A report compiled by several former Sri Lankan security forces commanders, regarding the terrorist attacks of Easter Sunday and the current security situation of the country, has been presented to Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The committee report was officially handed over to Rajapaksa at the Opposition Leader’s official residence today (02).
Rajapaksa expressed his immense gratitude to the former military commanders for volunteering to come forward at this time of need to fulfill this task for the people of the country, even though they have retired from the service.
Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, MPs Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa, Kumara Welgama, Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Dullas Alahapperuma were also present on the occasion.
A foreign journalist, who was arrested for allegedly trying to forcibly enter a school in Katana, has been remanded until May 15 by the Negombo Magistrate’s Court.
Iraqi-born Siddiqui Ahamed Danish, a Reuters photographer based in India, was reportedly arrested at around 12.30 p.m. today (02), based on a complaint received by the 119 emergency hotline, when he allegedly forcibly entered the school.
He had reportedly arrived in the country from India in order to cover the aftermath of the Eastern Sunday suicide bombings in Sri Lanka.
The foreign journalist had arrived at the school in order to obtain information regarding one of its students, who was killed in the bombing at the St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya on April 21, when several parents at the school had grown suspicious and called 911.
Acting on the information, Katana Police officers arrived at the school and arrested the journalist.
He was produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today and ordered remanded until May 15.
One of the individuals killed in the suicide bombings at a house in Sainthamaruthu has been identified as a bother of Zahran Hashim while the other two men appearing with him in a video have been identified as Mohamed Rilwan and Mohamd Seyni.
Police have recovered 4 suicide vests, 2 mobile phones, 2 ATM cards and several bank books from the Kattankudy residence of the persons identified as Rilwan.
Meanwhile four photographs of Rilwan’s children, national identity cards (NICs) and other items were discovered today during a joint operation by the Special Task Force (STF) and Police.
Kattankudy Police OIC stated that Rilwan’s mother-in-law and father-in-law have also been taken into custody.
Mohamed Rilwan and his wife were both killed in the suicide blasts at a house used by terrorists in Sainthamaruthu, Ampara District.
Meanwhile police have also arrested a woman who is said to be the sister of Zahran Hashim, the leader of the terror outfit National Thowheeth Jamath (NTJ).
The 25-year-old was taken into custody by Batticaloa HQ Police last evening at her residence on Alim Road, Kattankudy.
Police said that Rs 2 million in cash was found inside her home and that Batticaloa HQ Police and the Criminal Investigations Unit are conducting further investigations.
The other family members of Zahran are believed to have been killed in the blasts at Sainthamaruthu.
There is no government-approved Sharia University or educational institute in Batticaloa district, stated UNP MP Prof. Ashu Marasinghe speaking at a press conference held yesterday (01).
On 3rd July in 2015, then Minister of Higher Education Sarath Amunugama had received a letter requesting permission to establish a higher education institute.
However, the permission hasn’t been granted for this particular institute as of yet, and that there are many issues regarding this, Marasinghe stated.
On 29th February 2016, the proposed institute had changed its name and they had presented Rs 3600 million worth foreign funds granted to establish this institute.
Claims that this has received approval of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and that it conducts educational courses are false, he further said.
Therefore there is no such thing as a Sharia University, he added.
Two suspects were arrested along with 36 sets of white female clothes stuffed in a fertilizer sack and hidden inside a van.
It was reported that the van in question had set off to Anuradhapura from Thihariya.
The arrestees were two Muslims, aged 41 and 47 years, according to the reports.
Police investigations are being conducted to uncover if these sets of clothes bear similarities of any kind to the white female clothes recovered from Sainthamaruthu area.
Anuradhapura Police is probing the incident further.
Meanwhile, in a separate search operation, 14 walkie-talkies were and 8 CDs were recovered from a beauty parlour, while two suspects were also arrested in the raid.
The seizure was made by the Police Special Task Force last night (01).
The said beauty parlour is located on Borupana Road, Ratmalana.
Sri Lanka, Easter Sunday, 21 April 2019: More than half a dozen bomb blasts shook the country killing from 250 to more than 350 people. Depending on who counts, the death toll varies. The devastation took place in in several catholic churches and luxury hotels. Other explosions, including from – what they say – are suicide bombers, have since killed another several dozens of people. Many are children, women – christen worshippers. Why the luxury hotels? Western (Christian) tourists?
Today, another explosion ripped through a suspicious building, killing 18, including children and women. Again, they, the ‘authorities’, say suicide bombers, who didn’t want their ‘cache’ to be discovered. Conveniently they are all dead – the suicide bombers”. Nobody can ask them any questions.
There was a lot of confusion, and still is, all through Sri Lanka. Nobody claimed credit for the massacres. There were rumors that Sri Lanka’s President received warnings ahead of the attacks from foreign intelligence, but ignored them. The President denies these allegations. And the explosions continue.
Finally, the verdict is in. The culprits are an Islamic terrorist group, associated with ISIS. What else is new.
Sri Lanka’s population is composed of about 70% Buddhists, 13% Hindus, almost 10% Muslims, mainly Sunni, the Salafi version, and about 7% Christians. The New York times reports that the accused mastermind of the terror attacks was strongly influenced by Wahhabism, the same extreme hardliners that control most of Saudi Arabia.
Hatred between religions seems on the rise. In New Zealand a few weeks ago a white supremacist assaulted a mosque, killing 50. This past weekend, a shooting in a Synagogue near San Diego, California killed a woman. The murderer said he was inspired by the New Zealand massacre. Are these spontaneous, interreligious mini-wars part of a foreign directed ‘divide to conquer’ effort, a strategy that has been used by empires for centuries, but seems to be alive and well with the current Washington based empire?
MintPress News reports that Sri Lanka Easter attacks are the handiwork of terrorists returning from fighting in Syria, practicing the Saudi-backed Wahhabi Salafist ideology,” adding, though not confirmed yet, they, [the attacks], are in keeping with the modus operandi of Saudi-sponsored Wahhabi terrorism worldwide. [The] Saudi sponsorship of Salafi Wahhabi dogma [is found] across the globe. From Boko Haram to ISIS, and from the Taliban to Al Qaeda, a common ideological thread runs through these terror groups. This is the Saudi-sponsored Wahhabi Salafi ideology whose South Asian counterpart is Deobandi. For abbreviation purposes, it is becoming increasingly common to term this interconnected ideology as WSD (Wahhabi Salafi Deobandi).”
May we expect a wave of Saudi-sponsored WSD terrorism in the east too? – Is the horror Saudi government protected by the US, because it does its bidding? And this bidding leads to making gradually Islam extremism the justification for NATO bases around the globe? – Perhaps in Sri Lanka, tomorrow? So far Sri Lanka is clean from NATO. Sri Lanka has not even an association agreement with NATO.
Just look at the world-geostrategic location of Sri Lanka, linking the Arabian Sea with the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka may also have a direct, open-sea connection with the small British island of Diego Garcia, in the Chagos Archipelago, north-east of Madagascar. Diego Garcia hosts the US’s largest Navy base outside the American Continent. Many of the drone killings in Yemen, Syria and other places in the Middle East originate from Diego Garcia. The civil war” in Syria was (and still is) largely directed from Diego Garcia, as well as from Djibouti.
