” I questioned Gnanasara thera having required evidence on hand”-DILKA

Derana ‘360 weekly timely political dialogue’ has drawn a tremendous interest among a large section of viewers. The programme is presented by Dilka Samanmalee who invariably questions the guests directly about allegations made against the guests and expects the guest to justify them.

“Buddhist Blood is Boiling”-Rise of “Buddhist Terror” in Burma, Thailand and Sri Lanka

(Text of Cover Story “The Face of Buddhist Terror”in July 1st 2013 TIME magazine)

by Hannah Beech

His face as still and serene as a statue’s, the Buddhist monk who has taken the title “the Burmese bin Laden” begins his sermon. Hundreds of worshippers sit before him, palms pressed together, sweat trickling down their sticky backs. On cue, the crowd chants with the man in burgundy robes, the mantras drifting through the sultry air of a temple in Mandalay, Burma’s second biggest city after Rangoon. It seems a peaceful scene, but Wirathu’s message crackles with hate. “Now is not the time for calm,” the monk intones, as he spends 90 minutes describing the many ways in which he detests the minority Muslims in this Buddhist-majority land. “Now is the time to rise up, to make your blood boil.”

The Face Of #Buddhist Terror: Sri Lanka To Ban Time Magazine

The Sri Lankan Government is likely to ban the latest edition of the Time Magazine after political Buddhist groups have taken offence at an article appearing on the news magazine’s cover, Colombo Telegraph learns.

The Bodu Bala Sena Group has lobbied the Media Ministry and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to ensure the offending issue never reaches the news stands in Sri Lanka, Media Ministry sources said.

Raising Ugly Head Of #Racism: Will #SriLanka Become Another #Myanmar?

By Latheef Farook -

A few hundred Sinhala ethno religious rabble rousers who call themselves the guardians of Buddhism and Sinhalese though they do not represent the Sinhalese community, went on a protest march last week from Kataragama to Temple Trees to get the government to ban cattle slaughter.

This seems to be the second stage of their ongoing anti Muslim campaign following the so called Halal issue which though a non issue but made it one to serve their sinister political agendas.

Sinhala-Buddhists Vs Buddhist Moderates

By Sharmini Serasinghe -

In Sri Lanka today there are two types of Buddhists- the Buddhist Moderates who identify themselves as Sri Lankans and those who identify themselves as Sinhala-Buddhists which they regard as their nationality!

As a Sri Lankan (a Sinhalese and a Buddhist by faith) I have lived and worked amidst the strange practices of Sinhala-Buddhists in Sri Lanka. As such I have observed closely what a Sinhala-Buddhist is as opposed to a Buddhist Moderate.

The following are my observations.

Trouble is brewing for Christians in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka (CAM/MNN) ―

Facing opposition from their Buddhist and Hindu neighbors, Sri Lankan Christians fear their religious rights will erode as extremist groups attempt to shut down churches in the island nation.

According to International Christian Concern's Web site, over 30 churches have been "violently attacked" in 2013 alone. Last year, the organization reported 52 incidents of Christian persecution.

Saffron marches and the Ides of September

Campaign by foot to ban cattle slaughter triggers tensions along the southern coast as the Government continues to be recalcitrant on the issue of holding provincial elections in the North with the September deadline drawing ever closer.

Last Wednesday, police officials paid a visit to the beef stall at the Bambalapitiya Market on Galle Road. They had a polite warning for the beef vendors at the market. The Sinhala Ravaya and Ravana Balaya march would pass through the Galle Road in Colombo early next week, they said, and the best way to avoid unruly incidents was for the beef stalls to shut their doors on that day.

#Video: The #Fascist Monks Of #SriLanka

The ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar has shocked the world and drawn attention to rising Islamophobia in Asia. Now Muslims in Sri Lanka are under dire threat as well.

The similarities with Myanmar are striking and foreboding. Buddhist monks are at the forefront of the rising hatred, the government is taking sides against Muslims and attacks have begun.

Full scale violence is threatening to break out to create another catastrophe for Muslims in the region. There have already been a series of attacks on mosques and Muslim places of work.

Hard line, ultra nationalist groups led by Buddhist monks such as Buddhist Strength Force (BBS) and Sinhala Echo preach the same message as those of the Buddhist Rakhine in Myanmar: “Muslims are taking over, they are building too many mosques and are trying to destroy our culture.”

On this week’s INFocus we document the rising crisis in Sri Lanka and attempt to bring the world’s attention to the issue before it’s too late.

