BBS Trap, Will Maithripala Swallow?
Posted on November 26th, 2014

Hilmy Ahamed

Attempts by the Bodu Bala Sena to align themselves with Maithripala Sirisena and the common opposition exposes without a doubt, the ulterior motives of the BBS. They would want to ensure that the minorities move away from the common opposition, and hopefully not turn up to vote. It would be a futile exercise to expect the Muslims or the Christians to vote for President Mahinda Rajapaksha because of the hate campaign that was allowed to be continued by the BBS, Sihala Ravaya and Ravana Balaya with impunity; hence keeping the minorities away from voting probably is the best option for the incumbent.  Their strategy may just work, should Maithripala and the common opposition entertain any engagement with the Bodu Bala Sena and other extremists.  The possible alignment of the Jathika Hela Urumaya with Champika Ranawake’s stand on the Aluthgama massacre is bad enough for the common opposition and any attempt at engaging the Bodu Bala Sena would certainly drive away a large section of the Christian and Muslim voters. As it stands now, failure on the part of the President to address the grievances of the Muslims and Christian will ensure that over 95% of them would vote against the incumbent.

I do not believe that all is lost for the president to harness at least part of the minority votes. All that needs to be done is to offer the minorities some hope that they could live in this country as equal citizens with every right to have equal opportunities in Business, Education, Employment and also to practice their religion and cultural persuasions. These are of-course guaranteed by the constitution and there is no need for the President to go beyond enforcing these to ensure the support of the minorities. The important task for him is to discharge his duties as the President of all Sri Lankans and not just the president of the Buddhists.

The main grievance of the extremists is that the minorities, especially the Muslims are breeding disproportionately, which has been proved wrong by the department of census and statistics. They also complain about the cultural invasion by Muslims with their attire and other religious practices that are threating Buddhism. They complain about the expanding land ownership of Muslims, construction of religious places of worship and education etc.

The Muslims, like any minority group around the world, derive security and comfort by living in ghettos. This does not mean that they have any ulterior motives or any undue share of wealth. With Sri Lanka’s growing racism, it is becoming extremely important that Muslims live closer to each other and ensure their safety in numbers.  Living in Ghettos also requires other infrastructure to be in place for them to perform their social and religious obligations. For example, the Muslim males are obligated to pray in congregation five times a day. So, they would always want to live among their own rather than being isolated and not be able to fulfill their religious obligations. The need for prayers as a congregation five times a day is one reason for Muslims to build places of religious worship close to their homes. Of course, this is seen as expanding Islamic influence on the whole community.

What is important  to understand is that mosques and other places of worship are places where only good things could happen. They discipline young people and help them to learn and practice their religion, just like Sunday schools or Daham pasals. On the other-hand, there are taverns, brothels and since of late casinos in every nook and corner, so why not we have as many temples, churches, kovils and mosques so that there would be a revival of religious practices and encourage people to move away from these vices.

Commitment to tolerance, understanding and peace is the political need of the hour and the president should even at this late stage affirm his commitment to build that just society where everyone could live as Sri Lankans. His strong commitment probably will ensure his re-election. Failure on his part will ensure a swing by the majority of the voters to look for alternatives.

8 Responses to “BBS Trap, Will Maithripala Swallow?”

  1. Senevirath Says:

    AHAMED,,,,,,, do not talk nonsense about muslims WE KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING FOR LAST 1500 YEARS HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE KILLED FOR THE SAKE OF RELIGION THERE IS NO ANY OTHER RELIGION IN THE WORLD ;;”” PRMOTING ”” KILLING. HOW MANY BUDHDHIST COUNTRIES WERE DESTROYED

  2. Ancient Sinhalaya Says:

    We can not understand why all the people from other religions hate these very nice, very kind, very
    loving, peace loving mossies. It is not just in Sri Lanka, all over the world.

    Of course they don’t breed like xxxx. There is no evidence to show. Town after town become mossies.
    Must be the Sinhalese wearing mossie dresses. Schools are full to the rafters. All of them
    are Sinhalese and Tamils using mossie names.

    We are not surprised this mossie’s denial. That’s their nature. You can not trust a word they say.
    They will be always in the winning side. Get in to the government and control it. How?
    With multiplying like xxxx. Soon they become votes. Then put a mossie for election.
    Surprise! surprise! He wins.

    While Sinhalese and Tamils killed each other for 30 years, mossies almost trebled their xxxx.
    That’s how crafty this lot are. CAN’T BELIEVE A WORD THESE LIARS SAY.
    If it is not for the BBS, this mossies would have made Sri Lanka another hell hole like pakesthan.

    Not breeding man, tell me how pakesthan, afganisthan, iran, bangladesh, maldives,
    malaysia, indonesia became mossies within just over 1,000 years.
    10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 etc etc.
    Dirty xxxx.
    Learn to live like the Chinese. They’ve been living in Sri Lanka longer than these xxxx. Still their
    numbers less than 100 in a town. Don’t breed like xxxx. It is going to end up in endless fighting
    when fighting for resources.
    Every xxx needs homes, hospitals, schools, jobs, food etc. etc. Who is going to provide them?