Wouldn’t it be logical for NATO to set up base in Sri Lanka to control South East Asia? Saudi guided WSD attacks would create the necessary chaos justifying all the AngloZionist secret services – plus NATO – to descend on Colombo, to create further protests and anarchy – a never-ending internal strife, giving the war industry a new never-ending flow of profit, hence, further justifying the never-ending war on terror – and, thereby, moving yet an inch closer to Full Spectrum Dominance over Mother Earth and her hapless spectators, what western humanity has become – a bunch of complacent consumers, drenched in turbo-capitalist market ideology, too comfortable to go on the barricades.
The key and engine to all of this is NATO, whose modus operandi is killing for a living, for dominance and for profit. If there is ever to be Peace – and that’s what the vast majority of the inhabitants of this globe wants – I’m not exaggerating pretending that 99.99% of world population wants to live in peace – then NATO must go, NATO must be dismantled.
So, Europe which has the largest membership in NATO (27 out of 29 nations) has to put the money where her mouth is: Europe calls for Peace, Europe claims to be Peace-loving – really? Then put your money into creating Peace – pulling out of NATO, refusing at once to fund this killing machine under the pretext of protecting Europe”. Protecting Europe from what? From whom? – Not from Russia – despite all the highly propagandized and highly corporate-funded Russiagate / Russia phobia, exacerbated by a new artificially implanted fear – China. These countries have no history of expansion, like the west.
They only seek friendly relations of trade, of transport, cultural and research interconnectivity within the supercontinent, Eurasia, and ultimately, they promote a multi-polar world. The best example is the Chinese President Xi’s ingenuity – the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that just finished its highly successful forum in Beijing – where more than 120 nations signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) and cooperation agreements with China for tens of billions of dollars equivalent. – What a way of cooperating, instead of sowing western-style belligerence.
Europe and the rest of the world is not in danger, except in danger of itself for being a vassal of the US and for hosting 30-plus NATO bases which would be first in the line of fire, if the east is forced to defend itself from that permanent Pentagon-NATO driven aggression.
Europe withhold your funding for NATO, get out of NATO, dismantle NATO, – NOW, before NATO sets up yet another base in Asia, before NATO spreads more death around the globe.
Those who forget the past are condemned to relive it” – Santayana
Sri Lankan nation is horror struck
and deeply saddened by the Easter Sunday carnage. Hundreds of innocent people
mostly Christians and others foreigners, were murdered in the most gruesome of
ways – by bombings. In the other modes of killings there is even a body to take
home and mourn over. Some bodies had to be identified by only a little ring
finger, others by a tattoo! These
horrendous crimes took place at churches and hotels around Sri Lanka.
Sad to say this nation was already
condemned by the gods for what was waiting to happen. A nation full of
ungrateful citizens richly deserved the outcome for they so quickly forgot the
past. They allowed the deterioration of sanity to its lowest with hardly a look
backwards. This time they allowed the seeds of Islamic Terrorism to take root
and giving precedence to Middle East and Tamil Diaspora money and their own self-interest.
They sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind! Meanwhile events around the
Islamic World were rapidly changing.
If by chance these atrocities
happened against the majority Sinhala Buddhist Community, the world would now
be having a different narrative, it would have been no big deal! However, this
was not going to stop BBC and Al Jazeera trying hard to fish in troubled waters
and find a Sinhala Buddhist connection to the Easter Sunday atrocities albeit
with little success. Now that it has
happened against the Christian Community the tallest building in Dubai gets
painted with the Sri Lankan flag, and similar sentiments expressed from around
the world. For the moment, there is a semblance of heartfelt sympathy and
solidarity with those who suffered and for the nation of Sri Lanka. Fortunately,
Sri Lanka has a window of opportunity to do and correct many a thing in their
security lapses with international understanding, but that only time will tell!
In 2015, exactly 200 years after a
similar cataclysmic event in the history of Sri Lanka – where a similarly
vilified ruler of Sri Lanka was replaced by the British – people of Sri Lanka went for a CHANGE and
they got a change that was well funded by the so called International Community
led by the US, who alone spent US$ 550 Million for regime changes in Nigeria,
Myanmar and Sri Lanka. As can be seen from around the world their agenda has little
to do with the welfare of smaller nations. Iraq, Libya, Syria, Serbia n now
Yemen n Venezuela are prime examples who were and are at the end of this International
Community benevolence!
Today, Sri Lanka is in a conundrum unable to get rid of the President, the Prime
Minister and their jocular and grossly unsuccessful administration. They have together demonstrated beyond any
doubt their inability to lead, their dereliction of duty and their criminal
negligence in the administration of Sri
Lanka!
These are the wages of an ungrateful
nation who forgot the past and now have to relive it. Within the span of ten
years the Sri Lankan nation forgot how it was before the end of the Terrorist
War in May 2009. This terrorist war spanned over 30 years, caused by over 70
years of unrelenting minority bickering for an mono-ethnic fiefdom with no
relevance in history or real ethnic demography. It was a time of bombs going on
all over the island willy nilly at the whims of a multitude of Tamil terror
groups. These terror groups made carnage all over Sri Lanka while fighting each
other for dominance and finally coalesced into one powerful terrorist organization
the LTTE led by the terrorist warlord – Prabhakaran. The LTTE carnage was targeted
at politicians, ordinary people, places of religious worship – mainly Buddhist
and sometimes Muslim.
Ordinary people who were going about
their ordinary day to day business of getting to work in trains and busses were
targeted. Ordinary people at their day to day shopping were targeted. Ordinary
people taking their children to school were targeted. Ordinary people at their
places of worship were targeted and brutally murdered. All this found a simple
explanation that Sinhalese Buddhists are discriminating against the Hindu
Tamils and hence Tamil Freedom Fighters are fighting for their freedoms and for
a land of their own. That was good enough for the so called International
Community and India to fund, resource and train the LTTE Terrorists against Sri
Lanka.
Most parents using public modes of
transport did not go to work in one vehicle. Father and Mother chose with heavy
hearts not to travel together, in case a bomb went off and one died at least
one parent will be there to look after the children. Mothers congregated in
front of schools and school closing times to take their children home in safety.
Do I need to elaborate on the actual bombings – these are well documented and
public knowledge. Do I need to elaborate the types of insecurity and hardship
that went through the minds of ordinary people due to terrorism over a period
of well over 30 years?
Politicians of all hues including
those who fathered the terrorists were brutally murdered. National leaders such
as the former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Ghandi and President Premadasa,
Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar were assassinated and among the rest a myriad
of politicians such as Gamini Dissanayake,
Lalith Athulathmudali and Ranjan Wijeratne were bombed to oblivion.
Security Forces sacrificed over
30,000 dead and a similar number with lifelong injuries. Over a hundred
thousand civilians too died at their little villagers, farming fields and in
the crowded cities around the island. All this was forgotten fast with no
remorse or even a semblance of gratitude to those who made peace possible in
Sri Lanka. Leave aside the politicians, the war heroes able and the disabled
and their still suffering families were quickly forgotten and what’s more
vilified. The cream of the Sri Lanka’s
Intelligence Community is behind bars on trumped up charges. The Foreign
Minister went to Geneva without even a Cabinet Approval to make a major change
in national policy and to accept a proposal put forward by those who are intent
on prosecuting Sri Lanka for winning the war on LTTE Terrorism. This proposal
included weakening the Tri Forces, weakening the Intelligence Apparatus, levelling
trumped up charges against security forces and bringing them before dubiously
powered courts of Law and a myriad of other measures to bring in ‘reconciliation,
human rights and democracy’ to Sri Lanka!