Courtesy PressTV

That is y we hate Elders' Home

”ඔබේ දෙමාපියන්ගෙන් කෙනෙකු හෝ දෙදෙනාම හෝ වයස්ගත වී ඔබෙන් (යැපෙන්නේ වී නම්) ඔවුන් පිළිකුල් සිතෙන අයුරින් ”චී” යනුවෙන් හෝ නොකියනු, තවද ඔවුන් පලවා නොහරිනු, තවද ඔවුන් සමග ගෞරවාන්විතව කථා කරනු. තවද දයාව පුදමින් යටහත් භාවයේ පිහාටු ඔවුන් වෙනුවෙන් පහත් කරනු. හිමියනි! කුඩා වියෙහි මා වෙත කරුණාව දැක්වූවා මෙන් ඒ දෙදෙනාට කරුණාව දක්වනු මැනව යනුවෙන් ප‍්‍රාර්ථනා කරනු” (ශුද්ධවූ අල්කුර්ආනය: 17: 23, 24).

Mervyn Silva Connection with Underworld Criminals Exposed During Investigation of DIG Vass Gunawardena

By Nirmala Kannangara

Following revelations on how former DIG Vass Gunawardena extorted money from the Parliamentary Affairs Secretary to Minister Mervyn Silva to avoid taking action against him for the possession of heroin and firearms; concrete evidence has now emerged as to how Minister Silva is having close associations with underworld thugs.

Gnanasara Thero Says Local Banks are Complaining to Bodu Bala Sena About Muslim Women Wearing the “Niqab”Veil

By Megara Tegal

The Niqab – a veil worn by conservative Muslim women – has been a frequent target of criticism by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) when condemning the Muslim community. During a BBS convention in Baddulla last week (15 June), the controversial General Secretary of the BBS, Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thero; who was indicted on 11 charges of carrying out an attack on the Calvary Church in Araliya Place, Thalahena, yet again called for the ban of the Niqab speaking on behalf of local banks.

BBS And Wimal Weerawansa’s Big Mouth

By C. Wijeyawickrema -

One would expect Wimal Weerawansa (WW), the minister, to be different from chracters such as Mangala Samaraweera, SB Dissanayaka, Vasudeva or Amunugama when it comes to Sinhala Buddhist affairs.  If he is not acting as a reasonable person then one would wonder whether his brain is in his head or his rear end.

Part 2: Worries Of Bodu Bala Sena

By Rifai Naleemi

Dr. Rifai Naleemi

I take extra precaution when I write this series on Bodu Bala Sena. It is not my aim to hurt feeling of any religious groups or sects in Sri Lanka rather I try my best to understand the problems, challenge and social issues of Sri Lankan communities.  It is my primary objective to examine these issues objectively with sympathy and empathy from different perspectives: The majority community ought to understand the concerns, and challenges of minority communities from the perspectives of minority communities to appreciate their concerns and worries. This should be done with empathy to their feeling and needs.  At the same time minority communities ought to understand the concerns and worries of the majority community.   They should look at into them from the perspectives of the majority community with empathy to their feeling and sentiment.

චර්මඡේදනය මිනිස් ඉතිහාසය තරම් පැරණිය.

THE NEED TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM ACT (PTA) -CENTRE FOR POLICY ALTERNATIVES

(Text of a Statement Issued by the Centre for Policy Alternatives)

9th May 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka: With the recent arrest and detention of opposition politician Azath Salley, Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has once again come under critical scrutiny. The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and other civil society groups have condemned the use of the PTA to stifle dissent and reiterate this call yet again, urging for its repeal and replacement as set out below.

Why Treat Azath Salley as a Major Threat to National Security and Turn him into an Internationally Known Name?

 

By DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

“And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”

- ‘The Second Coming’, WB Yeats (1919)

When Sri Lanka was nominated as host of the Non Aligned Conference and chair of the Non Aligned Movement under Madam Bandaranaike there wasn’t a single dissenting voice within that movement or anywhere in the world. As Sri Lanka plans to host the Commonwealth summit, there are. It is highly likely that there will be a global media and civil society campaign which causes considerable embarrassment to this country and further tarnishes its name, as the summit nears. This makes it incumbent upon Sri Lanka to demonstrate that it is indeed suitable beyond a reasonable doubt, in terms of its adherence to and practice of the democratic values, virtues and spirit of the Commonwealth to chair that organization for two years. It is against this backdrop that the Azath Salley saga unfolds.

Dalai Lama Criticises Buddhists Including Monks For Violence Against Muslims in Sri Lanka and Burma

The Dalai Lama has implored Buddhist monks in Myanmar and Sri Lanka to put an end to a series of recent attacks on Muslims in their countries, the Associated Press reported today.

