Friday, 23 May 2014 00:56
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Blames officials for not implementing decisions made about Grandpass mosque
Deputy Minister for Investment Promotion and SLFP Organiser for Colombo Central, Faiszer Musthapha has slammed officials of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs for failing to implement decisions made regarding the Grandpass mosque last year.
The mosque was at the centre of controversy in August 2013 after a mob attacked the Molawatte Prayer Centre premises on Chaithya Road during evening prayers, one day after the Eid festival.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, the Deputy Minister said that at a meeting convened to resolve the tensions in the area, which was attended by religious leaders and several ministers, a decision had been reached to allocate land for a new mosque.
The meeting had been chaired by Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Dinesh Gunewardena, the Deputy Minister said.
“It was clearly laid out that your Ministry would take necessary steps to make available the requisite land and facilitate construction of the mosque,” the Deputy Minister wrote.
The Minister said officials should be more focused on public issues which if not addressed timely could result in drastic consequences.
“In this connection, I have had several queries from anxious residents of the area,” the Deputy Minister said in his letter. He said that inaction would greatly erode the credibility of the Ministry and the Government.