Following the end of hostilities and the
subsequent destruction of the LTTE as a fighting force within Sri Lanka for ten
years almost to a month there was peace in the island. People were free to enjoy
the fruits of freedom that was there for all to enjoy including those who took up
arms against the nation. It was a heady admixture of carefree bohemian life and
dog eat dog mentality where the rat race took precedence over simple ethics of
live and let live. The rich and the privileged wined, dined and played ‘golf’
literally and otherwise and took luxury holidays with nary a thought to those
who were instrumental in bringing peace to the land.
What became important was democracy,
human rights and reconciliation – the catch words used by the powerful to
subjugate less fortunate nations. There was freedom of speech, all manners of
freedom of expression, ‘right
to this and right to that’
and promotion of other ways of alternative living not conducive to the simple
Sri Lankan culture. These became more important than even the minimum basic
needs ordinary living – national security, food security shelter etc. An agenda
proposed and recommended by the so called Internation Community led by the US
and Human Right bodies in the UN – now described as a cesspit of corruption
became the working document for their local agents in Sri Lanka. This is how
the cry for a Just Society – Saadharana Samajayak, Good Governance –
Yahapalanaya and other similar euphemism were made common parlance among the
population. A vain Buddhist Priest in the person of Maduluwawe Sobhitha who was
waiting for a platform to find prominence was tapped on his shoulders and made
to carry their flag. Country’s rich and the powerful visited his
temple and words were put in his ears that he could even be a possible
contender for the Presidency. This is how the now infamous Regime Change on 8
Jan 2015 was brought about.
A lack lustre disgruntled politician
in the person of Maithripala Sirisena was brought into contest the war winning
President Mahinda Rajapakse. Sirisena won the Presidency with a margin of
500,000 votes. There was hardly a vote for Sirisena per se for all those votes
that brought him to power were from the supporters of the UNP, the Anti Rajapakse voters who resented his
style of governance since winning the 2010 Presidential Election and other
block votes from Christians, Muslims and Tamils. Even a great majority did not
know well who he was. Sinhalese are
divided between two traitorous political parties the UNP and the SLFP and the
die was cast for the end of Mahinda Rajapakse presidency.
After winning the Jan 2015 elections
it did not take long to understand the rudiments of what was in store for Sri
Lanka. The following events and measures were put in place in rapid succession.
The Central Bank Bond Scam through which the whole
nation was robbed of billions – this happened on 26 Feb 2015 following the
appointment of Ranil W as the PM, taking over Central Bank, appointment of
Arjun Mahendran as the Central Bank Governor and then the Scam itself. This
money went on to finance the August 2015 election for monetary inducements, as
everyone knows by now, plays a crucial part in Sri Lankan politics. As a result
of this scam interest rates went up and so too the taxes, thus affecting the
whole nation. They are still paying for it while the main culprit is still out
in the open.
Measures to weaken the Security Apparatus of the
nation – The Tri Forces. Eviction of security forces from their camps and
reduction of all manners of surveillance.
Measures to demoralise the Intelligence Community
and arrest some of its members on trumped up petit charges.
Measures to demoralise, to vilify and to make the Buddhist
Establishment ineffective.
Introduction of FCID mainly to cow down the
opposition as well as the Administrative Apparatus making the decision making a
mere political process.
Making the real opposition in the parliament a
nonentity and ineffective.
Measures to disturb the food security of the
island.
Pauperizing small and medium scale farmer,
entrepreneur and investor and the list goes on.
The 19 May was to be Ranaviru Day in Sri Lanka. This
was the day the Sri Lankan nation found emancipation from Tamil Racist
Terrorism. All ordinary peace-loving people, be they Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or
other profited from it for they had above everything – Peace. There were
measures to stop any celebrations of the great event of victory over terrorism
in Sri Lanka on this day. This is in the backdrop of other nations who still
celebrate their war victories even100 years after WW1 and 74 years after WW2 and
even their monumental debacles such as Gallipoli with the ANZAC day remembrances
by the Australians and New Zealanders.
These and a myriad of other measures have brought
the Sri Lankan nation to what it is today. The President and the Prime Minister
have failed utterly in their duty. President went on pilgrimage to a Hindu
Kovil in India and a luxury holiday in Singapore without leaving a clear line
of command or authority in his absence.
The Prime Minister who has failed to attend the Security Council
meetings for months denied any knowledge of the Islamic threat.
The behaviour of a government minister who was
warned by his father not to attend church on Easter Sunday has left more
questions than his pitiful answers. The other more powerful and usually
vociferous ministers of the Government are yet to open their mouths! Another
Government Minister a Muslim says in front of the nation that he did not think
the bombs would be this powerful! A Muslim Mosque leader when asked about
hundreds of brand new swords found in mosques around the country says they are
for cutting grass in their cemeteries – a colourful demonstration of Islamic
Taquiyya or Deception!
An ordinary person affected by the church bombing
in Negombo, tears flowing down his cheeks, he and his Christian Community, who voted
this government into power are asking their UNP political leaders as to why
they let this happen; why they did not give even a simple warning? The
President and the Prime Minister denied responsibility; having failed the
nation and mostly their own supporters, they still rule this hapless nation! Even
in close by India, a simple train accident leads to the resignation of the
minister responsible. People are asking why two leaders who have failed the
nation miserably are not resigning. Perhaps the answer is in the following:
The then President Ferdinand Marcos of the
Philippines was asked why he is not resigning when confronted with large scale
countrywide demonstrations asking for his resignation. He simply told I will resign when Americans ask me to do so”. We wonder loudly if this is the case in Sri Lanka
too?
Today once again the so much vilified Security
Forces are back on the streets trying to provide security to the ordinary
people of Sri Lanka, not to mention the all-powerful politicians and their minions.
The ground reality is that even the Tamil Politicians who only a few weeks ago
with blood in their throats were asking for the security forces to leave their
areas are now asking the Security Forces not to leave them and give them
protection!
This ungrateful nation has come a full circle, back
to where it was 30 years ago because of politics and selfishness. This
ungrateful nation forgot the past and are now re-living it once over. Only the
future will tell what they will do in the future!
How long does Sri Lanka have to suffer this
ignominy?
TNA
Sambandan, Sumathiran, LTTE Diaspora are rejoicing the events of Good
Friday. Whilst Tamil Tigers aim to destroy Buddhism, its counter-part
Muslims are aiming to destroy Christianity. Though these two groups are
in two diversely different camps, their ultimate objective would be to cripple
Sri Lanka so that the small island could easily become fertile ground like
Afganistan.
TNA
and LTTE Diaspora are so silent since Good Friday events, raise the suspicion that
they too might be providing vital intelligence with years of experience.
North of Sri Lanka must also be searched, from house to house. So far
authorities have not searched the houses of Sumanthiran, Rauf Hakeem, Hisbulla,
Sally. By now these crooks had sufficient time to find hide outs to
put away their weapons, if any.
