It would appear, Rishad Bathiudeen MP, Minister for Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Co-operative Development, Vocational Training and Skills Development and leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), a constituent party of the UNF government is more powerful than even some of the senior members of the governing party.
The remaining 224 miserable specimens in the House by Diyawanna are currently embroiled in a tug of war. They are trying to decide if the No Confidence Motion (NCM) against the government or Bathiudeen (RB) is of greater importance.
The government losing the NCM will have little or no impact. Whereas the government will have to resign, the President will have to re-appoint the same lot due to the poisonous 19th Amendment which prohibits the dissolution of Parliament for four and a half years.
The ruling party is keen to conclude a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) investigation into allegations against the minister before entertaining an NCM. A whitewashed report by a PSC dominated by government MPs will weaken the impact of the NCM, based on RB’s alleged links to the suicide bombers of the Easter Sunday carnage. He vehemently denies the charge.
Parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapakshe has stated in Parliament that the blood of the victims of the recent Islamic terror attacks was on the hands of all the Ministers and UNP MP Mujibur Rahman who refused to take note of his early warnings regarding the Islamic State (IS) members in Sri Lanka. His warning in November 2016 while being Justice Minister, of 32 Sri Lankan Muslims leaving the island to join ISIS was rejected and ridiculed by members of the ruling party and Muslim MPs.
Muslim community leaders insist they provided early warnings of the jihadist terrorist group National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ), supposedly ignored by senior government officials. Muslim MPs did not support Minister Rajapakshe’s assertions in 2016. Community leaders do not seem to have shared their valuable information with their elected representatives. If not, the MPs have remained silent for reasons best known to them.
Notwithstanding the minister’s denials, some serious charges have been leveled against him by the Joint Opposition, now available in the public domain. Two such charges are;
The minister’s brother Rifkan Bathiudeen has driven past two army checkpoints in a vehicle bearing registration WP KK 3572 with the state emblem and VIP sticker. He was subsequently discovered in a house owned by RB, detained and released without being produced in court due to political pressure.
RB has confirmed he contacted Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake to inquire of the son of Muslim Affairs Ministry Advisor Jainudeen, arrested by the army and handed over to the Terrorist Investigation Division. According to media reports, Muslim Affairs Minister Haleem’s staff had confirmed there had been no Jainudeen in the minister’s staff. An advisor by the name of Moinudeen had resigned in April or May. Was the minister assisting Jainudeen or Moinudeen? Was it a slip between the cup and the lip? RB claims he contacted the army commander on the advice of State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene who seems to be playing politics. He has neither confirmed nor denied the claim to date.
The Minister has stated in Parliament, “I did not pressure the Commander, and never asked the Commander to release any individual either.” Nevertheless, any intelligent person would wonder, why would Senanayake make a statement, “call back in one and half years, as that is the period, I can hold a suspect for.”
Bathiudeen is no stranger to controversy. In 2012, he was accused of threatening the Mannar District Court Judge and Magistrate Anthony Pillai Judeson over the latter’s order to arrest a group of his supporters. As the controversy evolved, a part of the court was set on fire. According to reports, the Judge supposedly received threatening telephone calls from the minister to change his verdict failing which ‘the Mannar court would be torched.’ The calls, allegedly originating from the minister’s mobile phone, was denied and subsequently attributed to his brother. This minister’s siblings seem to have a way with ministerial phones and vehicles. After much brouhaha, the matter died a natural death. RB continued as a Minister. Nothing is heard of Judge Judeson since.
All this happened under the watch of the Rajapaksa administration who failed to rein in the minister, for political reasons. Similar to the situation currently unfolding, it was yet another instance of bowing to the ACMC vote base.
The current ruling party is not in favor of investigating the leader of their constituent partner, ACMC. They claim JO is attempting to avenge his failure to support the October 26 putsch.
RG’s power is such, despite all these happenings, no statement has been recorded from him by the authorities in relation to Easter Sunday bombings and post April 21 developments.
Meanwhile, Bathiudeen has ‘bowled a doosra’ by stating he would resign if requested by the President or Prime Minister.
RB is aware, neither of these worthies, about to contest both Presidential and Parliamentary elections within the next 18 months will make any such request. Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa too has not signed the NCM.
All of them treasure the ACMC vote base over the safety and security of this nation and its citizens.
Resigning till investigations are completed seem to be the stock of the likes of the Marapanas, Rajapakshes, and Karunanayakes.
A different set of rules seem to apply to the Vijayakala Maheshwarans and Bathiudeens.
Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) DIG Sisira Mendis yesterday told the Special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), probing the Easter Sunday carnage, that though he briefed the then Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando on the impending terrorist attack, the National Security Council (NSC) had not met till the coordinated suicide bombings took place on April 21.
Mendis said that he had received information about the impending attacks the previous day from Nilantha Jayawardena, Director, State Intelligence Service (SIS).
Mendis said that Fernando had advised him to inform the IGP as the police should act on such information.
Mendis revealed that the warning of the attacks has not even been discussed at the regular intelligence coordinating meeting attended by Defence Secretary Fernando, Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake, Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy, Vice Admiral Piyal de Silva and IGP Pujitha Jayasundera.
Mendis said that he had informed the IGP in writing about the warning with a note emphasizing its importance.
According to him, the NSC last met on Feb 19, 2019 before the April 21 suicide bombings.
The live coverage provided to the proceedings were suspended suddenly before the lunch break. Acting PSC Chairman Dr. Jayampathy Wickremaratne described the suspension as a privilege issue.
Defence Secretary Gen Shantha Kottegoda, retired, yesterday told the Special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday carnage that the April 21 suicide bombings could have been averted had extremist organizations been proscribed on the basis of intelligence reports received in 2014.
President Maithripala Sirisena on April 21 appointed Kottegada as the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence in the wake of suicide bombings. One-time Army Chief succeeded Hemasiri Fernando.
The sittings continued till 4.15 pm in the Committee Room 1 of the Parliamentary Complex and journalists were allowed to cover them.
Gen. Kottegoda was the first witness to testify before the PSC.
The Committee is required to produce its report either within three months from its inaugural meeting or before the completion of the three months on a date set by the parliament. Its interim report is to be submitted within two weeks.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, on May 23, announced the members of the Special Select Committee, chaired by Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasinghe, appointed to probe and report on the coordinated terrorist attacks that took place on April 21.
The committee also includes Minister Rauff Hakeem, MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Minister Ravi Karunanayake, MP Ashu Marasinghe, MP Jayampathy Wickramaratne and MP M.A. Sumanthiran.
However, three PSC members including its Chairman Deputy Chairman Ananda Kumarasiri were out of the country. Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and TNA MP M A Sumanthiran were abroad. Dr. Jayampathy Wickremaratne chaired the PSC.
UNP MP Kavinda Jayawardena was also appointed as a committee member, but a day later he decided to step down from the committee.
Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa were later appointed as committee members.
Gen Kottegoda asserted that 99 per cent of the threat was over though the situation couldn’t be tackled completely within two or three months.
Field Marshal Fonseka said that DIG Nalaka de Silva of the terrorist Investigation Division (TID) had been engaged in investigations after having inquired into Zahran Hasim, one of the suicide bombers.
Gen Kottegoda said that he had not studied what Nalaka de Silva said. The arrest of such a person could be a problem, the witness said.
Field Marshal Fonseka said that following the arrest of de Silva, investigations had been affected.
The next session of the PSC is scheduled to be held from 3 to 9 pm on June 4.
The PSC decided to summon IGP Pujitha Jayasundera currently on compulsory leave, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, DIG, CID, Ravi Seneviratne and Director, TID.
Claiming that the police failed to implement the law against those responsible for the Easter Sunday terror attacks, MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe had requested President Maithripala Sirisena to hand over investigations into the incident to an independent team comprising honest and trustworthy officials of the police department.
