Day: 26 June 2014

Rankin meets Rauff

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The SLMC is under heavy pressure to take a tougher stand on recent violence directed at the Muslim community at Alutgama and Beruwala. Political sources told The Island that the SLMC seemed divided over the position taken up by party leader and Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem that the party should continue its fight for Muslims’ rights, while being a constituent of the SLFP-led UPFA. British High Commissioner John Rankin yesterday joined a long list of diplomats to seek a briefing from Minister Hakeem on the current situation. HC Rankin was accompanied by…

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Britain and US hails appointment of experts

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British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has welcomed the appointment of a team of experts to investigate alleged abuses in Sri Lanka. Hague said the investigation is an important step in establishing the truth and facilitating reconciliation within Sri Lanka. A statement by the UN Commissioner, made yesterday, announces the appointment of international experts to the team investigating alleged abuses by both parties to the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. It also urges the Sri Lankan government to cooperate with the investigation. “I welcome Navi Pillay’s announcement on the appointment of experts to…

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All Ceylon Hindu Congress condemns acts of communalism, religious hatred

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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. The ACHC has said, in a media statement, that no one should perpetuate ethno-religious discriminations. “Of course religions and cultural distinctions should be respected, but those distinctions do not justify discriminations. “Every citizen must feel that he has nothing to fear from the government of…

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People have lost confidence in the Courts – Wigneswaran

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Northern Province Chief Minister (CM) C.V. Wigneswaran interviewed with Ceylon Today said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) filed over 2,000 cases in respect of the Valikamam North land ‘grab,’ but with no result to date. “We shall continue to challenge illegal acts through Court action and through democratic means, but it would be naïve to expect succour from a Court in which the people have lost confidence,” he said.Excerpts of the interview:  Q:Bharatiya Janata Party’s Dr. Subramaniam Swamy, in an interview with Ceylon Today on 1 June 2014 said, “If lands…

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Full Video: Managala Samaraweera Accused Gota For Communal Violence

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 Mangala faces arrest    UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera yesterday has (June 24) accused Secretary to the Ministry of DefenceGotabaya Rajapaksa and three intelligence officers are behind all the recent communal clashes. Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana today said an investigation would be carried out against UNP Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera for divulging official secrets. SSP Rohana said according to the Official Secret Act -1955/32, divulging information regarding national security and information about security forces was an offence. “We have sufficient information to conduct an investigation against him. We will seek the Attorney General’s advice regarding…

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Are Sri Lankans Fools Or Jokers Or both?

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By Gotamini Hathurusinghe – Ven Watareka Vijitha Thero gets thrown into prison for allegedly falsifying information regarding the attack on his person. Ironically the person who is well known to be the cause for all the attacks on him, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara is walking about happily, in the precincts of the Dalada Maligawa no less, doing an Adhishtana Pooja. What is the Adhishtanaya? Interesting to know! Let me ask the jokers and fools of my country including myself, what sort of justice system is this? Ironically the Minister of Justice the Hon. Rauf Hakeem whose people are the…

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MR was worried about Muslim rights when LTTE held sway

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“Do you think the Muslims in the Eastern Province may never support Prabhakaran?” Late President R. Premadasa once asked Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) founder late M.H.M. Ashraff.  President J.R. Jayewardene also shared this fear that the Muslims in the Eastern Province might support the LTTE. But Muslims never supported the LTTE. Prabhakaran did not trust the Muslims. In the initial stage of his insurgency, Prabhakaran needed the support of the Muslims to infiltrate the Eastern Province. Farook, a resident of Akkaraipattu, joined the LTTE as its first Muslim member. He…

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Mahinda who is a hero among the Sinhala people needs the Bodu Bala Sena to intercede with the Sinhalese voter on his behalf.

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An interview with Azath Salley “I made a request to Basil Rajapaksa to remove the police and the STF and deploy the army. I told him that we have full confidence in the army. We met Basil at about 5.30pm on Monday. In about an hour the army was sent in. From the time the army went in till today there have been no incidents.” Though only a provincial councillor at present,  Azath Salley arguably plays a bigger role in Muslim politics than most Muslim parliamentarians. No stranger to controversy,…

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Religious sobriety, fanaticism and violence in our land

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Religious sobriety, fanaticism and violence in our land  As the authority of any government is held responsible for the administration of civilized society, the government should be held accountable for the non-prevention of fanaticism and violence. Non-disapproval, non-condemnation, non-prevention and tardy action will surely be interpreted as further encouragement given to the spread of fanaticism and violence that government is partial to. That others who accuse us do wrong by applying double standards is no excuse for us to do wrong to our own people. Nor should they be surprised…

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Rein in violent elements or face the consequences’

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SLMC Chairman and Productivity Promotion Minister Basheer Cegudawood (Batticaloa District MP) has warned that the ruling coalition will have to face catastrophic consequences unless tangible action is taken immediately to rein in extremist Sinhala organisations. Parliamentarian Cegudawood has asserted that President Mahinda Rajapaksa will lose the support of the vast majority of Sinhala Buddhist electorate which abhorred sentiments propagated by organisations such as the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and Ravana Balaya (RB), besides losing the backing of the Muslims as well as other minorities. The SLMC Chairman made these observations…

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