It
is a shame that we still have to call Maithreepala Sirisena as President and
Ranil as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. No one believe that these two
did not have prior knowledge of the planned attack. Ranil will never
initiate any action against Tamil and Muslim politicians, for their possible
involvements. Ranil never considered Internal Security as vital for our
nation. Ranil held the role for just few months in 2015 and then passed on
to Sagala Ratnayake and then to Ranjith Madduma Bandara. Now our Law and
Order Minister is Pallewatte Gamaralalage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena.
Impressd
by a pre-prepared somewhat emotional speech of convicted criminal Sarath
Fonseka few days ago in the Parliament, Ranil is now trying to sneak SF to the
role.
Schools
remain closed which will disrupt teaching and examination schedule. Even
if schools are opened, most parents may not send their children to schools for
some time.
At
this moment we cannot allow these incidents to pass through without severe
punishment to those who took over the country. Cardinal Malcolm
Ranjith has provided effective leadership at this hour, compared to our
Malwatte Chapter.
This
is not a suitable time for 20th Amendment, Anura
Kumara need to see a doctor in Angoda Mental Hospital. This is not a time
to make trial and error appointments to Cabinet and appoint a disgraced
politician with hidden agenda. This is also not a time to give any
more time to our current failed Leaders, viz. Ranil and Maithree.
This
is the time to call for General and Presidential Elections. Considering
unstable security situation, electronic media could be used effectively for
political propaganda activities.
The proliferation of swords and other
weapons clearly tell a story which shows the characteristics of primitive
warfare. why don’t the security forces analyse further
this threat!
why use swords unless they want to
chop people in mass numbers going into crowded places in battalions.
This development is as dangerous as
suicide bombers. why on earth swords!!! unless an island-wide attack in
temples, homes, schools with an army of
wordsmen and women on a specific day? probably a poya.
Maybe we avoided a war using
conventional weapons!
Maybe they wanted to burn everything down and install one of their wahaabi minsters as leader of the country With the help of Saudi Arabia and in turn their American friends?
Isn’t this a new development? Was there a planned attack by explosives and swords by both wahaabi men and women In one go?
Why is Pottuvila aka pottuvil not showing any signs of aggression, especially Muhudu maha vihara precincts?
In one simple quote, Sister Joan
Chittister, O.S.B. sums up the hypocrisy of many in the ‘pro-life’ movement:
“I do not believe that just because
you’re opposed to abortion, that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in
many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if
all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a
child housed. And why would I think that you don’t? Because you don’t
want any tax money to go there. That’s
not pro-life. That’s pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the
morality of pro-life is.”
This quote
applies well to many Republican lawmakers who continue to introduce/pass
restrictive misogynist laws against woman’s
reproductive rights. At the same time, the GOP works to shut down women’s health clinics, with a
special vengeance towards Planned Parenthood (#StandWithPP). You don’t see these Right Wing anti-choice
extremists adopting children from unplanned pregnancies or putting
funds into sex education.
But you do see
Republican lawmakers cut access to birth control, which
prevents abortions. You do see the GOP’s 54 attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and their $24
billion Government Shutdown, both to destroy universal health reform
which protects the needs of millions of American children. And you do see
Republican lawmakers cut government programs like school lunches for children and block
government financial aid to familieswho are homeless and/or in need.
The goals of
these so-called anti-choice/’pro-life’ hypocrites are not about fetuses or
children once born, their agenda is about controlling women’s bodies and
women’s futures. How great to hear Sister Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun,
define the pro-life/anti-choice GOP double talk so well. An outspoken advocate
for women, Sister Joan Chittister is a lecturer and author of 50 books. Holding a Ph.D. from Penn State University,
she is also a research associate in a division of Cambridge University. Other
subjects of her writing include women in the church and society, human rights,
peace and justice, religious life and spirituality. She has appeared in the
media on numerous shows including Meet the
Press, 60 Minutes, Bill Moyers, BBC, NPR, and Oprah Winfrey.You can
visit Joan Chittister’s website at Joan Chittister.org.
By Rathindra Kuruwita and Cyril Wimalasurendre Courtesy The Island
More than 60 persons were arrested yesterday along with a large number of weapons, the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) propaganda material and clothes similar to military uniform during search operations carried out by Police, STF and the tri-forces in several parts of the country, according to the Army and the Police.
The Kuliyapitiya Police detected a large volume of fabrics similar to saffron robes worn by Buddhist monks and several garments that resemble military uniform, yesterday, at an unauthorised mosque and a house in Yayawatta, Kuliyapitiya. The Police carried out the raid with the assistance of the Army. Police arrested the head of the mosque and a female suspect.
Police also arrested 14 suspects including the chairman of the Wellawa branch of National Thowheed Jamath during a search operation at Hadirawalana, Wellawa. Over 200 security force personnel took part in the raid and they took into custody six swords, four daggers, 15 DVDs containing NTJ propaganda and 20 NTJ banners.
The Horowpathana Police have taken into custody a number of suspicious items from an Arabic School run by a suspect who was arrested in the same police area, on Monday.
The suspect is believed to have been a close associate of extremist Zahran Hashmi, the mastermind of Easter Sunday suicide bombers. Following interrogation, Horowpathana Police, along with the personnel from the Kebithigollewa STF camp and army intelligence, raided an Arabic school, where the suspect was a Director. Among the items confiscated are letters that he has exchanged with the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ).
The Kalpitiya Police arrested 31 suspects who were unable to reveal their identities and several suspicious vehicles yesterday morning in Mandalkuda, Kalpitiya. They were apprehended during a combined raid carried out by Police, Navy and the Air Force.
Out of those arrested ten are from Mannar. The vehicles taken into custody are registered in Western and Eastern Provinces.
The Pindeniya Police arrested three suspects who were in possession of hi-tech equipment at Kotiyakumbura. The arrests were made in a building owned by a businessman. Police also detected a high grade GPS receiver, mobile phones, cameras, petrol bombs, swords, knives, barbed wire, walkie -talkies and a number of passports. They were to be produced in courts and remanded.
Five persons were arrested at Kebethigollewa, on Tuesday, for possessing video recordings of the Easter Sunday bombings, photographs of Zahran Hashmi and photos and videos of the Wanathavilluwa jihadist training camp. They were arrested during a combined search operation conducted by the Police and the army. The five men are residents of Vavuniya, KKS and Kinniya, who were working in Kebethigollewa. Among those arrested are two men who were taking video footage of a security post in Hijragama along the Horowpathana road. The five men were to be produced before the Kebethigollewa Magistrate’s court, yesterday.
Soldiers attached to the army’s 11 division arrested 12 persons in Akurana along with swords and other military equipment. Three swords, parts of firearms, clothing that resemble military uniforms, posters, banners and CDs that contain NTJ propaganda, forged passports, NICs and birth certificates were taken into custody. The operation lasted for more than three hours.
Citing a ban on the burqa in Sri Lanka after the deadly Easter Sunday attacks, Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ on Wednesday demanded the imposition of a similar ban in India.