In a letter to the President, he said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), had undertaken investigations into several incidents such as vandalising Buddhist statues and recovering explosives, but had neglected to report them to court.
The investigations into the incident of vandalising Buddhist statues in Mawanella, attacking a Hindu Kovil in Pothuhera, Alawwa and attacking a church in Penideniya have been handed over to the CID. On information received from the investigations, a training camp operated by terrorist Zahran was found in Wanathawilluwa and a stock of explosives recovered. The two suspects – Insaf Ahmed and Ilham Ahmed – who were the suicide bombers of Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand hotels, were earlier arrested in connection with the Mawanella incident, but Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Western Province Governor Azath Salley had forced the CID to release them. It was revealed that they were released as a result of undue political influence without them being produced in court. In case the matter had been taken up by the judiciary, then the attacks could have been averted,” he said.
Also, he said the CID failed to report to court the incident where two bomb-laden motorbikes were detonated on April 16 in Kattankudy.
Top officials of the CID should be held responsible for its irresponsibility and inactivity to prevent the terrorist attacks despite ample opportunities to do so. Justice cannot be expected by handing over investigations to the CID that acted short-sightedly on the devastation. Although it is the responsibility of the IGP and all OICs to report to the Magistrate’s Court soon after a criminal incident occurs, it is serious that they failed to take any action even after a month. On April 28, I complained to the OICs of Kollupitiya, Fort, Katana, Weralabada, Batticaloa and the Police Relief Centre on the incident but no action had been taken so far,” he said. (
Thilini de Silva and Ranjan Katugapola Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara in a Fundamental Rights Petition filed before the Supreme Court today pleaded for an interim order preventing the President from dismissing him from office.
The Petition said that the order by the President to send Jayasundara on compulsory leave had violated his Fundamental Rights. The Petition urged the suspension of the order made by the President to send IGP Jayasundara on compulsory leave.
The Petition named the Acting IGP, members of the Constitutional Council, the Prime Minister and the Attorney General as respondents. )
Opposition MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage today said some vested parties; both local and international wanted to get the state of emergency lifted when the security situation has not yet been fully restored.
Addressing a news briefing held at the Opposition Leader’s office, the MP said the government had been pressurized by the western countries to lift the emergency.
At the most recent party leaders meeting, which held under the chair of Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, we discussed as to how some ministers have urged the government to get the emergency law lifted. We can’t allow this when the security has not yet been fully restored,” he said.
While stating that they were not against the extension of emergency, the MP however said it was the duty of the government to get the extension passed in parliament. They brought it in parliament and it is their duty and responsibility to get it passed,” the MP said responding to criticisms as to why the Opposition was not keen on supporting the extension of emergency in parliament.
Our stance is that the emergency law should not be lifted. But it’s the government which should get it passed,” he reiterated.
The extension of emergency law was passed in the parliament with only 22 MPs voting for it. The eight TNA MPs voted against the extension.(
All Ceylon Islam Advisor Moulavi Alhaj Kaleel says when Zahran’s brother, Rilwan was making bombs, they informed the authorities.
Following are excerpts of the interview:
Moulavi will you tell us about your background?
A: I am an All Ceylon Islam Advisor. People in many areas know of me if you mention Kaleel Moulavi. The Muslim community across the country have come and met me to discuss any problem regarding the religion of Islam.
Are you someone who belongs to any organisation?
A: No, I am involved in religious affairs.
Are you connected to the Jamiyyathul Ulama Organisation?
A: No, I don’t let their politics rub off on me. We do work with political divisions too. That is done with the advice of the Jamiyyathul Ulama.
Who pays you for the work you do?
A: No one. I work voluntarily. I am doing social service for the country.
You are aware that our country went up in flames. The Sinhalese, Buddhists, Catholics, Tamils, Hindus, all those people faced a disaster. We do not know anything. How did Muslim extremists suddenly fall onto the heads of the people?
A: This is the question today. The entire world is shocked. Let me explain a bit. There are three types of Muslim devotees. I am saying this according to the book, the Quran. One is Mumin, those who live with great faith. They believe that profits, losses, happiness, and sadness happen according to the will of God. There is no point in embracing these since they are temporary. They believe that it is similar to a drop of dew on a blade of grass.
The other type is Muslim. They do what is convenient for them. They give up whatever they cannot do. If they cannot go to the mosque every day, they give that up. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said not to harm anyone by either your tongue or hands. They live, minding their own business. They are Muslim.
The third type is Munafiq. They act like Mumins and Muslims. They wear the hat and grow their beards. They have no faith at all in their minds. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) engaged in war with Munafiq people. They are the ones who fanned the flames. Their objective always is how to attack all the time.
Are you trying to say that those who carried out the attacks were Munafiqs?
A: Sri Lankan citizens should be clear that those belonging to this type are the Munafiq terrorists. Their objective is to eradicate Islam.
The citizens of this country do not know those things. It is the Moulavis who know about these segregations. What we know is that these extremist bombers are of the Muslim religion only. We have not seen any segregation or any divisions among the Muslims in this country?
A: There are never ending clashes between us. I am a man who clashed with them. There were arguments between us all the time.
Did you know the extremist Zahran Hashim?
A: I knew Zahran Hashim very well. When he sees me somewhere, he flees. If he hears that I am somewhere, he does not sight the place. There were arguments between us inside mosques. There were times when we hit and clashed with each other.
We got to know about a Zahran after 21 April only. You said you knew about him. Why did you not hand him over to the law enforcement authorities?
A: They did not attack Christians, but the Muslims. These terrorists who killed 250 persons have gone after assassinating the characters of more than 2.5 million Muslim people. If, on a Friday they jumped into a mosque with bombs, people would have had compassion regarding Muslims. If we were attacked, assistance would have come from other countries as well. They attacked places where all Sinhalese, Tamils, and Christians gather together. The entire country fell out with us. They looked at us with squints in their eyes.
Zahran had gone all over the country to hold lectures. Not on his own, but having set up a separate organisation. We cannot accept the fact that Muslim Leaders did not know about these things?
A: It was not a religion, it was a revolution. The word Thowheed” is not a terrorist word. It means oneness. They put this word in order to catch the Muslims. We realized that.
We did not see this opposition among Muslims, you are targeting them with now, prior to the bomb blasts in Sri Lanka. It is after that incident that you are saying these things. We saw how the Thowheed organisations were tied to Islam?
A: We had small differences among us regarding observances. We raised our hands and wished. They did not raise their hands. We clashed regarding these observances and rituals. But when it came to suicide bombing, we shouted and took to the streets.
Where was this battle against National Thowheed Jamaath you are talking about held? When did you take to the streets?
A: In August 2017 at Kattankudy. The Mayor of Kattankudy, Aswer knows about it. When Zahran brought materials to manufacture bombs, we took to the streets. We said he was going to set fire to the country and that Zahran was a terrorist and he had to be cornered. We put up posters asking that he be taken into custody immediately. 1,500 men and women took to the streets. No one listened.
Are you saying that the overall Muslim people lined up in protest against them? We did not see anything of the sort?
A: They were not publicised properly. We never thought that these fellows will do something so bad. We did not realise that they would kill themselves while killing 250 others. We thought that bombs would be exploded here and there and something similar to that will take place. We did have a hint that they will do something. We immediately informed intelligence divisions, but they did not take any notice. They did not capture them. They thought ‘Thambiya’ let them kill each other.
The story you are relating is being said by other Muslims too. We informed authorities, but those responsible did not take any action. Whom did you inform that such a dangerous situation will arise?
A: We informed the NIB. When I went to meet the Mayor of Kattankudy, Aswer, an officer of the Intelligence Division was seated in a chair opposite me. We clearly explained this dangerous situation.
