The connections between the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka and SEDEC should be watched with suspicion by the Muslim Community.
Posted on October 26th, 2016

By Noor Nizam, Peace and Political Activist, Political Communication Researcher, SLFP Stalwart and Convener – The Muslim Voice”, October 25th., 2016.

 SEDEC Auditorium, Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC is the social arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka and is affiliated to Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development, and social service organizations present in 200 countries and territories. It is located at 133, Kynsey Road,

P.O. box: 1681, Colombo 08.

The connections between the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka and SEDEC should be watched with suspicion by the Muslim Community.

Is this is another “EYE WASH” to indirectly sub-due the Muslim political “Aspirations and Inspirations” that the Muslims hope (Insha Allah) to bring forth to call for a MINORITY RECOGNIZED and MUSLIMS RIGHT CONSTITUTION and the PROHIBITION of the amalgamation of the North and Eastern Provinces. There was such a discussion organized in the beginning of this year at the Kadirigamar Institute at 27 Horton Place, Colombo 7 by the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, where the moderation was done by President Council and former Attorney General Shibly Aziz where the same so-called Constitutional Lawyer Jayampathy Wickremaratne was the main speaker, but he “BLUFFED” the Muslim audience when serious and important questions was put forward for clarification even by the late Attorney-at-Law Adil Bakeer Makkar. During the regime of the Chandirka Bandaranaike government, this guy was involved with Prof. G.L. Peiris and MP Mangala Samaraweera in the “Sudu Nelum” movement to bring about “Devolution of Power” but nothing happened. At a meeting called by at the Organization Professional Association at 275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, Off Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka, to discuss the Rights to Information Bill in the beginning of this year, this unscrupulous professional political chameleon who was one of the main speakers, did not turn up and deprived the media of getting answers to some serious questions that were raised. During the Devolution of Power” campaign of Chandrika Bandranaike regime, Dr. Wickramaratne served as Consultant in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs from 1996 to 2001. He was Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs in 2004 and from December 2005 to February 2008. During this time he had access to Rs. 100 million given by the Norwegian Government through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo and was given a free hand in the disbursement of the funds and HE. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga did not question the disbursemenmts. Some of the negative actions that came to light later on, were, the use of funds to pay for luxury bunglows for certain University Professors who were brought into the propoganda machinery and the high priced vechiles they were using even for their private use during their assignments with this programme. The other issue was that the MUSLIM FACTOR” in the Peace process, then was completely derailed by this character who was a political opportunist and played into the hands of the Tamil Diaspora and the Norwegians. What happened to the balance of the Rs. 100 million is still to be accounted.

How can this guy reason out the Muslim Factor’ in a new constitution rather than hoodwinking the Muslims once again?

Recalling some memories of the political plight of the Muslims, especially the Muslims of the Eastern Province during the Chandrika era Devolution of Power Campaign”, none of the Tamil Academics and Intellectuals supported this programme and even Tamil speaking Parliamentarians of the then PA government evaded to support the “Devolution of Power” project of the PA (HE. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga)

It was only a group of Muslim Intellectuals grouped under a Civil Society Movement called the “National Muslim Movement” which carried out a very vigorous publicity campaign in support of the “Devolution of Power” Package in the Press, TV and also arranged Seminars in Sinhalese areas where Muslims and Tamil speaking communities were domiciled. Dr. H.M. Maharoof, a Sirimavo Bandaranaike loyalist and one of the former VP of the SLFP along with an SLFP Stalwart from Trincomalee were at the helm of the “National Muslim Movement”, two (02) SLFP Muslims who have NOT left the party for selfish or personal political gains or other benefits up to now, Insha Allah. It should be said with great honour, that not a single cent of the Norwegian Funding or from the Ministry of Constitutional, Ethnic Affairs and Integration, Sudu Nelum or the Presidential Secretariat, was seeked for or received by the National Muslim Movement.