The Dalai Lama spoke to a crowd of about 15,000 students, faculty, and guests as part of the Anwar Sadat Lecture for Peace on May 7th, 2013 – pic by James Levin courtesy: Diamondback-University of Maryland

Muslim Patriotism In Sri Lanka: My Questions To BBS

By: Dr. Rifai Naleemi

This article should be read contextually with all previous parts. . It is not my objective to make any derogatory criticism of any community or any religion. An attempt has been made here to illustrate how Sinhalese people have been sympathetic and companionate towards all other religious groups in the past.  Though Portuguese and Hindu invaders from South India try to destroy cultural heritage of Sinhalese Buddhist people during the colonial and pre-colonial periods, Sinhalese kings offered unconditional supports and help for all other religious groups such as Christian, Hindi and Muslims people. I shall try to illustrate this point with historical evidence to show what BBS doing today is contrary to their cultural and religious history and teachings.

Translation Of Azath Salley’s Controversial Interview: “Muslims Will Also Take Up Arms”

On 20 April 2013, in an interview to the Tamil Nadu bi-weekly magazine “Junior Vikatan”, Azath Salley is alleged to have said that “the Muslims too should launch an armed struggle against the state in the same manner in which Tamils conducted a campaign earlier…(and) that such a struggle would commence once necessary arms are procured.” Salley has later written to the magazine stating that he was misquoted. The magazine published a correction on 4 May 2013.

Azath Salley

When Azath Salley was arrested on Thursday May 2nd the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) Director General Lakshman Hulugalle said that Salley was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department following several complaints received by the CID regarding conduct which could damage ethnic harmony, and harm national unity. Hulugalle said that Salley was taken into custody under Section 120 of the Penal Code and provisions under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Hulugalle reportedly stated that Salley had violated clause 21 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and section 120 of the Penal Code. He (Salley) had incited people with the aim of causing damage to ethnic and religious harmony, in the guise of agitating against the government.

Is “Bodu Bala Sena” A Racist Organization?

By Hema Senanayake -

Hema Senanayake

A couple of months ago BBS became a household name in Sri Lanka. We may agree or may not agree with the views of BBS but we all agree that it created a heavy impact in the social fabric of Sri Lanka. Some people think that BBS is a patriot movement and some people think that it is a cheap racist organization.

Therefore when somebody told me that the General Secretary of BBS (Bodu Bala Sena) was

It is in Palestine... not in Boston

இவர்கள் இஸ்லாமியர்கள் அதனால் இவர்கள் தான் தீவிரவாதிகள் இஸ்ரேலையும் அமெரிக்காவையும்

Azath Salley was Arrested Because He Made Critical Remarks About Shiranthi Rajapaksa on TNL

6 May 2013, 4:24 am

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj

Former Colombo Deputy Mayor and Founder Leader of the National Unity Front Azath Salley is currently held at the Police CID Fourth floor headquarters in Fort on a detention order for 90 days issued under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

First Lady Visits Rizana Nafeek’s Home, Feb 2013

When Azath Salley was arrested on Thursday May 2nd the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) Director General Lakshman Hulugalle was reported by the State controlled “Daily News” newspaper as saying that he was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department following several complaints received by the CID regarding conduct which could damage ethnic harmony, and harm national unity

Hulugalle reportedly said that Salley was taken into custody under Section 120 of the Penal Code and provisions under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Why are the Jathika Hela Urumaya,Bodu Bala Sena and Sinhala Ravaya Not Arrested for Inciting Hatred Against Muslims?

 

6 May 2013, 12:55 am

By

Latheef Farook

In the wee hours on Thursday 2 May 2013, prominent Muslim politician Azath Salley, former Deputy Mayor of Colombo Municipality and leader of the newly formed National Unity Alliance, was arrested from his daughter’s Kolonnawa house. He is now being held at the CID headquarters in Fort on a three month detention order.

Salley, taken into custody under the

Azath Salley’s Arrest And Detention: Some Relevant Questions

May 6, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,Opinion | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

 

By Latheef Farook -

Latheef Farook

In the wee hours on Thursday 2 May 2013, prominent Muslim politician Azath Salley, former Deputy Mayor of Colombo Municipality and leader of the newly formed National Unity Alliance, was arrested from his daughter’s Kolonnawa house. He is now being held at the CID headquarters in Fort on a three month detention order.

Salley, taken into

Sinhala Buddhist Hardliners Like Bodu Bala Sena Allowed Hate Speech but Muslim Politican Azath Salley Arrested as a ‘Terrorist’ Under PTA

5 May 2013, 6:35 pm

Bodu Bala Sena Rally in Kandy-Mar 2013

by

Ranga Jayasuriya

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has reportedly obtained a detention order to keep Azath Salley, the former Deputy Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), in custody, for an additional three months, according to the family of the detained politician.

Salley has been kept in custody by the CID since last Thursday (2) after he was arrested under the much loathed and despised Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and 120 of the Penal Code. He has been accused of inciting ethnic disharmony.