We are hearing all of this only after approximately 300 lives were destroyed. Can you prove that you informed the Sri Lanka Police about Zahran and others?
A: We informed Intelligence Divisions, but nothing happened.
Did you tell regional Muslim Leaders about this?
A: All regional Muslim Leaders were aware of what was going to happen.
But we got to know that bombs were being manufactured on a large scale, only in 2017. Then we took to the streets fearlessly. Previously, we were scared to do so.
When in 2017?
A: In the month of August in 2017. I can get the exact date from Mayor Aswer and give it to you.
There were Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the Eastern Province. Did you not inform Rauff Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, and Hizbullah about this danger?
A: There was nothing to inform them about, all of them were aware of it. Had they not known, could we 1,500 take to the streets and protest? We engaged in the protests together with them.
What we want to know, is who the people are whom you informed?
A: I, finally told the FCID about this too.
The FCID is the Financial Crimes Investigation Division?
A: This was not a situation where we could watch and wait and we had to inform someone.
Can you give us the name of the officer who noted down your complaint?
A: Actually, I did not ask his name. I explained everything and gave a statement. I told them to kill them if they were seen anywhere.
Who is ‘this particular person’ your mention?
A: Zahran. It was said that the entire generation of Zahran’s could be destroyed. It was also said that he would be killed and the body dragged on to the road, so that the Police could take it away.
The respondent to this crime is the National Thowheed Jamaath Organisation. It was an organisation that was built among the Muslims.
What was the action taken against this organisation by Muslim Leaders?
A: There were only 24 suicide bombers. I am saying with responsibility that 12 died. 12 are in custody. There is no one remaining and all of them are finished.
Are you saying that there were 24 suicide bombers?
Were you not aware of the fact that training camps were being maintained in Kattankudy?
A: Why not, we did know! We went and told the Police.
Did you show them?
A: We told them earlier and asked them to come that we will capture them for the Police, we said. No one came.
Are you alleging that the Government did not fulfil their responsibilities?
A: The Government and authorities, did not do their duty. They waited until the bombs exploded, to attack.
What have you got to say about swords being found in mosques?
A: That is the work of terrorist members. They brought swords, left them at mosques, and showed everybody.
To cut whom were the swords brought?
A: The swords were brought to attack the Muslims. Our honour is finished.
Swords were found not only in Kattankudy. They were discovered at Kollupitiya and a mosque in Slave Island?
A: There are 1,700 mosques. There were swords only in three of them. There were 48 new swords which had been brought from a foreign country.
Why were they brought?
A: You have to ask them. Swords were brought to attack us.
Minister Haleem says they were brought to cut grass and for the protection of female children. Now, you are saying that they were brought to attack Muslims. What are these stories?
A: They are mad stories!
You say without a doubt that these swords were brought to kill Muslims?
A: Not to kill them, but to attack the Muslims. To get rid of Islam. They destroyed our good name.
Sinhala people thought that these swords were collected in mosques in order to attack them. That is why the entire country became agitated. You are saying something else?
A: We say with responsibility that these swords were brought to attack Muslims and Islam. We have never taken up arms and will never do so either, nor will we allow others to do so. There is nothing we can win by fighting with weapons. We enjoy everything and live in this country. Why should we fight?
What is the connection between the sword and Islam?
A: There is no connection at all. However, there are images of swords on the Saudi flag, that is all. We have nothing to do with swords.
Were Muslim Religious Leaders aware of the fact that Zahran and others were connected to ISIS?
A: We knew that they were making bombs and were going to detonate them and kill themselves. We did not know that Zahran had any connection with ISIS, though.
It was reported previously that a group from Galewela had gone to Syria for combat training. Had Muslim Leaders identified that the connection between these incidents and Zahran’s procedures?
A: We did not know anything about that.
There is much controversy in the country that Muslim politicians such as Rishad Bathiudeen and Hizbullah had contact with these extremists?
A: That was what Intelligence Divisions found out. Let them give a proper reply. Investigations will be carried out, and if they are involved, punishing them is a task for authorities.
It seems as if you are engaged avoiding something very slightly?
A: I am not avoiding anything. I have no connections whatsoever with politicians.
At the time when 1,500 people took to the streets in protest of extremists at Kattankudy, was Deputy Minister Hizbullah involved in it?
A: We are aware of their conspiracies. We do not engage in discussions with them. They could put us in trouble too. I know about politicians from the time of former Minister Ashraff. I have nothing to do with them.
You do associate politicians. You know government authorities. But, even while knowing about this destruction ahead of time, you failed to prevent it?
A: I informed the President and the Prime Minister in writing. I informed intelligence divisions.
Can you give us copies of those letters?
A: They were published in the newspapers. Details were given in the Media.
When did Rilwan, the brother of Zahran, suffer an injury to his hand when a bomb exploded?
A: In February 2019. Even then we informed authorities that bombs were being manufactured. Rilwan suffered injuries and went blind in one eye.
Did the Kattankudy Police know about this?
A: Yes, they knew very well. It was officer Kasthuri of the Police there. You can write down the name.
Didn’t they take any action?
A: I do not know what sort of influence was brought to bear on them. They just ate and drank and gave up on everything.
With whom did you say that they ate and drank?
A: I meant they just ate and drank and did not carry out any investigations and swallowed up everything.
Are you making this allegation about the Police?
A: Overall, all the authorities. Both ruling and opposition parties.
When Zahran’s younger brother Rilwan was injured in the bomb blast, where was he taken?
A: I do not know that. Finally, he died too. When the house was raided, he detonated a bomb at Saindamarudu. Three of our people who gave the tip-off were rewarded with 3 million rupees by the Government. We gave back that money to be used on behalf of those who suffered due to the bombs and their welfare activities.
When Zahran disappeared from Kattankudy, did you not try to find out what happened to him?
A: Why not! We informed authorities daily of the places he was in. We told the Police. Since they did not take any steps, this disaster occurred. That is why we feel sad. Now, they are accusing us.
Now the destruction has already taken place. Even though you say you informed everybody, even the Muslim Community could not prevent it from happening. As a newspaper we are questioning these things since we cannot allow such a disaster to strike our people ever again?
A: Nothing like this will ever happen from Muslim Society.
Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera alleged that the transfer of Colombo Municipal Commissioner V.K.A. Anura took place due to the intervention of Western Province Governor, Azath Salley.
Addressing the Media in Rajagiriya today (29), he claimed that Anura has been told by Salley to extend the deadlines of tenders to operate meat shops in Colombo, even though deadlines have expired. Salley had sent a letter to Anura with regard to the extension of tenders and the latter had in turn replied to Salley saying that the extensions could not be done, and that such is against the due tender procedure,” he further alleged.
He also claimed that Anura had been advised to do the same on a number of occasions by Salley.
Anura too was present at the Media briefing, but did not make any statements, saying that he has been told not to make any statements regarding the transfer for legal reasons.
The Muslim community in Madatugama, Kekirawa has demolished a mosque belonging to the National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ), says Ada Derana correspondent.
The chief of the main mosque M.H.M. Akbar Khan stated that the mosque in question, funded by a foreign organization, was erected with the support of a resident in the village on a plot of land allotted to establish a library for children.
However, considering the situation prevailing in the country, the administrative committee of the main mosque in the village has decided that having another mosque in the village is uncalled for.
The plaque of the NTJ’s mosque, engraved with Arabic letters and purportedly bears the names of those who sponsored the establishment of the mosque, was also demolished by the villagers,
The Muslim villagers stated that they had maintained close relations with the Sinhalese neighbours for quite a long time and that the decision to demolish the mosque was unanimously approved by the Muslim community in the area.
