASED studies on Sri lanka by a Muslim who does not know Sinhala culture. What can we say. We know why muslims are idiots in the world. Which university that you are a scholar in ? Is that a accreditted university or a theological evangelical college.
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Robin / March 13, 2018
Hey Jim, we saw you and your gay partner, retarted shemale Perera looting muslim businesses with the help of your lunatic extremists in Kandy. Hand over the loot to the government immediately or get ready to be thrown behind bars.
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Good student / March 14, 2018
Jimbo,
Its a type of Madrasa!
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shankar / March 13, 2018
the author has omitted the external factors too which may be contributing to antipathy towards muslims.In US 50% of respondents stated that islam was more likely to encourage violence.Our poor peaceful srilankan muslms too could be tainted by violence unleashed by islamists abroad.
37% of americans had a somewhat or very unfavourable view of islam.I suppose the american mindset which has had first hand experience of 9/11 can start to creep down into other countries especially with zionist propaganda at full throttle.here too i am suspicious of why gnanasera thera toured the US with a large retinue and who funded the expensive trip.I suspect zionist elements of doing this.Gnanasera and others who perpetrated the massive aluthgama violence are scot free.Why is that?he is obviously protected by zionists through the US which is controlled by jews.
After donald trumps son inlaw,a jew, became his close advisor,jeruselam was decided as the place to shift the US embassy.So the international factor should be also discussed by the author.He has talked to people who are the modayas of our country who are brainwashed and used by others,but he has not analysed the mindset of those who organise the violence,maybe on behalf of others.
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Sam / March 13, 2018
It is not only in Sri Lanka but also in other countries Muslims have had “problems”. One of the reasons is the behaviour of extremists. Slaughter of animals in their back garden has been a problem in Australia. Some Muslims do not want to understand the pain of an animal. The same applies to some parts of China for example. The brutal way of transporting and killing animals have been circulated in social media.
Imtiyaz, I am a Christian but I cannot even imagine the feelings of Buddhists when they see this cruelty. Clearing Wilpattu was another issue.
Unfortunately, these things coupled with some fuel from power hungry people can spark violence. The disturbing reality is the law enforcement agencies appear to have been pretty slow to act.
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nosey parker / March 13, 2018
Mr. Razak
Are you serious ?
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Percy / March 13, 2018
When you say “why do THEY”you obviously refer to the Sinhales. I don’t agree that the Sinhalese HATE. Non Sinhalese. Rather they have become suspicious of the Tamils for their divisive politics and the Muslims for their new found radicalism which is attracting opposition around the world. I really don’t know what constitutes the New Islamist but some of their external symbols include the sudden change into a black garment which hides their faces, and the new dangle halal which was never known in Sri Lanka before. I must say they Singapore does not permit the black hijab or whatever you call that garment. The garment itself is not the problem. When you suddenly see women appearing everywhere in that hideous garment, the average person gets the impression that the number of Muslims have increased and that the Sinhalese will be reduced to a minority. It has already happened in Colombo where the Sinhalese are no longer the majority community. So it is evident that it is not racial paranoia but real fears for the gradual disappearance of an ancient culture and community that Sinhala Buddhists fear. The Tamils and the Muslims have massive communities in other countries but for Sinhalese it is only Sri Lanka their only land their motherland.
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Mita / March 13, 2018
One of the Muslims characters around the world is victim playing, after what they have done, such as trying to convert non Muslims to Islam, but Muslims will kill or expel someone from home for leaving Islam. Muslims limited themselves and created their communities separate from the other community with their own food and clothing imported from Arabia (middle east). A lot of child and 4 wifes, If you study the bad habits of Muslims in Southeast Asia you will find similarities. From Philipine, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar.
In this world, more Muslim extremists than non Muslims, why do not you expose it. Do not blame non-Muslims as Islamophobie if indeed the majority of Muslim in the World have a bad habbit that create a reaction from non-Muslims.