    Don’t think we are fools.

  3. Leela Says:

    I wish to take up this writers writing where he say “… Muslims are breeding disproportionately, which has been proved wrong by the department of census and statistics.” Truth is ‘the department of census and statistics’ prove that minorities are breading much much faster than the majority community.

  4. Lorenzo Says:

    “The main grievance of the extremists is that the minorities, especially the Muslims are breeding disproportionately, which has been proved wrong by the department of census and statistics.”

    COMPLETE RUBBISH!

    Department of census and statistics PROVES Muslims are BREEDING DISPROPORTIONATELY.

    ETHNICITY……..1981……2012…….INCREASE
    SINHALA…………74%…….75%……1.3%
    TAMIL…………….18%…….15%……-1.7%
    MUSLIM…………..7%……..9.5%….36%!!!

    A MASSIVE BREEDING increase of 36% over others. Whoever wins the election should CUT DOWN this MASSIVE DISPROPORTIONATE BREEDING. SL cannot afford such a massive population growth from one community.

  5. Independent Says:

    Mr or Ms. Ahmed,

    You said “What is important to understand is that mosques and other places of worship are places where only good things could happen.”

    Let me quote from a recent leading newspaper article. It says, quote –

    According to the trustee of the Devatagaha Mosque in Colombo Reyaz Saley, there are around 800 Sufi mosques within the country, but, he claims, in recent times, more radical Islamic mosques have also come up in various places.

    “This has become an issue in the country, as we Muslims have always been a peaceful section of society. My belief, therefore, is that being a Muslim is not about clashing with others, but, if one feels something is right for them, then they should just do it without trying to force others to follow and without trying to clash with others who do not share their views. However, they should not disturb the peace and harmony of the Muslims in the country and they should not disturb the peace in the country. We have been a well respected segment of society and I don’t want any other form of Islam imported into the country. ”
    With more people going to Saudi Arabia, they believe that whatever they see there is Islam, which is not so. We have to put a stop to these converted Islamic preachers coming into this country. I see a foul play in that as they are funded by the Israelis. When we have proper Maulavis and Ulemas within the country, why do we need to bring in these converts in order to teach us Islam?” he asks.” – unquote

    So, it shows that the problem is not BBS, from mouth ofa Muslim leader. BBS is not extremist. It is the imported Wahabism and murderous Saudi Sharia that Sinhala people are getting worried at.

  6. SA Kumar Says:

    MUSLIM- are Tamil Muslim they have their own place EP (Muslim TE) now !
    BBS is not extremist- agreed they are amathuru .

  7. OaO Asithri Says:

    Hilmy, you are full of COCKAMAMIE NONSENSE (CN) and I suggest you cease and desist in the interest of well being of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka that has always lived a peaceful, co-existing habitat with others, especially with the Buddhist Sinhela majority of Sri Lanka. Here’s why I think you are full of CN:

    CN#1: You say: “Aluthgama massacre” What? A civil riot that was brought under control by the state authorities, where Muslim youth were no lesser party to violence than others, you call it a “massacre?” I watched a video where extremist Muslim youth were assaulting SL Army STF officers (who had come to restore order) and trying grab their automatic weapons, but the restraint shown by those STF officers was truly unbelievable! If no such restraint was exercise, then perhaps we would have seen a “massacre” and now for you to say there was a “massacre” is outright fraudulent! This is the same type of hypocrisy that reminds me of vile LTTE propaganda years ago!

    CN#2: You say: “because of the hate campaign that was allowed to be continued by the BBS, Sihala Ravaya and Ravana Balaya with impunity” “allowed to be continued” by whom? MR GOSL? If this “allowed” word is true, then is it not the same MR and GOSL that also “allowed” all kinds of harassment of Buddhist monks and desecration of Buddhist temples in Aluthgama and environs (where a favorite past time of radical Muslim youth was to throw blood dripping cow-heads, chicken-carcases, etc. over the wall into temple premises – sweet and lovable action uh?) and turning a blind eye to violence promoting Jihadist-Wahabism propaganda and programs within Sri Lanka, actions that continued for the longest time with no clampdown actions from anyone? Clearly some may have taken democratic freedoms, including the freedom of speech to different plateau than others, but to only hold only party as the accused & guilty of it, is outright dishonesty with undeniable mischief intent!

    CN#3: You say: “All that needs to be done is to offer the minorities some hope that they could live in this country as equal citizens with every right to have equal opportunities in Business, Education, Employment and also to practice their religion and cultural persuasions.” — what a load of rubbish is this? I still have to meet a SL Muslim who told me these are his/her grievances today although being a SL citizen! On the contrary I have met many Muslims who have told me how successful they have become in education, business and employment in all sphere of SL life.

    So, Hilmy I strongly urge you to do a bit of SINCERE SOUL SEARCHING before you utter this type of COCKAMAMIE NONSENSE in the interest of communal harmony in SL. Thank you!

  8. Lorenzo Says:

    OaO Asithri,

    We may disagree on MR or MS but FULLY AGREE on your response to the Islamic Council head Hilmy who is trying to arouse racism and extremism.

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