The Media Director of the Ministry of Finance Mohamed Ali Hassan, who was arrested today (29) over possession of 12-bore gun ammunition, has been released by the police following interrogations, Police Media Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara.
93 rounds of 12-bore gun ammunition were recovered this morning, from the outdoor space of his residence at Malwana area in Biyagama.
The Army and the Police had carried out a joint cordon and search in the area.
The security forces have managed to recover the haul from the upper part of the patio of his residence, according to the police.
The Finance Ministry’s media director was arrested on the spot for further questioning.
SP Gunasekara further stated that an Assistant Superintendent of Police had inspected the location extensively.
The police have sought the Attorney General’s advice on the incident.
It was reported that the said piece of land, where the ammunition was recovered, belongs to his father-in-law, who had been in possession of a licensed firearm.
Sixty-five more mothers who had their Caesarian surgeries under Dr. Mohamed Shafi of Kurunegala Hospital have filed complaints against the doctor today (28). Accordingly, 116 complaints have been received from mothers claiming that they had not conceived children following a Caesarian surgery by the doctor.
The mother who delivered through Caesarean surgeries under Dr. Mohamed Shafi submitted their complaints to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital since this morning.
Fifty-one complaints against Dr. Mohamed Shafi were submitted to the hospitals yesterday (27).
Ten mothers who had been treated under the said doctor while he was serving at the Dambulla Base Hospital lodged their complaints at the Dambulla Police and the hospital, today.
The coordinating officer of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital stated that mother from Dambulla area can submit their complaints against Dr. Shafi to the Kurunegala hospital as well.
Meanwhile, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has rejected the 6-member committee appointed by the Health Ministry to investigate the activities of Dr. Mohamed Shafi.
The doctors’ and nurses’ trade unions of the Kurunegala Hospital has informed the Hospital Director that they would not assist the committee appointed by the Health Ministry on their investigations against Dr. Shafi.
Parliamentarian S. B. Dissanayake states that the committee to investigate activities of Dr. Mohamed Shafi has been appointed by the Health Ministry to cover up the truth.
He says that although the relevant doctor is perceived by many to be a specialist on obstetrics and gynecology, he is not so. Instead, he is only a normal doctor with the title ‘Senior House Officer’, said Dissanayake.
Stating that there are over 50 complaints against the doctor, the MP said that he queried several senior surgeons in the country to learn that further pregnancies can easily be prevented by firmly pressing several points of the Fallopian Tube.
Therefore, Governor Asath Salley should not run his mouth without checking up on the facts, Dissanayaka further stated.
Kattankudy is a town in Batticoloa in Eastern Province of Sri Lanka
where only Muslims live. Why is multiculturalism & national integration
not applicable to Kattankudy? How is it that the nomenclatures of
multiculturalism, peaceful coexistence, secularism is applicable to all, other
than Muslim majority countries or in Muslim majority areas? How is it that
wherever and whenever an area becomes majority Muslim only extremist
fundamentalist and strict Islam prevails? It is visibly clear that wherever
minorities become a majority it is only their will that rules – their dress, their
culture, their religious practices, their habits is what prevails and all
others who want to live with them in harmony have to silently accept, not make
any fuss or shift to another town. Kattankudy is the example of what happens to
a town with only Muslims. Where minorities are a minority they demand on par
status & once on par they work towards becoming the majority using
surreptitious methods to influence politicians and local authorities. Incrementally,
Kattankudy cannot happen to other towns and it is time Sri Lanka’s leaders stop
compromising the historical ethos and heritage for votes, power and personal
handouts. The people of Kattankudy practice a culture foreign to the culture of
Sri Lanka even Muslims who wish to follow the heritage culture are under
pressure by those following a stricter & foreign form of Islam. This is
nothing that can be ignored in the face of increasing Jihadist terrorism
associated with this stricter form of Islam spreading to other parts of the
island influencing wherever Muslims are the majority.
How was Kattankudy created?
The Unionist Association of
Ceylon assisted the Delimitation Commission in the allocation of electorates to
the State Council under the Donoughmore Constitution when it decided to divide
the Eastern Province into 2 electorates. It was the Unionist Association’s
proposal that ended up creating Kattankudy. UAC President was SWRD Bandaranaike
& Vice President Sir Marcus Fernando.
Kattankudy is just 6sq.km of land
and inland water and has 18 grama niladari divisions for the 18 villages.
As per 2016 statistics, the
population of Kattankudy is just 47,603 (13,757 families)
Vote-bank politics discriminating majority giving unconstitutional
privileges to minority
The constitution is clear that all citizens must be treated equally. Before the law, every citizen must be given equal justice. There can be only one law for all.
However, politicians have diluted this. When the Proportional Representation system was introduced the initial cut off point for any party to qualify for parliamentary representation was 12.5% but Ranasinghe Premadasa reduced the cut-off point to 5% on a request made by M H M Ashraff of the SLMC before the 1988 elections. The reduction was with political intent and resulted in ethnic-based political parties with ethnic-based agendas to enter parliament and legislatively weaken & destabilize Sri Lanka incrementally to what it is today.
Not only are minorities accommodated by the mainstream political parties, but minorities representing ethnic-based political parties shrewdly align with the political parties to contest as an alliance and then demand a minority seat and a cabinet portfolio. The reduction of entry to Parliament from 12.5% to 5% is solely responsible for bringing to parliament MPs who are not representing the country or even the minority they claim to represent.
Where Muslims are majority – Muslim-Muslim conflict surfaces
Kattankudy though occupied by
only Muslims is not in total harmony. Rise in Sufi mysticism has resulted in
militant opposition in East – Kattankudy & Maruthamunai since 1980s.
In 2004 Sufi tombs and shrines
were destroyed and Sufi leaders had to flee province. In 2009, Sufi &
Towheed tensions arose in Beruwela. In Kattankudy Sufi leader Rauf Maulavi who
had formed the All Ceylon Islamic Spiritual Movement was declared an apostate
by the All Ceylon Jamiyatul Ulama in 1979 and Rauf was chased out of Kattankudy
in 2006 & in December the shrine of Sufi leader late Sheikh Abdullah
Payilvan (founder of Thareekatul Mufliheen) was attacked & his corpse
barred from burial in Kattankudy.
It was on 21 September 1982 that A H M Ashraff established the Sri Lana
Muslim Congress in Kattankudy (Batticoloa district) though he was from
Samanthurai (Ampara district)
Ironically Ashraff spoke at ITAK meetings in 1970s and was even present
at the Vaddukoddai Conference in May 1976 when the Vaddukoddai Resolution was
passed for a separate Tamil state.
Not surprisingly Ashraff formed the Muslim
United Liberation Front in 1977 on the same lines boasting that even if
Amirthalingam abandoned Eelam goal he (Ashraff) would not. Ashraff was MULF’s
legal advisor. MULF however did not win a single seat & Ashraff left MULF
to join SLFP in 1980 when TULF refused to accommodate Muslims to contest under
TULF banner.
When Muslims & Tamils showed such close allegiance why did Prabakaran ruthlessly and mercilessly attack Muslims inside the Kattankudy mosque in 1990. Could it not be that Prabakaran realized that Ashraff and Co were having larger plans for Eastern Province from the Tamil Eelam goal? Is it not because Rajiv Gandhi himself had other plans that he too was eliminated by Prabakaran!
An ‘alien image identity’ root
cause of disharmony & self-alienation by Muslims
It was during this period that a creation of a Muslim identity
resulted in wearing burka, hijab, beards, missionary campaigns, new mosques and
louder demands using their leverage in business and UN/Western human rights
nomenclatures. All these were part of fundamentalist POLITICAL ISLAM that drew
Muslims automatically because ‘Islam’ associated with it. No one questioned its
conflict with Sinhala majority culture or heritage.