Clause 2.1 (h) of the PTA states that,

The BBS That My Mother Likes

May 5, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,Opinion | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

By Darshanie Ratnawalli

 

Darshanie Ratnawalli

I am the legitimate issue of a woman who unabashedly claims to admire the Bodu Bala Sena. This affords me a critical perspective into the issue, without which everyone is floundering like headless chickens. There may be other people, whose mothers etc. harbor soft spots for the BBS. But

Understanding The Causes Of The Sinhala-Muslim Conflict In Sri Lanka

May 5, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,Opinion | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

 

By Tilak Samaranayaka -

Tilak Samaranayaka

There have been several articles in the print media and in a few internet sites expressing views about the on-going conflict between the Sinhalese Buddhist organizations and Muslims over a number of issues, including the issue of Halal certification of consumer products.

So-Called “Causes Of The Sinhala-Muslim Conflict”

May 5, 2013 | Filed under: Opinion | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

By Laksiri Fernando -

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

There is a slang term in Australia, some people calling others ‘going troppo’ to mean going crazy. The origin of this slang is supposed to be the tropical heat in the northern parts of Australia driving people crazy.

Sri Lanka: On Buddhist Fundamentalism

May 5, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,Opinion | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

 

By Tariq Ali –

Tariq Ali

Four years after the brutal assault on the Tamil population and the killing of between 8—10,000 Tamils by the Sri Lankan army, there is trouble again. The saffron-robed fanatics, led by the BBS—Bodu Bala Sena: the most active and pernicious of Buddhist fundamentalist groups that have sprouted in Sinhala strongholds throughout the island— are

Azath Salley,Bodu Bala Sena,Northern Elections and 19th Constitutional Amendment

5 May 2013, 4:30 am

By
Tisaranee Gunasekara
Source: http://dbsjeyaraj.com/

“You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.”
Malcolm X (Advice to Youth of Mississippi – 1964)
 
Senior Journalist J Tissanayagam was charged with creating ethnic dissension, by a regime which included such apostles of reconciliation as Champika Ranawaka.

Thought of the Day

"ඔහුමය වර්ග දෙකක ජලය ඇති කළේ. එකක් මිරිදියය, බීමට හැකිය. අනික කරදියය, ලූණු රසැති හා තිත්තය. ඔහු ඒ දෙක අතර සම්බන්ධයක් ඇති කළේය. එය අතවරණිය (තරණය කළ නොහැකි) බාධකයකි". (ශු අල් කුර්ආනය 25:53)

Converting to Islam as a “Red Flag”: thoughts on Katherine Russell

Converting to Islam as a “Red Flag”: thoughts on Katherine Russell
by Emily Sutcliffe
Source: MuslimVillage.com

May 2, 2013 | Filed under: Featured,Opinion | Posted by: MV Media

Katherine Russell, widow of Boston Bombing suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev

By: Emily Sutcliffe

Source: MuslimVillage.com

When pictures first emerged of Katherine Russell I was not taken aback by the “strange” scene of a hijab-wearing white American woman from a well-educated family, quite the contrary – I felt a sense of connection to the young woman donning clogs and an animal print scarf; myself an American convert to Islam, looking at a picture of Russell was a lot like looking in the mirror.

Why are Buddhist Monks Attacking Muslims in Burma and Sri Lanka?

2 May 2013, 12:45 am

By Alan Strathern Oxford University

 

Of all the moral precepts instilled in Buddhist monks the promise not to kill comes first, and the principle of non-violence is arguably more central to Buddhism than any other major religion. So why have monks been using hate speech against Muslims and joining mobs that have left dozens dead?

This is happening in two countries separated by well over 1,000 miles of Indian Ocean – Burma and Sri Lanka. It is puzzling because neither country is facing an Islamist militant threat. Muslims in both places are a generally peaceable and small minority.

In Sri Lanka, the issue of halal slaughter has been a flashpoint. Led by monks, members of the Bodu Bala Sena – the Buddhist Brigade – hold rallies, call for direct action and the boycotting of Muslim businesses, and rail against the size of Muslim families.

Police ‘Arrest’ Former Colombo Deputy Mayor Azath Salley For Interrogation About Allegedly Promoting Terrorism

2 May 2013, 3:45 am

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj

Former Deputy mayor of Colombo and founder leader of the National United Front (NUF) Azath Salley was taken into custody by the Police in the morning of Thursday May 2nd 2013.

pic via ~ facebook.com/mazathssalley

The outspoken Muslim politician was taken away from the residence of a relative in Kolonnawa by a team of Police personnel comprising the Criminal Investigation Dept and Terrorism Investigation dept. Salley had been keeping away from his own house and staying elsewhere to avoid being arrested.