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Stephen Shantha / March 13, 2018
Is it only the Buddhist Sinhalese are responsible? How about long provocations by some extreme Muslims, who wanted to disturb the peace and harmony of this country, Their actions such as stoning Buddhist temples in the east, destroying Buddhist ancient sites at Deegapavi and Muhudu Viharaya. And forcing all nation to eat only Halal food and applying a tax (or a charging a fee for the halal label) etc? If a Muslim think that he could keep on provocating the majority and only hope for police to protect is it not stupid thing to do?
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Bruz / March 13, 2018
SWRD Banda started but it’s been continued without ant interruption by all the other so called “leaders” for their own cheap political ambitions of power and greed. In fact DS Senanayake started the divisions first and every one who came after him just did more and more dividing the people and the nation. We never ever had good leaders but so many bad, racist and corrupt ones who are the culprits or reasons for our present pathetic situation.. None of the Sinhala masses will accept this fact because they are not harmed or side lined..
In short, our Sinhala brothers have no clue about ruling a nation let alone managing organized riots against minorities like Muslims and Tamils through out the long and sad history.. Looks like they all love it, killing and burning and all..are they beasts ? oh no..they are Sinhala Buddhists.. (My foot) Our country will never attain nibbana or peace..just forget it. Get killed, raped, murdered if not by this hooligans…some others will appear at your door step. We have enough of them…like BBS, Ravana Balaya, that balaya and this balaya..why worry ?
Let RW and Bodhi Sira go to panasala and listen to pirith and allow rowdies attack houses and shops..burn them down… RW and Sira knows whats going on and what they should or should not do !!
Smart Sinhala politicians for the Sinhala Buddhist only populace.. They don’t feel that they are also the leaders of the other nationals like Tamils and Muslims…..they don’t want to be or take the responsibility but only need their votes to win elections… After that they, the minorities are on their own…left to defend themselves…or get killed.. because they think these people deserve that kind of treatment after all. Because this is Sinhala Buddhist nation and no one have any entitlement to even breath or do business.
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Hela / March 13, 2018
This guy should read Dr Ameer Ali’s article carefully.
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People / March 13, 2018
Whether you agree or not, it’s a reality that Muslim families have too many children, whom the families cannot take care of properly. This, they claim, is according to their Quran, for increasing the Muslim population in the world. One major reason why Myanmar people are opposed to the Rohingyas is due to this reason. The Rohingyas don’t have much to feed themselves, but a couple would have 10-15 kids. These kids then cannot get proper education which leads them to creating problems in the society. This cycle continues. This is also very common in Bangladesh, specially in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. I saw a report which states that when Bangladesh gained independence the minority population in the region was more than 80%, but in 2011 they have been taken over by Muslim population. The same thing is happening in many parts of the world, including Sri Lanka.
The other thing is it’s not only Sinhalese, anywhere you go in the world, you will find the majority muscling over the minorities. So, this is not just the problem of Sri Lanka, this is all over the world, including Muslim countries. Sinhalese, as the majority in the island, too want to protect their own ethnicity and religion.
However, in many parts of the world, you will find people having some reservation for Muslims. This is due to the way they present the teachings in the Quran. Very often it’s violent and there is no compromising with another religion (e.g., marriage; in most cases, you need to convert to Islam if you marry a Muslim person).
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Real Revolutionist / March 13, 2018
Muslims worldwide are religion made extremists & because of that their extremism is justified on the ground that there’s a freedom to have faith in any religion.
There’s a possibility for non-Muslims to cast remarks @ incompatible social concepts.
In Buddhist countries these remarks/unfriendly comments may be stronger because they don’t believe in an almighty.
It’s unreasonable to describe those remarks as hate speech.
That amounts to violate freedom of expression of Buddhists.
UN must have a scientific approach to continue its efforts to make a better world for masses so it must get rid of outdated concepts like religion & insist on making secular world.
Please don’t blame innocent Sinhala Buddhists.