It was in 2013 that Dr. Ameer Ali
highlighted the reality that Muslims were self-alienating themselves from the mainstream community because of a
new image problem. There can be no better example than Kattankudy to prove this.
Is the orthodox brand of imported Islam the cause of the alienation?
Dr. Ameer Ali says the new dress, new values and practices are the root cause and advises Muslimsto self-introspect & ask themselves whether they want to be Muslims of Sri Lanka or Muslims in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Ameer Ali takes Kattankudy to highlight
the self-alienation an area
of just 6sq.km has 58 mosques – planting of date palms in the middle of the
road to look like Arabia, halal slaughter, the black dress he says is alien to
Sri Lanka and has nothing to do with Islam. He confirms that women of the 1970s
wore saris. So why are women adopting this ‘confrontational image of Islam’
knowing that women did not dress in this manner earlier?
In short what it means is that anyone dressed in black attire, long fluffy beards, demanding shariah, marrying children, halal, ritual slaughter, expansion of Islamic territory (Islamization) etc are those practicing confrontational extremist Islam. It’s now upto the Muslims to remove this from society! Will they? is a question they must now answer.
Its Islam – but distortion of Islamic Scriptures
Why are
Muslims ‘misreading Islamic scriptures’ – who is at fault for teaching them
radicalized scriptures knowing this would result in extremism and conflict with
the majority community whilst isolation Muslims? Why are Muslims inviting these
radicals from Middle East to address and influence Muslims if Muslims are well
aware that these are the elements leading to disharmony? Muslims should know
which brand of Islam to follow but why are they following a militant form of
Islam?
Can Muslims counter these extremisms which are inherently part of Islam?
When new aspects
of self-alienation imported from Middle East funding radicalism in the East became
known the previous government was quick to set up 2 intelligence units to
monitor extremism though both units had been disbanded and the officers heading
them put into prison by the present government for reasons best known to them!
The extremism and the inability to integrate when towns become turned into Kattankudy is primarily due to the Islamic fundamentalism rooted in Wahhabi Islam (stricter Quran and Hadis) This different form of Islam is not only a threat to non-Muslims but to Muslims as well and Sufi’s will guarantee this.
EasterSunday
attacks was masterminded in Kattankudy. The hate for non-Muslims (though
historical) was encouraged because everyone in Kattankudy are Muslims and the
radical preachers of hate find the environment easy to brainwash against
non-Muslims. Same thing in practiced in North Sri Lanka by TNA & LTTE
against the Sinhalese. They don’t want Tamils mixing with the Sinhalese because
ordinary Tamils would discover TNA & LTTE had been lying about the
Sinhalese. Similarly these radical Muslims want all Muslims to hate
non-Muslims. Creating only Muslim cities only facilitates this hate. No ghetto
ethno-religious areas should be allowed. Kattankudy must be made multicultural
as a future national policy just as North Sri Lanka.
No Government should promote any Islam that
is not only dangerous to the country, the majority & the minorities as well
as Muslims not practicing this stricter form of Islam. It is because the
government has taken the side of Muslim leaders who are aligned to this
stricter form of Islam that has led to these Muslim politicians using State
power and patronage to advance their agendas at a national security risk to all
citizens of Sri Lanka.
Muslims
should be able to practice Islam but not Arabian culture or Arabian Islam and
this message must be clearly conveyed.
Many Muslims
are now openly saying that they wish to align to the Sinhala culture while following
their Islamic faith. We have no issues with this.
But, we have
an issue with the new identity that surrounds the stricter form of Islam that
includes Shariah, burka, long beards, marrying children, female genital
mutilation, halal, ritual animal slaughter, proliferation of mosques not built
like mosques, madrassas etc. Having identified these elements that are not
integrating and being the cause of confrontation Muslims must agree to denounce
& remove them.
Going forward Sri Lankan citizens must accept
One Law
must apply to all
Laws
must be equal to all – minorities need not have special laws if before the
Courts, everyone is treated equally.
Remove
ethno-religious political parties or return the parliamentary entry to 5% from
the 12.5% changed in 1988 as a political favor.
No
rejected politician should be taken into parliament or given State portfolios.
No
Government should allow mono-ethnic towns/cities as a National Policy
No Government
should allow the heritage culture of Sri Lanka to be replaced by foreign new
cultures
Remove
the Ministry of Reconciliation/ National Integration – it has served no purpose
Religious
Freedom to worship is a personal freedom & not institutional religious
rights to convert / new cultures are not religious rights
Strict
architectural laws that give rules & regulations for buildings
A
group of pro-active Indian and Sri Lankan Buddhists drawn from leading Buddhist
organizations had a series of discussions on the sidelines of the World
Buddhist Assembly gathering in Bangkok, Thailand (May 21 – 25, 2012) and
decided to establish an ‘Indo – Sri Lanka Buddhist Network’ to pursue a number
of preliminary aims and objectives that are beneficial to the cause of
consolidating and spreading Buddhism in both countries and other parts of the
world. It is anticipated that a more substantial organization would emerge with
the passage of time from these interactions.
The
preliminary aims and objectives of this Buddhist Network are as follows:
i)
To develop and strengthen warm and friendly ties between Buddhists in India and
Sri Lanka,
ii)
To collaborate in Projects leading to the promotion of peace and non – violence,
friendly relations and understanding between peoples of India and Sri Lanka
within a framework of Buddhist principles and shared past in a common Buddhist
civilization that influenced both countries, and
iii)
To work together in propagating and spreading Buddhism worldwide.
The
first of many Projects that are intended to be launched both in India and Sri
Lanka would be the convening of an International Conference in Colombo, Sri
Lanka before the end of 2012 on the topic:
•
‘ The contribution of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to the revival and renaissance of
Buddhism in the 20th Century ’
Some
of the other intended Projects include –
•
The launch of an international public campaign calling on the Government of Sri
Lanka and other Governments in Buddhist Asia to issue commemorative postage
stamps in honour of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as a token of appreciation of his immense
contributions to the revival of Buddhism in India
•
The preparation of a public memorandum calling on the promoters of the Nalanda
University Project to include Buddhists from India and Sri Lanka in the
decision making process of this Project, and
•
The formation of an Indo – Sri Lanka Buddhist Media network engaged in capacity
building and exchanges
Honourable Premier Doug Ford, Honourable Cabinet
Ministers, Honourable Leaders of the NDP and Liberal Party and Honourable Members of the Provincial
Legislature,
OBJECTION TO BILL 104: DO NOT PASS: REFER TO
COMMITTEE
I am
writing as a Canadian of Sri Lankan Sinhalese origin who has lived in this
province for the past 44 years to express our community’s strongest objection
to your even considering the subject Bill 104 presented by Mr. Vijay Thanigasalam,
MPP for Scarborough – Rouge Park on account of the following reasons:
1.It promotes false
information. There is no genocide involved;
2.It promotes division
among the Sri Lankan community in Canada. This country being a multi-cultural nation
with diverse communities should not promote legislation which creates strife
within communities.
3.This legislation has
been initiated by a Tamil MPP from the Conservative Party who along with other
Tamil expats that provided material
support and funding to the internationally designated terrorist group called
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) banned by 32 countries including
Canada, USA, UK, EU, India, Malaysia, etc., seeking to break up Sri Lanka and
set up a separate state in the north and east of the island. The LTTE launched
its so called final war of liberation in mid-2006, but was militarily defeated
by Sri Lanka’s armed forces on May 19, 2009. Now the pro-LTTE supporters in
Canada have launched a campaign ten years after the military conflict ended
fabricating charges of genocide against Sri Lanka to bring international
pressure to bear against that country, to achieve their aim of breaking up the
unitary state and realizing their objective of a separate state for Tamils
whose homeland proper is the State of Tamilnadu in Southern India where over 75
million Tamils live.