Salley is to be interrogated intensively by

Intentions, Methodologies and Strategies of Bodhu Bala Sena (Army of Buddhist Power) are UnBuddhistic Bordering on the Pagan and Archaic

30 April 2013, 5:25 pm

Bodu Bala Sena Rally in Kandy

By

Vishnuguptha

“I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others.” ~ Thomas Jefferson 

The intentions, methodologies and strategies of the Bodhu Bala Sena (Army of Buddhist Power) have so far been most unBuddhistic and bordering on the pagan and archaic. Their obvious intolerance and the crudest way they show it on village squares and town-halls, trashing other religions and their faithful devotees sometimes spill over the banks of decency and civility, a verbal diarrhea discharged at the whims and fancies of Buddhist fundamentalists preaching a new kind of ‘oriental jihad’, as some pundit said.

Fact finding report on the recent tensions between Muslims and Tamils in Mulliyawalai

28 April 2013, 8:42 pm

By

WOMEN’S ACTION NETWORK

Muslims and Tamils have returned to the North having experienced immense loss and struggles over the last 30 years. Post-2009 Muslims and Tamils have begun returning to Mullaiteevu and resettlement has been taking place slowly. However the numbers that are attempting to and have returned is much higher than the number displaced 30 years ago.

The ‘Miraculous’ Recovery of Duminda Silva in Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ‘Wonder of Asia’

28 April 2013, 2:02 am on http://www.dbsjeyaraj.com

by Tisaranee Gunasekara

pic courtesy: tamilwin

“I think we are blind….. Blind people who can see, but do not see” ~ Jose Saramago (Blindness)

Miracles happen in the ‘Wonder of Asia’.

Last week, the lawyers representing Parliamentarian Duminda Silva – on the basis of multiple diagnoses by eminent physicians – assured a court of law that their client was a grievously sick man. The judge was told that Mr. Silva’s left side was paralysed, his brain function down by 40% and his

Worries Of Budu Bala Sena

By Rifai Naleemi -

Do we really need to response to the provocations and hated campaigns of this tiny group of extremists in Sri Lanka?  Much has been said and written about them in various news papers and TV broadcasting. It has been highlighted in recent media presentation and press release.  Reading through what has been said and written about them I could notice that there are two schools of thought in our response to the provocations and activities of this group. One school of thought argues that BBS should be

#Video: #Burmese Security Filled Mass Graves With #Muslims

April 24, 2013 | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

 

Burmese security forces organised and stood guard over Buddhist attacks on Muslim settlements before burying scores of bodies, some with their hands tied behind their backs, in mass graves, Human Rights Watch said in a report.

"Rally for Unity - Hate Has No Place in Sri Lanka”

 April 28th, Colombo.

A movement to show that moderates are strong & united against hate and are
committed to promote understanding about the strengths of diversity & unity.

Given the recent spate of hate speech and the marginalization of minority
communities in general, a voluntary movement of

Mahinda Picking Muslims Individually While Gota Helping BBS

April 18, 2013 |  Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

 

By Ajith Parakum Jayasinghe –                     

                                        

Ajith Parakum Jayasinghe

President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his tour of Kataragama visited the mosque situated in the Kataragama Sacred City on April 15. Having been welcomed by the Moulavi of the mosque, the President participated in religious observations and received his blessings. Uva Chief Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Indigenous Medicine Minister

Gotabaya Rajapaksa: Are you listening?

16 Apr, 2013 Thrishantha Nanayakkara Colombo, Features, Politics and Governance, Post-War, Religion and faith

Image from Lanka Standard

After nearly 7 years of postgraduate education and independent research experience abroad, I returned to Sri Lanka in mid 2003, to work in my mother country Sri Lanka that gave me free education all the way upto university level. When I left Johns Hopkins University in USA, some of my friends cautioned me of the danger I might face in a possible breakout of the war in Sri Lanka. Still, a strong compulsion kept me firm on the decision to return. When I was interviewed by the University of Moratuwa, where I received undergraduate education, I made it clear to the Vice Chancellor that my intension of joining the University would be to set up a laboratory to develop new technologies to detect landmines. Within a week,

WikiLeaks: US And The LTTE Should Join Together To Defeat The Muslims – Pro-LTTE Tamils

April 10, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,Most Popular,News,STORIES,WikiLeaks | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

 

“Note: The U.S. team repeatedly asked interlocutors about continuing reports of Muslim extremism in the east. Most observers had little clear- cut information about the matter and Muslim interlocutors denied it was a factor. Nonetheless, the team did notice many new mosques under construction and various “Islamic foundation” offices operating in Muslim towns. It is hard to see how eastern Muslims could afford to pay for

Video: A Sri Lankan Buddhist Monk Speaks Out – Let Sri Lanka Have Thousands Of Buddha Putras Like Him

April 8, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,Most Popular,News,STORIES | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

In this video a Buddhist monk,  Ven  Galkande Dhammananda speaks on Sri Lanka’s war and the Buddhists way of conflict resolution.