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Siyarata / March 13, 2018
Please take the bull by the horns without running around the bush , Muslims never protested against the Wilpattu deforestation . Devanagala Kuragala encroachments . Child marriages . 20 years ago Muslim woman’s attire was very liberal in Sri Lanka . Certain areas have mosques more than the population . archaeological sites are being invaded with absolute immunity . It’s not only Islamisation but spreading the Saudi cultural domination here, When a Muslim is taken into custody all Muslim ministers rally around and get him released by hook or crook . These factors also must be read with the article. Dr Quintus Kalpage’s statement is misleading : Sinhalese are the inhabitants of this country prior to the invasion of Vijaya . Siwhela became Sinhala . When constitutions are being brought keeping Sinhala nationalism aloof these issues are expected . Now CT please dont censor Sinhalese voice .
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Spark / March 13, 2018
This is country that fought a war 30 years with much destruction and bankruptcy to the nation and in the process denied autonomy within a united SL to a section of its Citizens “the Jaffna Tamils” who are also natives of this land, but given total sovereignty of 99 years to over 1000 acres in Hambantota to China (a country and people alien and thousands of miles from here)…. can u find one Sinhalese Buddhist Monk or the same Sinhalese country brutes who will question and rise up on this? However these same cowards are willing to lead a riot to burn and loot other minority citizens belonging to this country on ignorant reasons…what stupid people & country!!!
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lkcricket / March 13, 2018
Its not only in Sri Lanka that the Muslims are being rejected but in the entire world. The simple truth is that the Muslims can not co exist with any other religions or community because of stupidity in Islam. The intention of this stupid religion is conquering the entire world though Jihad or the holy war. Can a war be holy? Can a killing be holy?
Even the Muslims are beng killed Muslims. Shias are killing Shities and vice versa. Also other minor sect such as Ahamadias are being killed. Are we killing them? Simply there is no peace in this stupid religion.
I think the entire world will need to rally against Muslim to defeat Jihad by another Jihad.
If the world need to be in peace and harmony Islam must be wiped out.
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NON DENOMINATIONAL / March 13, 2018
Bitter truth
– ————–
we do not know the hate towards Non -Sinhalese ,but this hate towards Muslim has always been there ,many are the reasons , BUT MOSTLY Promoted by Politicians ,whatever it may be ,it has finally come out and it is here to stay permanently
Until a few changes happens it will never go away and it is only going to get worse , no matter who becomes the next President or Prime Minister from the main Political parties .
The demands from extremists
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1) All Muslims must become working class of low income earners ,not engage in any business and not be richer than Sinhalese and no Sinhalese should ever work for a Muslim ,do business with a Muslim or Marry a Muslim.
2)Muslims must accept this is an exclusive Sinhalese nation and they are only tolerated here as a unwanted guest.
3) No Muslim should retaliate even in self defense , neither by physical or vocal.
4) All outward Religious traditions ,including Arab attire must be given up fully.
5) All religious dietary must be given up.
————————————————–
Impossible but the best alternative
——————————————–
Four federal Provinces –
One for all Sinhalese- (Buddhists ,Catholic and Christians)
One For all Tamils (Hindus, Catholics & Christians)
One For All Muslims
One as a Complete Cosmopolitan.
I know a terrible hallucination that will never happen in Sri Lanka
———————————————————————————–
Finally a true secular state ,only possible by The JVP ,but the Sinhalese will never vote for the JVP in large Vote blocks ,because very successfully the extremists from all communities and political parties have demonized them to an extend beyond imagination.
The alternative is for JVP ,Tamil and Muslim parties to form an alliance sincerely for the sake of the people and not join any government until the JVP can gain enough votes to form its government with the Tamil and Muslim alliance .
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Rishard / March 13, 2018
This article is partial putting all the blames on Sinhala Buddhists. The writer did not mention about how the present day Muslims add fuel to the fire. This writer should come down and interview Muslims about Muslims first to understand the level of prevailing selfishness, greed and other bad qualities among the Muslims in SL and see if this has any links also apart from Buddhist side.
I am a Muslim and I have to admit that it is the Sinhalese who come first help even on a car breakdown, while Muslims will try their best to get away (This has happened to me more than 2 times). So please give it a balanced view.