4.According to Article
VIII of the Genocide Convention, the only authority that is able to make a
finding of genocide is the United Nations, whilst disputes if any between the
contracting parties shall be decided by the International Court of Justice.
5.The Tamil civilians
were compelled to move with the retreating LTTE forces from the west coast to
their strongholds in the northeast coast around Mullaitivu to be exploited for
their labour, conscripted as fighters and form a human shield.
6.
The total number Tamil civilians bandied about by the pro-LTTE groups as
having been killed between January 1 and May 19, 2009 ranges from 70,000 to
140,000, whereas the UN Resident Representative’s office in Colombo reported
7,721 civilian deaths between August 2008 and May 13, 2009. The Government of
Sri Lanka conducted a census using Tamil teachers and public servants as
enumerators and arrived at a figure of 7,432 excluding those who had died of
natural causes, whilst the Tamilnet, a key propaganda arm of the LTTE reported
monthly deaths from January 1 to May 19, 2009, which added up to 7,398. Lord
Naseby of the British House of Lords obtained heavily redacted copies of
confidential reports sent by Col. Gash, the Military Attache at the British
High Commission in Colombo to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London,
where he reported a total of around 8,000 civilian deaths with 2,000 of that
number being killed by the LTTE to prevent these civilians hat formed a human
shield from fleeing their area of control. Contrary to what is claimed as genocidal attacks by the Sri Lankan
forces, the number of genuine civilians killed is unknown as none of the
published figures distinguishes between combatants, LTTE Auxiliary Forces
Personnel, and genuine non-combatant civilians. In fact, the UNSG’s panel on
Sri Lanka reported that a large number of LTTE fighters battled in civilian
attire blurring the distinction between fighting cadres and civilians.
The pro-LTTE groups
are relying on unsubstantiated numbers estimated by the UNSG’s three member
Panel on Accountability in Sri Lanka which included Marzuki Darussman, Steven
Ratner and the South African Tamil and propagandist for the LTTE Yasmin Sooka,
appointed for his personal guidance, that arrived at a number of 40,000
civilian deaths based on one sided information provided by expat Tamils which
they locked away for 20 years till 2031. They carried out their investigations
from New York and never visited Sri Lanka.
The other is the internal review conducted by Charles Petrie who
reviewed the UNSG’s Panel report and reports furnished by IGOS and INGOS who
were not in the war theatre after September 2008 arriving at a figure of 70,000
civilian deaths. Neither of these
reports had been sanctioned by the UNSC or the UNGA, and were conducted from
outside Sri Lanka.
Amnesty and HRW commissioned a report from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to determine the number killed after analysis of the high resolution satellite imagery of the final battleground, as the latter were only able to come up with a total of 1,346 burial spots in three burial sites within the Civilian Safety Zone (CSW), which detailed report is carried in their website under the title ‘Geospatial Technologies and Human Rights Project – High Resolution Satellite Imagery and the Conflict in Sri Lanka. As this report did not support the bogus numbers swirled around by LTTE propagandists, Amnesty and HRW did not proceed with their planned report to press for action against Sri Lanka.
The AAAS report was also able to identify some 65 or so craters which they determined had been made by Mortar Shells (not artillery) along the perimeter of the CSZ close to the Nandikadal Lagoon where the LTTE fighters were concentrated and close to the coast where the Sea Tigers operated. Even the buildings without roofs initially thought to have been targeted with artillery fire turned out to have been dismantled by the LTTE to cover their bunkers or hide their long range weapons, while the building walls remained undamaged.
Another
interesting statistic is the total number of injured persons among the Tamil
IDPs according to the ICRC responsible for ferrying them by land and sea for
medical attention was 18,439 which is lower than the 40,000 supposedly killed
during the last stages. Normally, the world’s average ratio injured (WIA) to
the number killed (KIA) is between 2-3 times the number killed, which means that
the number injured should have been 80,000 – 120,000. Can someone explain this
discrepancy other than determining that the high civilian death numbers being
quoted are bogus guesstimates.
7. The Justice Maxwell Paranagama Commission on Missing Persons in Sri Lanka was assisted by a team of international legal and military experts in matters relating to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and War Crimes issues in respect of the military operations against the LTTE, where they concluded that the Sri Lankan forces had not violated IHL or committed war crimes. These experts were internationally recognized authorities, many of whom had served as legal advisers or prosecutors in the International Criminal Courts.
The team of experts was led by Right Honourable Sir Desmond de Silva, QC. (UK) who was Chairman of the Legal Advisory Council, together with Professor Sir Geoffrey Nice QC. (UK), Professor David M. Crane (USA), Mr. Rodney Dixon, QC. (UK/ South Africa), Professor Michael Newton (USA) Vanderbilt University, William Fenrick (Canada), Professor Nina Jorgensen of Harvard University, Mr. Paul K. Mylvaganam (UK) and Major General Sir John Holmes, DSO, OBE, MC (UK) former head of the British SAS.
8. The LTTE launched attacks on the other Tamil militant groups to gain ascendancy and later became the leading terrorist group employing suicide terrorism becoming the self-declared ‘Sole Representative’ of the Tamil community, even recognized as such by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) elected to represent Tamils in the National Parliament. In order to establish their authority, the LTTE first carried out attacks on leading members of the Tamil community including political leaders, academics, intellectuals, police officers, and others deemed dissidents. Thereafter, the LTTE began to attack the apparatus of the state responsible for internal security, isolated military camps, assassination of political leaders including Ranasinghe Premadasa, President of Sri Lanka, Gamini Dissanayake, Presidential candidate, cabinet ministers, namely, Lalith Athulathmudali, C.V. Gooneratne, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, T.Maheswaran, and attempted assassination of Chandrika Kumaratunge, President of Sri Lanka, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse.
The LTTE dispatched a woman suicide bomber to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, and also killed Sri Lanka’s distinguished Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar. They attacked remote rural villages in the north and east to ethnically cleanse the region and drive out the resident Sinhala population from areas claimed for their separate state. The LTTE also attacked economic targets such as the Central Bank, Petroleum Storage facilities, the International Airport at Katunayake destroying six commercial aircraft belonging to Sri Lankan Airlines, and regularly planted bombs in public transit, shopping malls, bus terminals, rail stations, killing large numbers of civilians making the population fearful of going about their normal business.
They even attacked the holy shrine of Buddhists
at the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura killing about 140 including monks and lay
devotees who were engaged in meditation and other devotional activities. They
attacked a bus carrying 33 Buddhist monks who were proceeding on pilgrimage at
Aranthalawa using machine guns and machetes, and also bombed the Sri Dalada
Maligawa in Kandy which houses the Tooth Relic of the Buddha causing extensive
damage to this World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. They attacked Muslims
at prayer in Kattankudy killing nearly 180 worshippers inside their mosques.
9.
The LTTE started their so called final war of liberation
in earnest by shutting off the sluice gates at Mavil Aru in August 2006 during
the CFA by stopping the flow of drinking and irrigation water to 30,000 farmers
living downstream. The state responded militarily after a lapse of nearly 12
days to restore the water supply and thereafter took action to clear the eastern
province of LTTE forces followed by similar action along the northwest coast
regaining the territory usurped by the terror forces. Before long, the LTTE was
compelled to retreat into a narrow strip on the northeast coast at
Puthumathalan near the town of Mullaivu. The LTTE forces were completely
surrounded by the security forces which soon established a civilian safety zone
(CSW) within this strip to prevent any harm to the displaced civilians. The
LTTE moved their heavy artillery guns within the CSW and fired at the
surrounding state military. The army would check on the LTTE’s artillery
position and resort to retaliatory fire
after making sure that the civilians
were at a safe distance to minimize civilian casualties.
