Tuesday, 24 June 2014 00:02
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Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who has championed religious tolerance issues in the recent past, has strongly condemned the riots in Aluthgama and Beruwala last week and urged the authorities to act against the instigators and perpetrators of the violence.
Expressing deep concern about the outbreak of communal violence and anti-Muslim attacks in southern Sri Lanka, Kumaratunga urged the Government to take immediate action in every way possible, to bring a halt to communal and religious violence.
“I’m saddened by the loss of precious lives, the displacement of families and the wanton destruction of property. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones and their livelihoods,” Kumaratunga said in a statement from London, the first-of-its-kind by any politician in Sri Lanka.
The former President said she was appalled by initial reports that the violence seems orchestrated and followed a public meeting and a provocative march by violent extremists who pursue their narrow, personal goals, in the name of Buddhism.
“It’s a matter of great concern that the law enforcement authorities have failed to deal with the hate mongering and blatant violation of the Law for nearly 18 months,” her statement charged.
In her forthright remarks, the former President said that Government connivance with communal violence in 1983 had led the country to a terribly destructive war for 25 years.
“Since then, several governments of Sri Lanka led the military, the Police and the peoples of Lanka to defeat terrorism and separatism,” the statement said.
Kumaratunga said the present Government had played an essential role in finally bringing an end to war and terrorism.
“We now have before us an extraordinary opportunity for progress and prosperity by creating a pluralist, inclusive democracy, giving to all our citizens, equal economic, socio-cultural and political opportunity,” the former President said.
She said the freedom of belief and of expression were key elements of a free, democratic society and of a politically stable, economically prosperous state.
“It is the duty of Government to protect the lives of every one of its citizens, to guarantee the Rule of Law prevails for all alike. It is the sacred responsibility of the highest authorities of Government to ensure this,” she added.
“I say this, without hesitation, as I’m aware of how speedily my Government successfully halted acts of provocation and communal violence, on several occasions, against Christian churches and also against Muslim persons and their property, which occurred in several districts in the south and the east. Immediate and strong action resolved the issue,” the statement added.
Kumaratunga said the country should not be dragged into another civil war, by a small group of extremists. “The vast majority of Sinhala Buddhists believes in the path of understanding, loving kindness, generosity and rationality,” her statement concluded.