“It is indeed heartening to

Video: I Fear Any Time A ‘Black July’ Will Repeat And This Time It’s Against Muslims – Ven. Galkande Dhammananda

April 14, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,News,STORIES | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

By Colombo Telegraph -

“I think as a monk that the social/political problems that we are facing in our country has to be solved amicably through duologues which we have repeatedly failed from the independence. Now we are again in a beginning of another round of violence. I fear any time a ‘black July’

Use of Function Keys

இதுல இவ்வளவு இருக்கா...?

நாம் கணினியை பயன்படுத்தும் போதெல்லாம் மேல் வரிசையில் உள்ள Function Key-க்களை பார்த்து இருப்போம். நாம் அடிக்கடி பயன்படுத்தும் ஒன்று F5. மற்ற பதினோரும் கூட மிக அதிகமான பயன்களை தருகின்றனர். அவற்றைப் பற்றி பார்க்கலாம்.

F1
இது பெரும்பாலும் எல்லா ப்ரோக்ராம்களிலும் Help Screen ஐ ஓபன் செய்யப் பயன்படுகிறது. CMOS Setup இலும்

Victory for 9/11 Justice!

Tony Rooke refused to pay a TV
license fee because the BBC
intentionally misrepresented facts
about the 9/11 attacks, he alleged.

It is widely known that the BBC
reported the collapse of World Trade
Center Building 7 over 20 minutes
before it occurred. WTC 7 was a 47-
story skyscraper that was not hit by
a plane on 9/11 but collapsed at
free-fall speed later that day.

So Rooke said the BBC had to have
had prior knowledge to a terror attack
making them complicit in the attack.
He presented the BBC footage to the
judge along with a slew of other evidence,
and the judge agreed that Rooke had a
reasonable case to protest. Rooke was
found not guilty and he was not fined
for failure to pay the licensing fee.

Video (about 8 and a half mins):

Victory for 9/11 Justice!

Here is the broadcast where the BBC
announced the collapse of WTC 7 while
it was still standing behind the reporter:

Video (about 9 mins)

BBC Reports Collapse of WTC Building 7 Over 20 mins Early

Sri Lanka And Indian / American Agendas

April 8, 2013 |  Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

By Austin Fernando -

Austin Fernando

Having read a post by HE Jaliya Wickramasuriya, our Ambassador in the USA, titled “A Role for Sri Lanka in US Pivot to Asia”, I thought it may be ideal to understand how others compete to be in the US pivot to Asia to do business. I mean “business” only in economic terms and

Thought of the Day

 ”ඔබේ දෙමාපියන්ගෙන් කෙනෙකු හෝ දෙදෙනාම හෝ වයස්ගත වී ඔබෙන් (යැපෙන්නේ වී නම්) ඔවුන් පිළිකුල් සිතෙන අයුරින් ”චී” යනුවෙන් හෝ නොකියනු, තවද ඔවුන් පලවා නොහරිනු, තවද ඔවුන් සමග ගෞරවාන්විතව කථා කරනු. තවද දයාව පුදමින් යටහත් භාවයේ පිහාටු ඔවුන් වෙනුවෙන් පහත් කරනු. හිමියනි! කුඩා වියෙහි මා වෙත කරුණාව දැක්වූවා මෙන් ඒ දෙදෙනාට කරුණාව දක්වනු මැනව යනුවෙන් ප‍්‍රාර්ථනා කරනු” 

(ශුද්ධවූ අල්කුර්ආනය: 17: 23, 24)

A translated article of Ustad Hajjul Akber - Ameer Jamat-e-Islami, Sri Lanka

2013-04-11

සිංහල බෞද්ධ ජනතාවනි!

ඔබලා අපගේ අය්යලා බව කියවුනි; අපි මල්ලිලා බව සිතුවෙමු; ඔබලා අපට බිරියන් ලබාදුන් බව කියවුනි; අපි ඥාති සම්බන්දතා පැතුවෙමු; ‘මෙය සිංහල රටක් බව... ඔබලා කීවත් රට බෙදා වෙන්කරලා අපටත් කොටසක් දෙන්නැයි කියා අප කිසිවිටකත් නොඉල්ලූවෙමු. ඇතැම් ආගමික විශ්වාසයන්, වත් පිළිවෙත් හා අපගේ භාෂාව හැර අන් කිසි දෙයකින් අපව ඔබලාගෙන්

The battle for sacred ground - Kuragala, Sri Lanka

The misty mountain village of Kuragala, just off Balangoda, came alive on Monday when a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter landed in the area carrying Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and a full retinue of military, Police and intelligence officers onboard.
Accompanied by dozens of Buddhist monks including Jathika Hela Urumaya Leader Ellawela Medhananda Thero, Moulavis, Chief of National Intelligence Major General (Retd) Kapila Hendawitharana and officials from the Department of Archaeology, the Defence Secretary undertook a site visit of the rock face on top of which sits an Islamic heritage shrine. Kuragala is home to an ancient Sufi shrine, sacred to Muslims because Arabic rock inscriptions, tombstones and other historical evidence point to a greatly revered Islamic saint having meditated in the rock caves for 12 years on a pilgrimage to Adam’s Peak. Once a year, pilgrims flock to the site to commemorate the death anniversary of Saint Sheikh Muhiyadeen Abdul Qadir. At all other times, it is a haven for meditation and solitary reflection that