10. The
military successfully carried out a maneuver to split the CSW into two helping
nearly 120,000 civilians to escape to safety. The LTTE was offered several chances to surrender but
they did not pay any heed as they expected the international community led by
the USA to intervene in the ongoing battles and rescue them and obtain asylum
for them in an African country such as Eritrea from where they could continue
their separatist struggle in Sri Lanka. In fact, two 48 hour ceasefires were
put into effect by the Sri Lanka military in February and April 2009 to enable
the civilians to get out of harms way
and move into areas controlled by the army where they would be safe. However, regrettably the LTTE did not allow
any of the civilians to move out and even fired on those who attempted to flee
killing them, effectively blocking the safe removal of the civilians who were
being used as a human shield. Despite the attempts of the LTTE to put the lives
of the Tamil civilians in danger, the Sri Lankan Security Forces succeeded in eliminating
the Tamil Tiger leaders and remaining fighters and rescuing 295,873 Tamils
among whom were 11,800 former Tiger fighters in civilian attire that abandoned
the LTTE. They were housed in Welfare Camps, provided all meals, medical/
psychological care, education, vocational training, and resettled in their
former places of residence after clearing the land of 1.5 million landmines
laid by the LTTE to hamper the advance of the country’s armed forces. The
former Tiger cadres were enrolled in a rehabilitation program, given new life
skills that would enable them to lead independent lives and released to
society. ARE THESE ACTS OF GENOCIDE AGAINST THE TAMILS?
Please consider the above factual data and take action to reject Bill 104 which attempts to insert a series of falsehoods into the Canadian legal system thereby seriously affecting the integrity of our laws.
My apologies to parliamentarian Sarath Fonseka for misquoting him, by changing the term he used “kodivinaya” to “hooniyama”, and my thanks to B.S.Perera for pointing out this error on my part, in his piece ‘Bungling Politics’ (The Island, 22 May) wherein he also questions whether I am promoting a party or a person, which certainly is not my intention. In my defence may I point out, not being a believer of the occult, neither kodivinaya nor hooniyama mean much to me and are not too dissimilar. But one thing I know, and many will agree with me, is that by its’ ineptness and subservience bordering on treason, Yahapalanaya has become a curse.
“Worse, the President stands accused of having acted in violation of the Constitution. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet allegedly enter into international agreements without the President’s knowledge. Vital pacts the government signs with foreign powers are not presented to Parliament and thus the people in whom sovereignty is said to reside are kept in the dark.”
These are not my words; it is a revealing paragraph from the excellent editorial “Another Danger” (The Island, 22 May), which should wake up Sri Lankans with any modicum of patriotism. I am sure even Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Maha Thero, had he been alive today, would agree that this “Yamapalana” administration, parading as a “Yahapalanaya”, has become a curse on Sri Lanka. If rebirth is true and Venerable Sobitha is reborn in a place with visibility to the political bungling, surely, he would be shedding a few divine tears too! Unfolding events, on a daily basis, confirms the impotence of an administration held hostage by minority votes. To this end, they do not seem to mind interfering in the good work done by our police and the armed services, even.
Perapalanaya
I am interested in the present and now, rather than hark back on a “Perapalanaya”, which is an excellent diversionary tactic. Suffice it to say that ‘Perapalanaya’, though corrupt, handed over a country at peace to a ‘Yahapalanaya’ that sleep-walked into a terrorist disaster, on top of breaking records for corruption and cover-ups as well as destroying the image of the country. I am sure Arjun Mahendran is the happiest man on earth today, as the bond-scam has got submerged in the torrent of terrorism!
Rishad-gate
Interestingly, the latest gambit of the Minister Rishad Bathiuddin is to throw down the gauntlet to the President and the Prime Minister: he will resign if either of them requests him to do so. Otherwise, support him or the government will lose the vital support of him and his henchmen. I do not know what to call it; Hobson’s choice? Catch 22? Rishad’s Ruse?
Even if we agree with the government’s contention that the no-confidence motion on Minister Bathiuddin is nothing but an opposition attempt at mud-slinging, can we disregard the statement of the Army Commander? Afterall, Lt. Gen. Senanayake, who left Si Lanka just after the 2010 presidential election to return soon after the 2015 presidential election, is Army Commander because of the implicit trust of the Yahapalana administration. Further, he won admiration and gained public trust after the terrorist bomb-blast. His statement “I told the Minister to ring me in one and half years-time, as that is the period, I can hold a suspect for” is in utter contrast to the Minister’s explanation. Who does the public trust; the Minister or the army commander?
We were made to believe that the cornerstone of Yahapalanaya is good governance: after all, the term itself is a direct translation. Honouring this concept, is it too much to expect either the President or the Prime Minister, preferably both, to request the Minister to step aside, if any honour is left in him, while accusations levelled against him are investigated? Sorry, if any honour is left in him, the honourable minister would have stepped aside on his own volition. Do our two leaders display a lack of courage or complete deficiency of statecraft? Can the pubic be hood-winked by a select committee?
Venerable Gananasara
The battered President can derive some comfort from the support extended by Brigadier Ranjan de Silva who, in a piece titled “To Be Fair” (The Island, 22 May), states:
“His decision not to pardon Gnanasara Thero on Vesak Day, resisting pressure from politicians and dusseela Buddhist monks is statesmanlike. Media reported that former Ministers Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa and Thilanga Sumathipala had called for the release of Gnanasara Thero.
Dr Rajapaksa must be aware that Gnanasara Thero was jailed for contempt of court. The Thero aspires to be a leader of the people. If this is the example he sets as a leader, how will his followers behave vis-a-vis the country’s court system? Already the courts system is functioning under tremendous pressure to dispense justice without fear or favour. Dr Rajapaksa is also an attorney at law.”
Poor Brigadier must be disappointed at the President’s statesmanlike attitude evaporating like a dew-drop struck with the first ray of the rising sun! ‘Hopeless’ politicians like Wijedasa Rajapaksa and dussela monks have succeeded; Venerable Gnanasara is released!! I do hope the venerable monk will behave with dignity, not insulting the saffron-robe he adorns.
It is a pity that the Brigadier fails to understand, had the Yahapalanaya heeded the warnings of Dr Rajapaksa, delivered in the most diplomatic way in the parliament, and Venerable Gnanasara, delivered in a way most of us objected to, we would not be in the current predicament. By the way, the ever-talkative Dr Rajitha Senaratna, who repudiated Dr Rajapaksa, based on his claimed close connections with Muslims of the four-corners of the country, and reassured that there will be no Islamist terrorists attacks, seems to be resting his vocal chords! Why cannot he tender an apology, at least? Pretty obvious, he has no sense of shame.
I have no problem, at all, with the jailing Venerable Gananasara but also feel that the Presidential pardon is justified. Let me explain. I have been regularly expressing concern about the bad behaviour of some Buddhist monks but have not gone to the extent of castigating any pleading for compassion as dussela Buddhist monks, as the Brigadier had done. In my article “Men in Robes” (The Island, 14 October 2017) I wrote:
“Unfortunately, the actions of men in robes in the guise of Buddhist monks have been troubling me for some time. I do not expect Buddhist monks to be perfect; after all they are human and can have faults but I cannot condone conduct that is totally un-Buddhist. The behaviour of some Bhikkhus of BBS leaves me startled. Though I was initially against Buddhist monks engaging in political activity, after reading Venerable Walpola Rahula’s thought provoking and inspirational book, ‘Bhikshuwage Urumaya’ (Monk’s Heritage) I have changed my mind. As long as Bhikkhus indulge in politics for the common good, not for personal benefits, it is totally acceptable. After all, if not for their political activity where would we be today? If not for the campaign led by Bhikkhu’s like Venerable Rahula, we would not have had free education and, in all likelihood, I would not be writing this; would have died some time ago as a retired teacher or clerk.”