Citing Sri Lanka blast Shiv Sena calls for burqa ban in ‘Ram’s land’, NDA ally RPI disagrees
Citing a ban on the burqa in Sri Lanka after the deadly Easter Sunday attacks, Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ on Wednesday demanded the imposition of a similar ban in India.
The Sena’s proposal, however, was rejected by another NDA ally, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale of the Republican Party of India, who said that burqa should not be banned as it forms part of the country’s tradition.
The Shiv Sena editorial states “It has happened in Ravan’s Lanka. When will it happen in Ram’s Ayodhya? We ask this question to the PM as he is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Wednesday”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a political rally near Ayodhya today.
“The present government has made a law against Triple Talaq to stop the exploitation of Muslim women. After the ghastly bomb attacks, Sri Lanka has imposed a ban on the burqa and all types of face covers. President Maithripala Sirisena also announced that the decision has been taken for national security,” Saamna said in a write-up published on Wednesday.
“We welcome this decision and in the national interest, we demand Prime Minister Modi to also follow the footsteps of Sri Lankan President and ban burqa and face covers in India as well,” the Shiv Sena mouthpiece said.
In an editorial titled “Question to Prime Minister Modi, it happened in Ravan’s Lanka, when will it happen in Ram’s Ayodhya?”, Samna has also cited the death count of Colombo’s Easter Sunday attack to assert that the country which freed from itself of LTTE’s terrorism is now under the grip of Islamic terrorism.
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena leader said, ” Burqa and niqab are not religious attires for India, they are being banned all over the world. If some people relate it to religion and Islam in India then they must not have read the Quran, they should read it properly.”
RPI leader Ramdas Athwale, however, disagreed with the Sena’s proposal to ban the burqa in public places and said it is a tradition in India and there should be no ban on it.
“Not all women who wear the burqa are terrorists if they are terrorists their burqa should be removed. It is a tradition and they have the right to wear it, there shouldn’t be a ban on the burqa in India,” Athwale told ANI.
Meanwhile, BJP’s national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said there was no need for imposition of any kind of ban in the country.
“We have zero tolerance towards terrorism but I don’t think there is a need to impose any kind of ban as the country is already in safe hands of Prime Minister Modi.
Everyone is free to make suggestions but the whole world knows that the Central government has effectively dealt with terrorism and I don’t think any new steps are required for this.”
In its editorial, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece has pointed to countries namely France, New Zealand, Australia and Britain who have put a ban on the burqa.
Shiv Sena also claimed that the practice of burqa has nothing to do with Islam and is actually, a practice that was adopted in the Arabian countries due to their climatic condition.
“Basically, the burqa is not at all concerned with Islam, and Indian Muslims are following an arrangement of the Arab nation. At one time, to avoid desert heat and sunlight in
the Arab nation, women used to cover their face and get out of the house.
“In Maharashtra also when the temperature rises at many places, the women travelling through cycle and scooters cover their face with a cloth or handkerchief, but this usage is limited to that. But in this delusion or blind faith, that wearing a face cover or burqa is the order of Koran, Muslims continue to use it,” an excerpt of the Samna editorial reads.
The Sri Lankan government on Sunday adopted measures to impose a complete ban on all types of burqas and face covers in the wake of the horrific terror bombings that rattled the entire country on Easter Sunday, claiming lives of more than 250 people and injuring hundreds.
There is a possible linkage between Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hisbullah to Batticaloa Campus Private Ltd., which has been identified as a sharia university, UNP MP Ashu Marasinghe charged today.
Dr. Marasinghe is a member of the parliamentary oversight committee on education and higher education. He is also chairman of the subcommittee on higher education who function under the oversight committee.
At a press conference, Dr. Marasinghe advised that probes must be carried out to determine the connection between the campus and the governor. He also advised that an Islamic institution named ‘Hira Foundation’ possess a 90% stake in the campus.
He said a total sum of Rs 3.6 billion had gone to this foundation for several years and that the campus is not registered under the Ministry of Higher Education or with the University Grants Commission (UCG).
The MP suggested that the institution should be converted into a state university so that monitoring would be easier. MP Mujibur Rahman also attended the press conference and said the amendments which the opposition wants for the Counter Terrorism Bill could be accommodated so that it could be approved in parliament soon.
This legislation comprises necessary laws to combat global terrorism” he said. He said the support of the opposition is needed to bring in new laws to apprehend global terrorists as many areas have to be looked into when combating international terrorists.
Therefore, he said using modern technology for training and communication should also be looked into when making laws to combat global terrorists. One could even learn how to use weapons online with the available technology,” he said.
Girls too young to understand the essence of religion adorn the Nikab. Some forced due to cultural imposition, and others too young to know why. Madrasas spread across the island ignore history, art culture, literature and theology which form the core of religious education.
Instead the focus is on rituals and taboos. Kattankudy, in the East, is but one example of cultural alienation and segregation.The effects of the alienation and archaic practices which the majority of Muslims in Sri Lanka are against and don’t adhere to have to face, day in and day out. Some 36 Muslims have left to fight for the IS (Islamic State), and we wonder why?
Following the opinion piece titled ‘Sinhaley, Muslims and Fascim’ the response from the Sri Lankan Muslims has been overwhelming. Many have written to say that their fears were exactly the same as penned down and their oppositions were no different. Many others have written in to say that they have been left helpless and are merely bystanders witnessing the usurpation of a once vibrant culture, unique to Sri Lankan Muslims.
The closing of the gates of ‘ Ijtihad’ (Independent Reasoning) was a period in Islamic history where the rulers, fearing revolt from the masses, imposed strict and harsh interpretations of religion
An Islam that is lost without art, culture or literature and in complete denial of the essence of the liberation of the soul. Instead it has been usurped by a version which has suppressed any creativity
However there has been a backlash of sorts. On the one hand for which the crux stems from the reasoning given behind the face veil, a garment alien to Sri Lankan and South East Asian culture and its practices. A symbol of the radicalism among Sri Lankan Muslims. And on the other from those who espouse their fascist ‘Sinhaley’ agenda.
They are but two sides of the same coin. For the purpose of this article, the focus will be on the former. I am inclined to believe that the many who adorn the face veil and those who justify the wearing of such have based their reasoning on a practice that goes beyond the realms of logic and reasoning. I am aware that rationality would not prevail within their minds. The essay therefore is to provide the majority of Muslims in Sri Lanka a grounding through which they could withstand any further escalation of radicalism. I understand that the dichotomy between the ‘moderates’ and the ‘extremist’ when faced with an external threat, could cause division and dilution. However, I believe it is imperative that the moderates of the minority quell the extremism within first because one form of extremism is always fuel to the other.
The fallacy of scripture
My opposition to the face veil and the irrational religious and cultural imposition justified through scripture stems from simple logical reasoning. The Ku Klux Klan believed that scripture was what guided them, and they quoted scripture to justify their horrific actions against the blacks. The slave owners of yore were also guided by religious scripture, which they quoted freely to shut down any opposition to slavery. Today the Islamic State (IS), also quotes scripture to justify their actions, which has left thousands dead and millions destitute. The crusades are but another example. Israel’s, justification of the occupation of Palestinian land is also based on scripture. The very same scripture used by the Zionists are opposed by the Hasidic Jews. Why? They use the same scripture to say that the rule of Palestine by the Jews should not form a part of Judaism until the return of the messiah. The evangelicals who support Donald Trump, also draw inspiration from scripture.