Religion, Reconciliation & future

Please find below the links of the presentation of the senior Diplomats & Intellectuals  on Religion, Reconciliation & future on 08/04/2013

"Religion, Reconciliation and Future" - Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka.

http://youtu.be/IlIm7_AMHhw

"Religion, Reconciliation and Future" - Mr. M.A. Sumanthiran. MP

http://youtu.be/BkVgopBVouI

"Religion, Reconciliation and Future" - Mr. Javed Yousuf.

http://youtu.be/RrLXzXBiGZQ

"Religion, Reconciliation and Future" - Rev. Duleep De Chickera (Former Bishop)

http://youtu.be/20S-iifCREc

"Religion, Reconciliation and Future" - Mr. Pubudu Jagoda.

http://youtu.be/iezNkeuezD0

Bodu Bala Vs. Mera Bala

April 9, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,Opinion | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

By Kasun Adikari -

Kasun Adikari

“We have still not got over the shock of the traumatic events of last July. It was a tragedy that we failed to avert. It was a tragedy that did the country no good. The duty, an inescapable duty, to the country is to see that another disaster of that nature never overtakes our people.” – S. D. Bandaranaike – reported in the Sunday Observer on 30th October 1983

Introduction

“Adirajyavadi Balavegaya”, “Anthavadeen” are the two Sinhala terms often used by the Regime and its new wing Bala Sena to face any challenges locally as

Attacks on Muslims' Religious Places in Sri Lanka

Click Below:
Attacks on Muslims' Religious Places in Sri Lanka

Source:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/134168238/Attacks-on-Muslim-Religious-Places-SL

Hadhiz of the Day

"කෙනෙකු අල්ලාහ්ගේ දූතවරයා වෙත පැමිණ ඉස්ලාම්හි ඉතා උසස් කුමක්දැයි විමසා සිටියේය. එයට දූතවරයාණන් කුස ගින්නෙන් පෙළෙන්නන්ට ඔබ ආහාර ලබාදීම ද, ඔබ දන්නා අයටද නොදන්නා අයටද සලාම් පැවසීම" යනුවෙන් පිළිතුරු දුන්හ. (විස්තරකරන්නේ: අබ්දුල්ලාහ් ඉබ්නු අම්ර් (රලි, මූලාශ‍්‍රය: බුහාරි)

Is Sri Lanka Capable of Conducting Independent Investigation Into Mass Graves Found in Matale,,,,?

8 April 2013, 1:38 am

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

True to Sri Lankan style, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to appoint a ‘presidential commission’ to conduct an inquiry into the Matale mass grave.

The mandate of the proposed commission is to be finalized in two days, Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayake, said, confiding to our correspondent that he too is awaiting further instruction with regard to the latest presidential decision. Indications are that the decision to appoint a commission was made in a hurry, in an apparent move to wade off an international

WikiLeaks: No Concrete Signs “Jihadis” Are Gaining Ground In Sri Lanka – G8 Ambassadors In SL

April 7, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,News,STORIES,WikiLeaks | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable discusses the ”Ideological radicalization” in Sri Lanka. The cable is classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” and written on April 09, 2006. The cable is signed by the US Ambassador to Colombo Jeffrey J. Lunstead.

The ambassador wrote;

The Husband Who Was Too Shy To Look At His Wife

....So I said to him: “And the likes of her truly deserve that from you.”....

This story was recounted by Prof. Khalid Al-Jubeir, consulting cardiovascular surgeon, in one of his lectures:

Once I operated on a two and a half year old child. It was Tuesday, and on Wednesday the child was in good health. On Thursday at 11:15 am – and I’ll never forget the time because of the shock I experienced – one of the nurses informed me that the heart and breathing of the child had stopped. I hurried to the child and performed cardiac massage for 45 minutes and during that entire time the heart would not work.

Then, ALLAH decreed for the heart to resume function and we thanked HIM. I went to inform the child’s family about his condition. As you know, it is very difficult to inform the patient’s family about his condition when it’s bad. This is one of the most difficult situations a

சிங்கள மக்களுடன் ஒரு சில நிமிடங்கள் - ஹஜ்ஜுல் அக்பர்

உஸ்தாத் ரஷீத் ஹஜ்ஜுல் அக்பர்,

அமீர், இலங்கை ஜமாஅத்தே இஸ்லாமி

April, 2013

சிங்கள பௌத்த மக்களே..!