Crime and punishment – proportionality
What concerns me is the length of the sentence passed on Venerable Gnanasara. Being a lawyer, Dr Rajapaksa probably realised this too. I am sure he would have been greatly embarrassed when lawyers who destroyed property in Colombo courts, shown to the whole nation on television, continued to practice unhindered, whereas a 19-year sentence to be served in 6 years, was passed on a Buddhist monk for contempt of court. Intrigued, I too made inquiries from luminaries of the legal profession and was told that this the longest sentence, ever passed, for contempt of court in Sri Lankan legal history, which goes against the well-established principle of proportionality. Where were the human rights activists? Did any of them move a finger to protest at the undue harshness of the sentence? Maybe, they thought he deserved it, considering his ‘bad behaviour’! But we do not punish for overall bad behaviour, punishment being only for the crime under consideration.
If bad behaviour is to be punished, should not Mr C.V. Vigneswaran, former governor, too be jailed? Inflammatory statements he made, insulting the Sinhala race, made me wonder how such a racist warmed the benches of our supreme court.
Ranil’s reawakening
UNP strategy of a blood-bath, probably following JRJ’s lead of 1983, having failed to evoke a backlash from Sinhala Buddhists, in spite of Lakshan Kiriella’s kela-pattare, Mangala and Thalatha’s loose-talk among many other things, Ranil is announcing a series of measures: ‘Sharia’ University will be taken over; all Madrasas will be under the Education Ministry, not Muslim Religious Affairs Ministry; name-boards will be only in the three official languages; etc., etc. Looks as if Yahapalana blindness has had a miraculous cure. Congratulations, Ranil! May I wish you the courage to stop shielding terrorist supporters and make Sri Lanka one country, under one law!
It was John Milton who said “Every cloud has a silver lining”. Maybe, some good has come out of this terrible act of terrorism!
The 18-year-old is making a difference in the lives of local Sri Lankan childrenBy ELIZABETH LEONARD May 28, 2019 11:00 AM
Paris Brosnan is doing his part to help raise awareness about childhood hunger in Sri Lanka.
A burgeoning filmmaker, the 18-year-old son of Pierce and Keely Shaye Brosnan recently traveled to Sri Lanka to document firsthand how one program is making a huge difference in the lives of both local children and on the region’s economy.
Travelling to Sri Lanka was an amazing opportunity for a young filmmaker,” says Paris, who captured in a short film and in photographs the ongoing work being done in the South Asian island country by the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
With crucial support from Clarins and FEED, a social impact-driven brand founded by Lauren Bush Lauren, WFP is delivering nutritious food to Sri Lankan school-aged children.
I was drawn to Clarins and FEED’s mission to help solve childhood hunger through school feeding,” Paris tells PEOPLE. This school meals program gives children a sense of belonging, community, and an education.”
Paris Brosnan with Christian Courtin-Clarins and Lauren Bush LaurenClarins
Paris Brosnan with children in Sri LankaClarins
While in Sri Lanka, Paris visited schools and farms to see up close how WFP connects local farmers with its meals program that ultimately helps both undernourished students and supports the local economy.ADVERTISING
They may not represent the Islam that moderate Muslims know and follow, but their actions are inspired by their own version or interpretation of it.
The Easter bombings in Sri Lanka once again turned a spotlight on the challenge of global jihad, terrorism and Islamophobia. (Photo:AP)
The Easter bombings in Sri Lanka once again turned a spotlight on the challenge of global jihad, terrorism and Islamophobia. Muslim scholars and community leaders from across the world have condemned the attack, dissociated themselves from the perpetrators and defended Islam as a religion of peace.
Many Muslims are constantly feeling like they need to apologise. Still, they continue to face a backlash and stereotyping of their community. The fear of reprisals combined with growing Islamophobia compels Muslims to insist that these acts have nothing to do with their faith. This urge to separate religion from the violence committed in its name is well intentioned and understandable, yet counterproductive.
It is true that these terrorists do not represent the overwhelming majority of Muslims, who oppose terrorist groups like the militant Islamic State (ISIS), the Taliban, and Al Qaeda. However, it does not necessarily mean that they have nothing to do with religion. They may not represent the Islam that moderate Muslims know and follow, but their actions are inspired by their own version or interpretation of it.
Here, it is worth emphasising that, as a Muslim, I strongly believe that the Muslim belief is no more violent” than those of other religions. Neither is religion the only cause of such violence. Instead, violent extremism is a complex phenomenon with multiple driving factors including injustice, identity crisis, extremist ideologies, and socioeconomic reasons. Their salience varies across time and space. There is no clear profile or single causal pathway that can define the process of radicalisation. There is also no denying that colonialism, Western military interventions in Muslim countries and support to authoritarian Muslim rulers have played a role in the rise of Islamic extremists and militants in the Muslim world. To summarise, it is often a combination of politics and extremist interpretations of Islam that produces the vitriolic narrative and rampage that most Muslim countries face today.
The problem is that while Muslims almost always talk about the politics that creates terrorism, and rightly so, they are reluctant to discuss the role of radicalised interpretations in inspiring terrorist violence. In Muslim-majority countries, a small segment of Muslims do recognise the challenge posed by radical interpretations of religion and disputes a literalist reading advocated by fundamentalists. Quranic verses, they argue, are often misinterpreted and quoted out of context. There are, however, two points which must be considered in the debate.
First, these debates are restricted to the drawing rooms and private gatherings of a tiny liberal, secular and left-leaning class that is often insulated from the rest of society which is generally conservative. Publicly, most Muslims are reluctant to openly engage in a debate regarding religion. Those who do so often pay a huge price.
Second, the lack of an authoritative hierarchy in doctrinal interpretation means that any Muslim can interpret religion the way he or she likes. While making Islam more egalitarian and democratic, this also makes it easier for extremists to promulgate their literal interpretations despite opposition by a large majority of Muslim clerics and scholars.
Moderate Muslims cannot be blamed for not engaging in open public debate because most Muslim countries lack the environment required for discussing sensitive issues. The countries where there is space for critical debates are the relatively advanced democracies of the developed world. However, in almost all such countries, Muslims are also a minority and often the victims of hatred and prejudice inspired by Islamophobia. Consequently, conscious of their minority status, moderate and liberal Muslims in these countries hold back their views on religion for fear of being seen as abettors of Islamophobia.
The rise of right-wing nationalism in Europe and America has only reinforced their concerns. Diaspora Muslims fear that even pointing out that militancy might have something to do with a certain interpretation will feed into Islamophobia. The nuance about particular interpretations, the argument goes on, would gradually disappear in the public debate and Islam as a religion and Muslims as a group would be criticised. These are legitimate concerns and it is, therefore, not surprising that diaspora Muslims scholars and intellectuals are at the forefront of the IS-has-nothing-to-do-with-religion” school of thought.
The real challenge for Muslims is to be able to have these difficult conversations in a way that does not lead to more Islamophobia or buttress the West’s Orientalist and stereotypical view of Islam and the Muslim world. Moderate Muslims must understand, deconstruct and delegitimise the extremists’ version of Islam rather than denying the existence of their interpretation. By denying any link between faith and the violence carried out in its name, Muslims foreclose all public debate on different interpretations and help extremist Muslims get away with their context-less versions.
This denial has given right-wing nationalists in Europe and America an opportunity to cash in on the growing public unease about Muslims and their faith. They need to realise that the extremists’ interpretation can only be countered and discredited publicly if its existence is first admitted and then actively contested and challenged. This may sound like a daunting task, but it is the only way moderate Muslims can ensure that their vision of a more tolerant and inclusive Islam prevails.