Madrasas spread across the island ignore history, art culture, literature and theology which form the core of religious education. Instead the focus is on rituals and taboos
So how then is it logical to seek justification from scripture? Thousands of examples could be cited of the different variants within Islam itself which use the same scripture – the Quran – to justify their beliefs and practices;one always insisting that their interpretation is superior to the other. Wars have been waged, and lives lost within the Muslim community itself based simply on different interpretations given to the exact same text. The Sunni-Shia conflict is just one example. Similarly, there is an argument going back and forth, again based on scripture, for and against the face veil.
However, as reasoned, to argue on scripture is futile. It’s ones word against the other. Instead it is imperative that the Muslim community of Sri Lanka understands the politics behind the radicalization of a culture in Sri Lanka in which the Muslims thrived, enjoyed freedom and in which they remained an integral component of, as so strikingly illustrated by Dr. Lorna Devaraja in her work titled ‘Muslims of Sri Lanka – one thousand years of ethnic harmony’.
The history of the veil
The Arabian peninsula of pre-Islamic times comprised harsh living conditions exposing the mostly nomadic inhabitants of each tribe to severe sandstorms, heat, and at points winters which were much harsher than what we witness in the modern day. In order to protect themselves from these severe weather conditions, as is logical, men and women of the peninsula devised garments which would protect their bodies. The face veil was used to counter the harsh conditions of an often unwelcoming desert. A basic, reading of pre- Islamic Arabia, or Persia would give anyone a clear notion about the garments worn. Tertullian, in his pre-Islamic treatise ‘Virgins of Veil’, makes reference to Pagan Arabian women who covered their faces.
While this was the reasoning, among others, for the Nikab in the Peninsula, many ancient civilisations, pre- Islamic of course, adopted different variants of the veil for different reasons.
The Assyrian women (upper Mesopotamia, descendants of which live spread across the continent) who lived under strict and inhumane conditions under their men, are one example. Following the conquests of the Assyrian Empire starting from before 2000 BC, the empire was flooded with labour from conquered territories. Men were used as slaves, and women as prostitutes and domestic slaves. However as time passed, distinguishing between the ‘immigrants’ and the ‘homelanders’ was problematic. Therefore as a method of distinction between the two, women who were considered ‘homelanders’ were ordered to cover their faces. The face veil thus distinguished the Assyrian women from the prostitutes and the domestic slaves and was viewed as a sign of respect, a privilege denied to the slaves and prostitutes . The logic of the devise is questionable, of course, but historical fact shows that this was a practice adopted in a cruel and backward civilization that existed over 4000 years ago. Once these territories were captured by the Muslims, and one religion was promulgated amongst the masses, the face veil evolved into a cultural phenomenon, supported of course, by the environmental and other social needs of the time.
Islam was the first religion to have founded a state and religion in quick succession, and adhering to this cultural norm was not seen as a threat of any sort. Rather, it was the costume of the day, and it blended with the culture of the time. The repeated use of the word culture is intentional.
Islam was the first religion to have founded a state and religion in quick succession, and adhering to this cultural norm was not seen as a threat of any sort. Rather, it was the costume of the day, and it blended with the culture of the time. The repeated use of the word culture is intentional
Accordingly the Nikab continued to be a cultural phenomenon, and a cursory glance at the Islamic conquests by the ‘first Muslims’ headed by the ‘Rashidun’ (the rightly guided ones- the four Caliphs who headed the Empire after the death of The Prophet (PBUH)), is enough evidence to negate any claim that the Nikab had anything to do with Islam. The face veil was not imposed in any of the invaded territories which included Egypt to present-day Tunisia and what is today’s Iran to the borders of Central Asia.
The conquests by the Umayyads followed the same pattern, with the conquerors not impeding on the cultural identity of the conquered land. This is why we do not see the Nikab prevalent in Palestine, Tunisia, Turkey or Egypt, which were among the earliest territories to be conquered , except of course for the imposition of fundamentalists.
The Nikab remained a cultural garment except, for an imposition in the 12th and 13th Centuries, again by fundamentalist, who were threatened by the crusades. Despite the imposition it largely remained a garment worn by women for environmental and now cultural reasons. That was as far as it went.
Fast forward to the 20th Century, Islam was shaken by a similar threat from western imperialism. The free market and governance structures of the west that commenced in the 17th Century threatened the very existence of the States which were under ‘Islamic’ rule. Moreover, it had a massive economic impact on Muslim territories. It was in this backdrop that a move back to ‘fundamentalism’ akin to the one witnessed during the crusades took place.
The Nikab evolved, from being a cultural attire to a symbol against the expanding European forces and was encouraged by religious and political authorities. Similarities could be drawn here with that of the Assyrians and their adoption of the veil. The veil was seen as an icon of resistance, again confined to Muslim held regions in the Middle East. Theologians and the states worked hand in glove to provide religious reasoning to those who resisted. A fact often overlooked is that politics played an integral role in the expansion of the Islamic empires, as oft is the case with any conquering army and state. Each time the rulers were threatened with internal revolt or external conquests, religion was used as a centre- point to garner support and conformity.
Closing the gates of Ijthihad – Independent reasoning
It was in the early 1920s however that the Salafist-Wahabi movements expanded territorially, with the backing of the yet to be found state of Saudi Arabia. The state, which was yet to be formed,adopted its ideologies for purely political and economic reasons. It funded the exporting of a strict and literal interpretation of religion to justify its archaic actions. If not, there seems no other plausible justification for the existence of a ‘Kingdom’ or a ‘Sultanate’ or a deviant of it, in an ‘Islamic’ country.
The closing of the gates of ‘ Ijtihad’ (Independent Reasoning) was a period in Islamic history where the rulers, fearing revolt from the masses, imposed strict and harsh interpretations of religion that blocked the questioning of religion and most importantly prevented questioning of the rulers and their modes of governance. Madrasas and the Ulama who were working hand in glove with the rulers facilitated this imposition. It was akin to the era of Mahinda Rajapaksa in which the entire state machinery worked hand-in-glove with the regime to promote its narrative. The difference however, was that the imposition was systemic and long drawn. The religion was the same, and therefore resistance was not as strong as when religions and races differ. The politics involved with the radical Islamic element of the 20th century was no different.
The conquests by the Umayyads followed the same pattern, with the conquerors not impeding on the cultural identity of the conquered land. This is why we do not see the Nikab prevalent in Palestine, Tunisia, Turkey or Egypt, which were among the earliest territories to be conquered , except of course for the imposition of fundamentalists
It is the long reach of this imposition, a new wave of which began in the 1970s that we are witnessing in Sri Lanka today. The main form of exporting the fundamentalism was through migrant workers who found employment in Saudi Arabia, after which the structures were established in different parts of the world.
Radical Islam has a political goal. The root of the message which rally’s people behind any ultra nationalist movement, which scholars draw parallels with ‘radical Islam’, is a ‘return to the forgotten past or a greater future’. This wave of radical Islam is no different. It is this political element that channels the funds and drives the masses to alienate their culture and locality and adopt alien and extreme practices.