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Thanos / March 13, 2018
Why do they hate non-Sinhalese? Because they are INSECURE. Forgive me for my tone but I will put it bluntly. Sinhalese in general DO NOT trust muslims AT ALL. They are merely partners of convinience especially during the war. Let me give you a peak into the Sinhala-Buddhists mindset. They see Muslims as a group that is going to take over SriLanka. They see Muslims taking Buddhist women as sex-slaves and concubines if they dont convert. They see Muslims imposing laws prohibiting the expansion of any religion other than Islam. They use southeast asia as an example where Islam did not spread via the sword but spread via legislations. You are free to practice your religion but you are prohibited to prosthelytize. Apostasy can result in a punishement including death. Buddhist are after all are not even people of the book. I have had chats with many BBS supporters and this sentiment echoes throughout the community. Now do I know anything about what the Quran ACTUALLY says? NO! ZERO! And our everyday Muslim citizen might think these fears are totally crazy, irrational or just outright retarded. But understand the fear and insecurity is VERY, VERY REAL! I’ll say it again, “SINHALA-BUDDHISTS DO NOT TRUST MUSLIMS”. On the otherhand the conflict with Tamils is a new one. Sinhalese and Tamils have a common ancentor and they have lived with each other for thousands of years. We share many common attributes from Language, Religion, Culture etc. Dont confuse the ancient south Indian invaders with the Tamils who are native to Sri Lanka. Those Tamils lived here for thousand of years. Thanks to colonialism and racist elements like “anagarika dharmapala”, Sinhalese suddenly saw Tamil as their enimies. With enough propaganda and fear-mongering you can makes the closest of relatives bitter enimies.
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max / March 13, 2018
I’m amazed after so much destruction Sri Lanka has faced and yet people mostly Buddhist extremist spreading hate towards other minorities.. Over 25 years of civil war, whole country suffered an tremendous lose, but people still making those racial comments and repeating those same mistakes which they had made with Tamils in 70’s 80’s era. STOP SPREADING HATE OR BE READY FOR ANOTHER CIVIL WAR!
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Jo Advani / March 13, 2018
All are Sri Lankans! All are mixed down the lines somewhere including with negroes brought in from Africa. Live together in harmony as we try in developed countries.
WHAT IS NEEDED IS LAW AND ORDER LIKE IN SINGAPORE TO STOP HOOLIGANS
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Maxx / March 13, 2018
Over 25 years of civil war, whole country suffered an tremendous lose, so much destruction Sri Lanka has faced and yet people mostly Buddhist extremist understand’s nothing. Still making those racial comments, spreading hate towards other minorities and repeating those same mistakes deliberately which they had made with Tamils in 70’s 80’s era.
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Ajith / March 13, 2018
This man start the story avoiding frist stage(Muslims kill Sinhalese driver).That is the beginning. He is very much careful not to mention that. My next question is, if that driver belong to Muslims, will they hit him like that ?
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Native Vedda / March 13, 2018
Ajith
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“My next question is, if that driver belong to Muslims, will they hit him like that ?”
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Probably they would given what is happening in supposed to be Islamic countries and from our own past history, Tamils killing Tamils and Sinhalese killing Sinhalese, …….
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K.Pillai / March 13, 2018
Imtiyaz Razak ~ “Why Do They Hate None-Sinhalese?” Did you mean ‘Non-Sinhalese’?
The question is not fair. Majority of Sinhalese abhor the violence. A militant minority created the mindset to be used for their own ends – in this case their survival.
Hate is easy to sell and the addicts want more and more of it. Hitler was a top example but now there are quite a few. The Burmese Junta created the Rohingya hatred which has come stay. Trump is another example.
The ‘Wanda Pethi’ is canard but so far none of our leaders are willing to say so. The reluctance adds fuel.
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Dalit / March 13, 2018
Why do India and Indians outside hate non-Indians.
Why High Caste Indians in India hate Untouchables and Muslims and Christians and Budhists?Indians in India
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Native Vedda / March 13, 2018
Dalit
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Just because some Hindians hate you particularly (in many occasions you probably would have deserved it) it does not mean all Indians hate all Untouchables, Muslims, Christians and Budhhists?
