Sri Lanka: Unidentified Motorcyclists Follow BASL President Again!

Lodging another complaint with Thalangama police BASL president Upul Jayasuriya alleged that two unidentified motorcyclists had also hovered around his house located at Thalangama. According to his complaint, the suspicious behaviour of two motorcyclists had been spotted by his neighbors on July 15 and 17. The complaint in this regard had been registered on July 18 with Thalangama police.

Sri Lanka: Prosecute Gnanasara Thera, BASL tells Attorney General

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called on the Attorney General Palitha Fernando to prosecute the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Galabodaaththe Gnanasara Thera,  for leading violent attacks on the Muslims of Authgama  last month resulting in the loss of life and property.

No action on 284 complaints to the special (religious) police unit made by Azath Sally

Azath Salley

Australian PM can witness peacefulness if he visits Darga Town - Salley

Leader of the National Unity Front, Azath Salley today claimed that the government is afraid it will lose its voter base if the Pope visits the war-affected Northern Province, during his scheduled visit to Sri Lanka. The Central Provincial Council member made these comments during a press conference in Colombo today, which was also attended by UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera and former Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara.

“Stop the promotion of hatred and faith-based violence” – UN rights experts urge Sri Lanka

Heiner Bielefeldt

GENEVA (2 July 2014) – Three United Nations experts on freedom of religion, minority issues, and summary executions today called on Sri Lanka to adopt urgent measures to stop the promotion of racial and faith-based hatred, and violence against Muslim and Christian communities by Buddhist groups with extremist views, and bring perpetrators of this violence to justice. More than 350 violent attacks against Muslims and over 150 attacks against Christians have been reported in Sri Lanka in the last two years. Muslim and Christian communities are reportedly subjected to hate speech, discrimination, attacks and acts of violence throughout Sri Lanka frequently.

Historic Fort Jumma Mosque on Chatham Street in Colombo High Security Zone Receives Parcel of Pork Pieces and Warning Letter.

Jumma Mosque

In a fresh instance of vicious religious hatred unknown anti-Muslim elements have sent a warning letter and pieces of pork to a famous long standing Mosque in the heart of Colombo city. The historic Fort Jumma Mosque on Chatham Street was the latest target in the anti-Muslim wave currently engulfing the country.

It is learnt that some unknown person or persons left a parcel and letter addressed to the Mosque authorities on the premises early this week.

Sri Lanka: Laws to suppress social media planned BASL alleges

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday accused the government of planning to bring in special legislation to suppress social media networks. The BASL noted that the legislation, which could be brought as an emergency regulation and with provisions in the Penal Code, was an attempt to interfere with social media networks through which people come to know the truth as in the case of recent incidents in Aluthgama and Beruwala.

All Ceylon Hindu Congress condemns acts of communalism, religious hatred

The All Ceylon Hindu Congress (Federation of Hindu Religious Associations and Hindu Temples in Sri Lanka), has strongly condemned acts of communalism and religious hatred again being directed against minority religious groups and in particular the recent incidents affecting Muslims in Aluthgama and Beruwela areas.

“Any organisation inciting religious hatred should be banned”: Minister Faiszer Musthapha

Aluthgama after the riots

If precautions are not taken to prevent religious tension and to bring perpetrators to book, the incidents of such nature will dampen the economy and social fabric of this country, says Deputy Minister of Investment Promotion Faiszer Musthapha. The Minister stresses that if the procession on 15 June had been prevented, the present developments in the country would have not occurred. “I wrote a letter to the IGP asking to take steps to prevent that march. I was assured that there would be peace and tranquillity. I believe that there was an error in that judgment,” points out the Minister, further adding, “What happened was inhumane and barbaric. As a Government Minister, I feel ashamed that this incident has occurred.”

Muslim Council of Sri Lanka request to ban BBS

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka calls to immediately investigate the actions of all extremist groups and ban those who have been carrying out a campaign of hate, intimidation and violence against Muslims, Christians and other religious minorities.In a letter to the President, the Muslim Council said that recent incidents have heightened fears that violence will spread and that Muslims will come under attack, resulting in deaths and injuries, the destruction of businesses and homes, and the mass flight of Muslims from their homes and communities.

Sri Lanka clergy blame police for rising hate attacks

Graphic by Groundviews

(AFP)
Colombo — Sri Lanka's Buddhist hierarchy and other religious leaders accused police Tuesday of failing to prosecute those behind a recent wave of attacks on Christians and Muslims.
A multi-religious group led by Buddhist monks said the country had failed to grasp the threat posed by hate speech and attacks because local media reports had not been "impartial or factual".
"There is at present a public perception that such attacks are taking place due to failure of law enforcement authorities to take necessary action," said the Forum for Inter-Faith Dialogue (FIFD).

Sri Lanka: Thuggery under police protection against women protesting hate speech of State media

Sri Lanka's women's organization and a group of human rights activists had prepared to conduct a peaceful protest against the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Hudson Samarasinghe , yesterday ( 02) in front of the SLBC premises and a group of thugs , who arrived at the location has attempted to  sabotage the protest by hooting  and using filthy language against the women gathered including Dr. Nimalaka Fernando.

In Sri Lanka, a new divide brings back old fears

AP AGAINST HATE: Disquiet has increased as a Buddhist group fanning anti-Muslim sentiments is allowed to get away lightly.

A series of incidents has created anxiety among the country’s minority Muslims that they are being targeted by a resurgent Buddhist nationalism

More than a month after Fashion Bug, a popular clothes store in the Sri Lankan capital, was vandalised, business is back to normal. Shoppers cram into the Muslim-owned store as the Buddhist holiday season for Vesak (in India, Buddha Purnima) begins this month-end.

We are racists; and It is Muslims who drugs, pills, birth control vials, and heroin the most - JHU Leader

“It is true we are racists. It is true we are religious fanatics. Yet, we are not the authors of racism and religious fanaticism in this country,” Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera, Leader of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said.
“When racial and religious issues spring up, we too make emotional utterances. If we have committed any indiscretions, we humbly request the defence establishment to summon us and question us on that,” he added.