The spiritual Islam – beyond the radicalism
But behind the noise and drama, there lies an Islam that is spiritual. An Islam among others that attempts to understand the true essence of the spiritual retreats and solitude The Prophet (PBUH) underwent prior to the revelations. An Islam in which religion is a personal relationship between the adherent and the creator. It is an Islam in which prayer is not simply a ritual but is meditation. Fasting is not only confined to staying hungry from dawn to dusk. Instead, it includes the fasting of the mind, from anything that could impede the minds meditative state. An Islam which gave the world some of the most modern architectural wonders and important components of Algebra, Geometry, Astrology and Medicine. An Islam which gave the world some of the most comprehensive music compositions. An Islam which produced Gibrans, Rumis and may I even dare say Tagores.
An Islam in which Nasrudeen Shah was a sage and not a heretic. It is an Islam of ‘peace’, in which the attainment of being at peace with oneself and with the nature surrounding the individual is the essence of its teachings. An Islam that enacted some of the most modern elements of International Law, including Human Rights Law, Family Law and Contract Law. An Islam which gave the world jurisprudence unparalleled in human civilization.
A brief look at the modes adopted to trace a Hadith would amaze any modern archivist, historian or academic. An Islam in which debate and discourse was a central element in its evolution. An Islam that is lost today among the cacophony of rules and impositions. An Islam that is lost without art, culture or literature and in complete denial of the essence of the liberation of the soul. Instead it has been usurped by a version which has suppressed any creativity.
It was in the early 1920s however that the Salafist-Wahabi movements expanded territorially, with the backing of the yet to be found state of Saudi Arabia. The state, which was yet to be formed,adopted wahabi ideologies for purely political and economic reasons
Creativity gives rise to revolt and reform. So quelling it using religious justification was the best way forward for the rulers, the effects of which we are witnessing in Sri Lanka today. Today Islam as espoused by these fundamentalist elements is confined to an empty shell full of taboos and rituals, of which the original meaning seems to be lost. The usurpation of a century’s, if not millennia, old culture which has evolved, that is unique to Sri Lanka and to South East Asia must be resisted, and the leadership for it must come from Muslim communities itself. It is against this usurpation that the Sri Lankan Muslims must make their stand clear. The time is now, if not before long Sri Lanka will suffer the consequences of segregation from the countries’ ethos.
The writer is a Journalist, Attorney-at-Law, Graduate in International Relations. He is also a Fulbright scholar having studied Journalism at the New York University (NYU)
The British Government has consistently made clear its unreserved determination to fight the scourge of terrorism, the British High Commission (BHC) in Colombo said today.
Issuing a statement following reports that suggest that His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith might have questioned the UK’s commitment to the fight against terrorism, the BHC said the UK Unreservedly committed to fight terrorism on the United Kingdom’s own soil and to help others to fight it on theirs.
The British Government has consistently made clear its unreserved determination to fight the scourge of terrorism on the United Kingdom’s own soil, and to help others to fight it on theirs.
It has also made very clear its view that the international community must remain firm in its determination to counter and defeat the poisonous ideologies that lie behind terrorist attacks around the world.
On Tuesday 23 April, the National Day of Mourning in Sri Lanka, the British Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP, led a debate in the House of Commons on the Easter Sunday attacks.
He said: Today, the flags in Downing Street and on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are flying at half-mast following the horrific Easter day terrorist attack in Sri Lanka.
These attacks were a primitive and vile attempt to sow division between people of different faiths. Religious tensions have caused some of the bloodiest battles in human history, and it is sombre and sobering that even in the 21st century attempts continue to set believers of different religions against each other. Our response must be to deny the perpetrators the satisfaction of dividing us by being united in our condemnation of the attacks and united in our support for religious tolerance – surely one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
The UK will never stand by in the face of such evil. Today, we stand in solidarity with the Government and people of Sri Lanka, who have made enormous strides towards stability and peace following the conclusion of the civil war almost exactly 10 years ago. To attack Christian worshippers at Easter, which is a celebration of peace and the holiest day in the Christian calendar, betrays in the attackers an absence of the most basic values of humanity.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth wrote to President Sirisena last week: Prince Philip and I were deeply saddened to learn of the attacks in Sri Lanka earlier today, and send our condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives. I pay tribute to the medical and emergency services who are providing support to those who have been injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with all Sri Lankan’s at this difficult time.”
The Prince of Wales has written of his and his wife’s profound sadness on hearing of the attacks.
Such acts of dreadful brutality, wherever they occur, are an appalling assault on our shared humanity, and our values of understanding and compassion. That so many men, women and children should be targetted for their faith, and so cruelly killed and injured in their places of worship on this most holy of days for Christians, is a despicable atrocity and an attack on us all.
We did just want you to know how much our hearts go out to everyone who has been so cruelly bereaved or injured, and that all Sri Lankans are in our most special thoughts and prayers as you mourn those you have lost.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also written to the people of Sri Lanka: Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives, to the Christian community, and to the people of Sri Lanka at this tragic time. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.”
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke last week. Mrs May told Mr Wickremesinghe that the UK would stand with Sri Lanka in the fight to counter terrorism and tackle extremist ideologies. She reconfirmed the UK’s readiness to support Sri Lanka. A Metropolitan Police team and British counter terrorism experts have been in Sri Lanka since soon after the attacks and are working very closely with the Sri Lankan authorities and other international partners,” it said.
Security forces are continuing to carry out island-wide search operations to ensure the security of the country following the Easter Day attacks.
Mullaitivu police stated that 09 walkie-talkies generally used by security forces and clothing similar to Army uniforms among other items have been found in a luxury hotel under construction in the Alampil area in Mullaitivu.
https://youtu.be/n9XhuhzMSPY
The Army has found these today (01) in a search operation carried out at the construction site of the hotel.
Among the seized items, a pair of binoculars, 11 SIM cards, batteries used for walkie-talkies, a dagger, and 02pairs of boots used by Army personnel have also been found during the search.
Reportedly, no one had been at the construction site when the search was carried out and the hotel construction is funded by a person residing abroad, stated the Police.
No individual has been arrested on the matter and Mullaitivu Police are carrying out further investigations.
Meanwhile, 12 persons and other items including swords have been found in another raid conducted by the Sri Lanka Army in Akurana.
The Army has found 03 swords, parts of firearms, clothing similar to Army uniforms, posters, banners and CDs that may belong to the Thowheed Jamaath organization, several number plates of vehicles, fake passports, National Identity Cards, birth certificates in the area.
Search operations are still carried out in the area, stated the Sri Lanka Army.
Furthermore, the Police have also found 03 swords near a mosque in Galenbindunuwewa, stated Ada Derana reporter.
Four oceanic scientists were among the six Chinese nationals killed during the Easter Sunday bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said.
The deceased included Li Jian, 38, and Pan Wenliang, 35, who were senior engineers at the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (SCSIO).
Two others, Li Dawei, 30, and Wang Liwei, 26, were from the First Institute of Oceanography under the Ministry of Natural Resources, state-run Global Times reported on Wednesday.
Websites of both the institutes turned black and white to mourn the dead scientists.
Li, along with four other scientists, arrived at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo on April 18 and 19, respectively. They were supposed to participate in joint scientific cooperation between China and Sri Lanka, the SCSIO said.
