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