உங்களனைவரையும் விளித்துப் பேசுவதற்காக முதலில் மன்னிப்புக் கேட்கிறேன். நீங்கள் அனைவரும் முஸ்லிம்களது பார்வையில் விமர்சனத்துக்குரியவர்களல்லர். எனினும், உங்களில் சிறு தொகையினர் கண்ணியமிக்க பிக்குமார்களின் தலைமையில் முஸ்லிம் விரோத செயல்பாட்டை மிக அண்மையில் துவங்கியிருக்கிறார்கள். அவர்கள் பேசுகின்ற பேச்சுக்களைப் பார்த்தால் முஸ்லிம்கள் மீது அவர்களுக்கு உண்மையான வெறுப்பு இருப்பதாகத் தெரியவில்லை. ஏதோவொரு நோக்கத்தை அடைந்து கொள்வதற்காக இல்லாத வெறுப்பையும் குரோதத்தையும் அவர்கள் வலிந்து எடுத்துக் கொண்டுள்ளார்கள் என்றே தெரிகிறது. அந்த வெறுப்பையும் குரோதத்தையும் சிங்கள பௌத்த சமூகத்தின் மீது அவர்கள் வலிந்து திணிக்க முற்படுகிறார்கள். முஸ்லிம்களோடு சகவாசமில்லாத, முஸ்லிம்கள் பற்றிய உண்மைகளை அறியாத பலர் இந்த வெறுப்பையும்

The First Racial Riot in Sri Lanka:

The First Racial Riot:

The very first racial riot in the island was in 1915. It was between the Sinhala Buddhists and the Muslims – 136 Muslims were killed and 205 were injured and raped. Nearly 85 mosques were damaged and more than 4,075 Muslim-owned shops were looted by the Sinhala rioters, from Central province to the Western and North Western provinces.

The riot subdued the fighting spirit of the Muslims, but the attack on Muslims again started in 1974, and tension intensified between the Sinhalese and Muslims in Mylumkulam in Puttalam. Government officials and the Police showed their partiality and supported the Sinhalese.

In January 1976, as

FACE-OFF FOR BBS ON THE 3RD APRIL 2013

FACE-OFF FOR BBS ON THE 3RD APRIL 2013

BRAVO MR  K.T. RAJASINGHAM, REALLY HATS OFF TO YOU FOR THIS PIECE OF GREAT, GREAT JOURNALISM

PERHAPS------THE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR WORLDWIDE - 

MR K.T. RAJASINGHAM 

PLEASE VISIT

www.asiantribune.com

Dear Mr. Arne Fjortsot,

I am the Chief Editor of Asian Tribune. I wish to seek you clarification regarding the visit to Norway of Ven GalagodaAththe Gnanasara Thero, presently, Secretary General of Bodu Bala Sena - a Buddhist outfit of Sri Lanka.

Dr. Rajitha Senaratne – Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources when speaking to Asian Tribune said that you took Ven Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero to Norway and introduced him to Norwegian Government officials and

Al Quran Verses

මතු දිනය අසත්‍ය කරන්නා ඔබ දුටුවේද? ඔහුයි අනාථයින් පළවා හරින්නේ. තවද දිළින්දන්ට ආහාර ලබා දීමට ද ඔහු නොදිරිගන්වයි". (ශු අල්කුර්ආනය 107:1-3)

Peace lovers !!!

Below links are the presentations made by various religious leaders @ a press conference on 2nd April 2013. Organized by Interfaith Study circle.

Ven. Baddhegama Samitha Thero speaks on the current issue:
http://youtu.be/NPbQpUDmUN0

Dr. Hunupolagama Vajira Sri Nayaka Thero @ Interfaith Study Circle Press Conference
http://youtu.be/m4DHP6fMWlc
Fr. Chrispin Leo - Spiritual Director - St.Peter's college Speaks on the current trend in Sri Lanka,..
http://youtu.be/k1nlYwBaa-A

Mani Sree Nivaya Gurukkal’s statement of current issues
http://youtu.be/9JF4BRzYmk8
Ash Sheik M.F.M Faroodh – express his views on the current hatred issues….
http://youtu.be/GWYvVK3B9wI

Interfaith Study Circle Press Conference - Fr. Sakthivel says…….
http://youtu.be/PjoGgTzfxko

The Muslim in me

• By  Malinda Seneviratne
• Sunday, 31 March 2013 00:00

One of the greatest lessons that Buddhism has taught me is that the idea or concept of ‘self’ is untenable. Paikkūlamanasikāra or “reflections on repulsiveness”, where body parts are contemplated in a variety of ways teaches us not just about impermanence but makes us question ‘I’. It helps diminish ego. Similarly, if one contemplated sensations and thoughts deep enough, immediately one begins to understand that ‘I’ is made of innumerable ‘externalities’. This too makes a composite, name-related ‘self’ a meaningless proposition.