Ranil raises ethnic tensions flare-up in P’ment

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

Our Lobby Correspondent

Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday pointed out the continuation of ethnic and communal violence taking place in some parts of the country and emphasised on the urgency of finding a firm solution to defuse the increasing tension between the Sinhalese and the Muslims.

“The Police reports that no incidents have taken place in Hiriyala and Kurunegala are incorrect. There is continuing tension in the area. Therefore, will the Government have an independent inquiry into this matter consulting the Provincial Council members and Members of Parliament who have made complaints and brought this to the notice of the Police?” he said.

“On 6 February 2013, I had the occasion to raise a question relating to a matter of public importance, namely the ethnic and communal incidents that were taking place in the country and referred to the statement in the Parliament by Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs M.K.D.S. Gunawardena, where he denied that there were such incidents. The Leader of the House replying on 7 February stated that I had distorted the facts. He went on to inquire which mosques had been attacked and what the period was during which these incidents had occurred and challenged me to give details. He also stated that the Inspector General of Police had referred that there had been no incidents of attacks on mosques or religious groups. As I stated, I will be writing to the Minister with the details, but would like to make a statement regarding the incidents, which occurred in Kurunegala and Hiriyala.

“In the first instance, I would like to refer to the front page report of Tamil newspaper Sudar Oli of 26 July 2012, which refers to an incident where some bhikkus forcibly entered the mosque at Inguruwatte and chanted pirith and demanded that the mosque be shut down. Another incident referred to in the same newspaper refers to the Ambanpola mosque where people have forcibly thrown away the Holy Quran. I am also referring to the letter dated 14 April 2012 addressed to the President by M.T. Baddurdeen referring to an incident at Akram mosque, Makulwela, with an attached petition, and letter dated 29 December 2011 addressed to Viharadhipathi of Makulwela by the Divisional Secretary of Ganewatte, Nikadalupoth,” he explained.

Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and the Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva responding to the Leader of the Opposition on the same matter for the second time stated that none of the incidents have taken place as stated, adding that they were “fictitious”.

He also stated that strict laws had been enacted to prevent any communal violence taking place in Sri Lanka and these circulars had been enforced by the Police. “A committee is appointed to inquire and consider building of new religious institutions. It is duty of the Government as well as the Opposition to prevent communal hatred being spread. The Opposition Leader’s action to establish such incidents indeed help create a divide between the ethnicities as wildfire,” said Minister de Silva.