Failure by the Chandrika government’s indifferent treatment given to the complains made by the Muslims of the Eastern Province definitely led to the very dangerous political situations in Mutur in the Trincomalee district and in Akkaraipattu and Vallaichena, which had been curtailed with just a few deaths taking place, but millions in property damage to the Muslims and the Tamils happened. The Hon. Mr. Azwer, Minister of Parliamentry Affairs was correct in saying at the 85th., anniversary celebrations of the YMMA held at Hamza Muslim Vidiyalaya, Mutuwal on Oct. 26th.-2002, that “the Muslim Community has an important role in establishing Peace in Sri Lanka for everyones PEACE It was supporting Hon. Athaullah, Deputy Minister and rebel leader of the boycotting Muslim parliamentarians, who has made a very strong claim – expressing “The Muslim MP’s were agitating for recognition of the Rights of Muslims in the East”. But the Muslims were thrown into the Political dustbin then by Chandrika, Ranil and the Norwegians, YET the Muslims being a political power to themselves then too, and depriving the MUSLIM FACTOR” in the Peace Process. What is the GUARANTEE” that listening to this unscrulpous opportunistic political academic who has been a political chameleon in the team of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, Ranil Wickremasinghe and the Norwegians will be reasonalble and who have joined again in the Yahapalana Constitutional group” of the Yahapalana government” (President Maithripala Sirisena, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Chandrika Bandaranaike) NOT betray the Muslims who voted en-block the Hansaya” in the 2015 Presidential elections and the General Elections?

THIS IS WHY “THE MUSLIM VOICE” IS PRAYING IT IS TIME UP THAT A NEW POLITICAL FORCE THAT WILL BE HONEST AND SINCERE THAT WILL PRODUCE ‘CLEAN’ AND DILIGENT MUSLIM POLITICIANS TO STAND UP AND DEFEND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY POLITICALLY AND OTHERWISE, ESPECIALLY FROM AMONG THE YOUTH/YOUNGER GENERATION HAS TO EMERGE FROM WITHIN THE SRI LANKA MUSLIM COMMUNITY TO FACE ANY NEW ELECTIONS IN THE COMING FUTURE, INSHA ALLAH. Let Muslims that are WISE and REALLY CARE ABOUT THE MUSLIM UMMAH AND THEIR FUTURE GENERATIONS will NOT recognize all these Muslim parties AND POLITICIANS that cause more and more harm than good. Muslims who REALLY CARE ABOUT THE MUSLIM UMMAH AND THEIR FUTURE GENERATIONS should come forward INDEPENDENTLY, form INDEPENDENT GROUPS as the “NEW POLITICAL FORCE” and contest all elections in the future, Insha Allah. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS SHOULD ALSO BE DELIBERATED. IT IS TIME UP THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY GET PREPARED FOR THESE CHALLENGES, INSHA ALLAH.

2 Responses to “The connections between the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka and SEDEC should be watched with suspicion by the Muslim Community.”

  1. plumblossom Says:

    Thank you very much for letting us know about the godfather of the federal or Eelam constitution Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne’s comings and goings and foreign funded NGO activities. It is very enlightening to know these things so that we know what this Dr.Jayampahty Wickramaratne is up to.

  2. ekelbroom Says:

    Noor Nizam has presented a cogent argument for the establishment of a new Muslim ‘Political Force’ to represent the Sri Lankan Muslim Community.

    In an article titled “The Impact of Electoral Reforms on the SL Muslim Community” posted in Lankaweb in June 2015 (http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2015/06/11/the-impact-of-electoral-reforms-on-the-sl-muslim-community/) , Bisthan Batcha advances a compelling argument to support his contention that the future interests of the Muslim Community would be best served by strengthening it’s relationships with the major National Political Parties rather than by promoting Muslim Political Parties. Batcha is basically advocating an electoral process based largely on that introduced by the SLFP and it’s allies in 1972. It would be interesting to read the response of (SLFP Stalwart) Noor Nizam on this subject.

    Moreover, Muslim readers now have an opportunity to assess for themselves the validity of both sides of this argument. It is hoped that this would encourage them to forward their own views on this crucial matter.

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