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Agit / March 13, 2018
Nothing happened to Tamils when the LTTE attacked to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. So, why Sinhalese are acting against Muslims for even some small issues. Why..? There are some issues which need to be solved by politicians.
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Native Vedda / March 13, 2018
Agit
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“Nothing happened to Tamils when the LTTE attacked to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.”
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JVP terrorists also attempted to destroy Dalatha Maligawa. Nothing happened to them either.
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The Sinhala/Buddhist fascists needed some excuse to go on rampage, they love to see rivers of blood”
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srinath.gunaratne / March 13, 2018
I think you need to find answers within you why Islam has brought the Arab to it’s state today!
It is not very free and progressive is it not?
What happened to the civilization that built paradise gardens and Al- Hambra in Spain?
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Native Vedda / March 13, 2018
srinathan.gunaratnam
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How could anyone who is not connected to Arabian countries take responsible for what is going on in middle east?
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Is Buddha responsible for what has been going on in Sri Lanka for the past 2500 years?
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“It is not very free and progressive is it not?”
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No it isn’t a free and progressive region so is Sri Lanka. They have Islam and you have Sinhala/Buddhism enshrined in Chapter II of the constitution. However the Sri Lankan women folks are toiling and surviving there in order to give good life for their men folks, the lazy bums.
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“What happened to the civilization that built paradise gardens and Al- Hambra in Spain?”
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It was built with imported slave labour like the tea, rubber, ….. estates of this island.
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srinath.gunaratne / March 13, 2018
Because, What happens in Arab influences Muslims in SL stupid!
Like what decides in Vatican influences Christians all over!
Is it Buddhists that forced Muslim women to wear Burka suddenly?
Majority including Buddhist are blind followers! When leaders are morons, shit hits the fan and tax payer and common man has to pick up the pieces!
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Native Vedda / March 14, 2018
srinathan.gunaratnam
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“Because, What happens in Arab influences Muslims in SL stupid!”
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You never get the point, do you?
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If you don’t treat your own family well strangers and neighbors ever ready to grope your women folks.
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Stupido, stop complaining when the west, Hindia, China, Saudi ….. grope your wife, daughters, grand daughters, sisters, aunts, mother, mother in law, sisters in law, nieces, grandma, great grandma, ………. because you don’t treat them well.
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It is strange/odd you don’t seem to be upset watching Sinhalese and Tamils wearing Aryan Suit, trousers, jeans, shirts, sari, chudithar, T shirts, bikini,
G-strings, bra, west, underwear, ……………….. Seriously when did Tamil and Sinhalese women start wearing blouse, bra …. or covering the upper part of their body with clothe?
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You should demand Dr Gota wears amude and avoids foreign bespoke suites, are alien ideas. I suggest you buy him and Shenali pair of Burqa.
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / March 13, 2018
You know the IQ level is very low of a person who sayes the estate laborers are slaves. Estate laborers are better off than they were ever under the British masters. The Sinhalese estate Master have taken good care of them. What an idiotic statement.
These are the type of fellas who criticize the Sinhalese masters but lick the behinds of the Colonial masters.
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Native Vedda / March 14, 2018
Retarded ………………………… Tamil woman sniffing shameless Perera
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“Estate laborers are better off than they were ever under the British masters.”
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Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt
– Maurice Switzer or Abraham Lincoln or Mark Twain.
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K.Pillai / March 13, 2018
srinath.gunaratne ~ “It (Islam) is not very free and progressive is it not?”
Can you name a religion (as practiced) that is free and progressive?
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srinath.gunaratne / March 14, 2018
Buddhism- If you read it! But don’t rush into judge it by the followers!
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Native Vedda / March 14, 2018
srinathan.gunaratnam
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Please tell us all what you know about Buddhism.
It won’t take more than three lines.
Please also tell us what you know about Sinhala/Buddhism. You should know lot about bigoted Sinhala/Buddhism perhaps it can be summarised in one line:
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Sunday Sil Monday Kill.
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Did you attend Common Wealth day last Monday?
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