The embassy said another five people from the Chinese Academy of Sciences were injured during the explosions. All of them have returned to China for further treatment, state-run China Daily reported.
They had traveled to Sri Lanka in the mid of April for research purposes, it said.
The series of coordinated attacks that ripped through three churches and luxury hotels claimed 253 lives and injured over 500 others.
The Lankan foreign ministry has confirmed the death of 42 foreign nationals, including 11 Indians, in the blasts.
A total of 106 suspects, including a Tamil medium teacher and a school principal, have been arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday blasts.
The Islamic State claimed the attacks, but the government has blamed local Islamist extremist group National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) for the attacks.
The police, based on a tip-off by the residents of Polpithigama, Kurunegala, have managed to find a Singapore-manufactured hand grenade near the Moragollagama railway station.
Subsequently, the bomb disposal squad of the Sri Lanka Navy disarmed the bomb, stated the Police.
https://youtu.be/n9XhuhzMSPY
Meanwhile, a special operation carried out by intelligence officers on a tip-off received by the State Intelligence Service has found 04 swords at a restaurant situated closeby to the Badulla-Badulupitiya and Badulla Jumma mosque.
Two suspects have also been arrested by the intelligence officers and they have been handed over to the Badulla police for interrogation.
Badulla Police have inspected a house 12 feet away from the Badulla prison, today (01), and had managed to discover a suspicious ongoing construction within the house.
Ada Derana reporter states that 5 persons have been taken into the custody of the police for questioning.
The construction was made 12 feet deep from the floor of the house and it two rooms had been built inside it while another was still mid-construction.
The owner of the house and 04 other persons who had been involved in the constructing process have been apprehended in this manner.
According to Ada Derana reporter, the Badulla prison is in the perfect view from the upstairs of the house.
Apprehended persons will be produced before Badulla Magistrate and Badulla Police are conducting further investigations on it.
Just three days after Sri Lanka issued a ban on all face coverings in the wake of Easter Sunday terror attacks, a regional party in India affiliated to Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has openly called for banning face masks and the burqa.
Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena party, which is known for its parochial politics and majoritarian Hindutva ideology, has reportedly recommended a similar ban in India, as an emergency measure to ensure that security forces do not encounter difficulties in identifying anybody.”
South Asia, largely, has been on an alert since the terror attacks in Sri Lanka that killed over 350 people. In India, a hoax call warning the Karnataka police, claiming knowledge of a possible terror attack in South India, led to much panic and confusion led to much panic and confusion.
While the Sri Lankan government’s ban stopped short of naming the niqab, burqa or the hijab, the ban is being seen as a crackdown on the country’s Muslim community and has divided opinion in the island nation.
The call for the ban in India from Shiv Sena is not surprising, and it’s likely to open up a wider political debate on the garment identified with Muslim women. Given the party’s close ties with the RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, the polarising rhetoric may even find vocal support. After all, the general elections are underway in the country and 30% of the electorate is yet to vote.
The BJP, Sena’s ally, itself has led the charge against some of the Muslim social practices. The regressive triple talaq” — where the husband can divorce a wife just by saying talaq” thrice — has been one of the party’s flagship campaigns. Even as India’s supreme court sought to ban the practice through an ordinance, a bill introduced by the BJP banning triple talaq faced opposition in the upper house of the Parliament.
There is also a campaign against nikah halala” — the practice that forces some Muslim women to marry another man in order to be married again to their divorced husbands.
BJP has also promised to introduce a uniform civil code that will exclude any existing privileges afforded by Indian law based on religion. This was an election promise in 2014 too, but the debate hasn’t progressed since.
Speaking at a foreign media interview, Kishu Gomes, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, stated that the Easter Day attacks are a blow in the economy at large, not just tourism industry.
However, the Chairman says that when considering other tourist destinations which also received similar attacks in similar incidents such as Bali or Paris, he is fairly confident that Sri Lanka might be able to bounce back in a few days time.
Army is in well control. They have been able to apprehend most of the culprits and they say that they will be able to apprehend the masterminds behind the organizations. They have so far been very very effective”, said Gomes.
Therefore, he is sure that over the next couple of months Sri Lanka will be able to reach that safe environment within which the rebuilding process could begin, he said.
Speaking of the people in the industry who have been affected by the attacks, he says nearly 700,000 persons are involved in the tourism sector and make a livelihood from the tourism sector. Out of which nearly 400,000 persons are directly involved with the sector, he pointed out. It is quite significant given that tourism is the 3rd largest revenue generator of the country, he said.
According to the Chairman, the maximum impact on the tourism industry will be about 20%, both in terms of the number of tourists and the economic impact.
Many have come up to me to show their support and condolences. This is global terrorism. In a situation of that nature we all have to get together and support each other that the world is a safer place for all tourists to enjoy all destinations”, concluded Gomes.
Sri Lanka Army has uncovered explosives and weapons during an operation conducted in the Mallar area in Samanthurai this morning (01), stated Ada Derana reporter.
When inspecting an abandoned land plot in Mallar, 20 pistol ammunition, 08 bullets, an Army uniform, and a belt have been discovered by the Army.
The forces had then inspected the house next to the land and had found 200 Gelignite sticks, 200 detonators, 46 wire cords, and 100 kg of Ammonia.
Subsequently, the Army had carried out a search operation in the whole area with the assistance of Police canines.
One of the canines led the officials to the house the driver of an MP from Digamadulla district where they discovered a pistol.
It has been revealed that the owner of the land plot which contained the explosives and weapons was also the said parliamentarian.
Security forces searched many houses in Sammanthurai area. They had found 02 guns, 5 bullets, and a motorbike without number plates in the search operations.
The US believes members of the militant group blamed for Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday attacks may be at large and planning more assaults, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz has told Reuters on Tuesday.
We do believe that the terrorist threat is ongoing and there may be active plotters. Active members of the attack group that carried out the terror attacks on Easter Sunday may still be at large,” Ambassador Teplitz said.
We certainly have reason to believe that the active attack group has not been fully rendered inactive. We do believe that there is active planning underway,” she said.
The U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka said on Tuesday that some of the Islamist militants behind Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 250 people were likely still at large and could be planning more attacks.
Sri Lankan security forces also said they were maintaining a high level of alert amid intelligence reports that the militants were likely to strike before the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which is due to begin next Monday.
Tremendous progress has been made towards apprehending those plotters but I don’t think the story is over yet,” Ambassador Alaina Teplitz said in an interview.
We do believe that there is active planning underway,” she said, referring to the possibility of more attacks.
Scores of suspected Islamists have been arrested in the multi-ethnic island nation since April 21 suicide bomb attacks on hotels and churches. Among the dead were 42 foreign nationals.
Security will stay tight for several days because military and police are still tracking down suspects,” a senior police intelligence official said.
Another government source told Reuters security authorities had ordered police and other security forces across the Buddhist-majority country to remain on high alert because the militants were expected to try to strike before Ramadan.
Teplitz told Reuters the risk of more attacks remained real.
We certainly have reason to believe that the active attack group has not been fully rendered inactive,” she said.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting Sri Lankan authorities in the investigations but Teplitz declined to give more details.
The State Department has issued a travel advisory suggesting people reconsider plans to travel to Sri Lanka.
