208 Sri Lankans Condemn The Attack On Grandpass Masjid Deenul Islam August 15, 2013 | COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH In response to the attack on the Masjid Deenul Islam at Grandpass today 208 Sri Lankans issued the statement below; We the undersigned strongly condemn the violent and unprovoked attack on the Masjid Deenul Islam in Grandpass area on Saturday, August 10, 2013 by an extremist mob injuring 12 people, in the wake of the Eid Festival. We are outraged over the spate of violent attacks against Christian and Muslim places of worship, and remain deeply concerned about the rise of extremist rhetoric around the island. Grandpass Muslim Prayer Centre attack While recognising and promoting the constitutionally guaranteed rights of free speech, religious worship, and assembly, we urge all communities to respect the religious beliefs – and the associated rights – of their fellow citizens, and to not be influenced by State-condoned Buddhist extremists groups. At this time, we also wish to express our deep disappointment at the lack of concrete outcomes from inquiries into multiple other attacks against places of worship that have occurred in the recent past. We are extremely disheartened at the silence and the visible apathy displayed by the Government and the Mahanayake Theros of the Tri-Nikayas, at a time when the rights to religious worship and assembly of its citizens are being threatened by extremism. We also wish to highlight apparent State complicity, and the level of impunity repeatedly granted by the State to extremist elements in the country. We urge law enforcement authorities to ensure strict adherence to rule of law and prosecute those who are responsible for these heinous crimes, in the existence of abundant evidence put forward by both the public and the media. In addition, we are very disturbed to see continued Police inaction and delays in responding to incidents of racist mob violence, which is a clear indication of State complicity, and the lack of any interest by Defense Authorities to hold perpetrators accountable. We welcome and endorse the open letter of protest by Muslim members of the Government addressed to the President of Sri Lanka, and share their view that “the lukewarm and ineffective measures taken by the law enforcement agencies on previous occasions, when Muslim communities and their mosques were deliberately attacked, seem to have emboldened some extremist groups who seem determined to create chaos in the country that is still in search of national reconciliation after a prolonged war.” Further, we call on the Government to investigate into and hold accountable those responsible for the brutal killing of three youth in Weliweriya earlier this month, when the State sent in the military to quell a civilian protest calling for clean water. In light of reports of media suppression and violence against media personnel reporting from the scene, we strongly urge law enforcement authorities and the protestors to respect the freedom of the press, and to take all measures to ensure their safety. We wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured in this attack, and commend the calm resilience demonstrated by many of those who were victimised. Signatures; A.H. Stephen – Deputy Secretary General, Liberal Party of Sri Lanka A.M. Faaiz – Attorney-at-Law A.S. Mohamed Rayees Ainslie Joseph – Convenor, Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA) Aisha Ajmal Wahab – Student Aisha Nazim Ajmal Wahab – Partner, Bullion Exchange Jewellers Amal de Chickera Amar Gunatilleke Ameena Hussein Anandi Devendrakumary Anberiya Hanofa Anitha Selvarajah Ann Jabba Anoma de Alwis Antonio A. Oposa Jr. – (Philippines) Anukshi Jayasinha Anushya Coomaraswamy Ayeshea Perera Azra Abdul Cader B. Gowthaman Balasingham Skanthakumar Bannu Ifthikar Bhathiya Waduge – Director/Structural Engineer, CSE Consultants (Pvt) Ltd. Bhavani Fonseka C. Gadiewasam – Journalist Cayathri. D. Chamindry Saparamadu Chandra Jayaratne – Former Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chandraguptha Thenuwara Chandralal Colombage Cheran Rudhramoorthy Chulani Kodikara D.B.S. Jeyaraj – Journalist Damaris Wickremesekera Danesh Casie Chetty – Ambassador (Retd.) Deanne Uyangoda Devika – Colombo Dinesha Samararatne – University of Colombo Dinidu de Alwis Dinouk Colombage – Journalist Dr. A.M. Ali Saja – Doctor Dr. Anita Nesiah – National Peace Council (NPC) Dr. Danesh Karunanayake – Senior Lecturer, University of Peradeniya Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka – Former Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Dr. Leonie Solomons – Social Entrepreneur Dr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan - Development Economist & Principal Researcher, Point Pedro Institute of Development Dr. Neavis Morais – Senior Lecturer, Open University of Sri Lanka Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Dr. Ranil D. Guneratne – University of Colombo Dr. Sepali Kottegoda Dr. Shamala Kumar – University of Peradeniya Dr. T. Jayasingam – National Peace Council (NPC) Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara – Senior Research Professional, Centre for Poverty Analysis Dr. Vivimarie VanderPoorten Medawattegedera – Senior Lecturer, Open University of Sri Lanka Dr. Zulfika Ismail Emil van der Poorten Faizun Zackariya Freddy Gamage – Meepura Newspaper/Center for Peoples Dialogue Furkhan Bee Ifthikar G.S. Lakshan J.S. Dias Gamini Viyangoda Gavin Britto – Co-Founder, RuCode International Harean Hettiarachchi Harini Amarsuriya – Open University of Sri Lanka Harith de Mel – Attorney-at-Law Hashintha Jayasinghe – Graduate Herman Kumara – National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) Hilary Perera Wirasinha – DoC Hilmy Ahamed Ifthikhar Aziz – President, Sri Lanka Pakistan Friendship Association Isuru Perera – Social Research Supervisor Jake Oorloff Janaki Jayawardena – University of Colombo Jansila Majeed Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala – Women and Media Collective Jayatilaka Kammallaweera Jehan Perera – National Peace Council (NPC) Jehanki Anandha Jeyachithra Selambaram Joe William Joel Fernando – Business Development Manager, Insu Trading International Juwairiya Mohideen K. Aingkaran – Attorney-at-Law K.S. Ratnavale – Attorney-at-Law Kath Noble Krishna Velupillai Kumudini Perera Kumudini Samuel Kusal Perera – Journalist Lakshan Dias – Attorney-at-Law Leila Udayar Liyanage Amarakeerthi Lucia Nicholas M. Rahman – Mannar M.A. Sumanthiran – Member of Parliament & Attorney-at-Law M.H. Mohamed Hisham Mahaluxumy Kurushanthan – Mannar Mahendran Thiruvarangan Mala Liyanage – Executive Director, Law and Society Trust Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema – Journalist/President, Sri Lanka Journalists’ Trade Union (SLJTU) Mano Ganesan – Convener, Civil Monitoring Commission (CivilMC) Manouri Pieris – Attorney-at-Law Marianne David Mario Gomez Marisa de Silva Mathuri Thamilmaran – Attorney-at-Law Melani Manel Perera Melisha Yapa Menaha Kandasamy Michael O’Leary – Freelance Writer Michelle Pinto Minna Thaheer Mirak Raheem Mohammed Ajiwadeen – Research Officer/Parliament of Sri Lanka Mohammed Mahuruf – Secretariat for Muslims Muzzammil Cader – SAMADANA/M, Centre for Promoting Non Violence, Conflict Resolution & Peace Building Nadeesh Jayasinghe Nalliah Kumaraguruparan Ashokbharan – Law Student Nigel Nugawela Nilshan Fonseka Nimalka Fernando – Women’s Political Academy (Sri Lanka) Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri Nirmanusan Balasundaram Nishelli Perera – Senior Strategy Analyst P.A.R. Anuruddha P.N. Singham Padmika Dissanaike Padmini Weerasooriya – Mothers and Daughters of Lanka Prabu Deepan Priti Sudra Priya Thangarajah Prof. Kumar David Prof. M. Sitralega Prof. Navaratna Bandara Prof. Priyan Dias – University of Moratuwa Sumanasiri Liyanage – Principal (Retd.), Marx School Pushpalatha Paramasivam R.M.B. Senanayake – National Peace Council (NPC) Raashid Riza Raghu Balachandran Rajaluxmi Visvasam Rajani Chandrasekaran – Jaffna Rajiva Wijesinha – Member of Parliament Ramla Ajmal Wahab – International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) Remo Shihan Renton de Alwis – Former Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Rev. Dr. Jayasiri Peiris Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga Rev. Fr. Reid Shelton Fernando Rev. Fr. S. M. Praveen (OMI) Rev. Fr. Sebamalai Rev. Fr. Sherard Jayawardane Rev. Fr. Terrence Fernando Rev. Fr. V. Yogeswaran – Centre for the Promotion & Protection of Human Rights (CPPHR), Trincomalee Rev. Jason J. Selvaraja – Assembly of God, Chavakachcheri Rev. Sr. Deepa Fernando (HF) Rev. Sr. Helen Fernando Rev. Sr. Immaculate de Alwis Riza Yehiya Rohana Ratnayake – Senior Lecturer in Law, Open University of Sri Lanka Roshni Alles Ruki Fernando Rushdi Jaleel Khan Ruvan Weerasinghe – University of Colombo Ruzaina Mahuruf S.A.M. Jabir S.C.A. Obeyesekere Safana Gul Begum Sahan Mendis Saliya Pieris – Attorney-at-Law Sampath Samarakoon Sanja Jayatilleka Sanjaya Senanayake Selyna Peiris – Attorney-at-Law Shanthini Kanapathy Shariz Faleel – Manager – Finance & Administration, Secretariat for Muslims (Guarantee) Ltd Sharni Jayawardena Shiromalee Perera Shreen Saroor – Women’s Action Network Shri Shankar Subramaniam Shyamala Gomez Shyara Jaleel Khan Siritunga Jayasuriya – General Secretary, United Socialist Party Sivamohan Sumathy Srinath Perera – Attorney-at-Law Subashini Ramesh Sulakshani Perera Sunanda Deshapriya – Journalist Sunil Jayasekera Supipi Jayawardena – Researcher & Lecturer Swarnalatha Subramaniam Tehani Ariyaratne Thahir Kubais Thajun Mohamed Nishan – One Text Initiative Thanuka Nandasiri – Attorney-at-Law Thiruni Kelegama U.L. Jaufer Upali Pannilage – Senior Lecturer, University of Ruhuna Upeksha Thabrew Upul Wickramasinghe V. Jokeswaran – Teacher V.S. Ganesalingam – Attorney-at-Law Vanie Simon Venuri Perera Visaka Dharmadasa – Association of War Affected Women Wasaam Ismail colombotelegraph/index.php/208-sri-lankans-condemn-the-attack-on-grandpass-masjid-deenul-islam/
Posted on: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:03:37 +0000
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