The Concerns of the Sangha with regards to allegations – are they warranted?

The President has been informed about unprecedented allegations against Buddhism by persons unknown and reasons unknown and this has been extensively reported in the Media this morning. See link for details of the claims

http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Kotte-Sangha-Sabha-writes-firm-letter-to-President--131866.html

Firstly, what would we expect the President of this Country to do? All he really can, is to advise the public, all citizens of this Country, to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims on Social Media etc and more accurately plead for sanity as we JUST cannot control social media or even ban it, as the issue will snowball in a different direction, and create further problems, far more than they will potentially solve.

If truth were to be told, there are allegations, unfounded or with evidence against EVERY religion in social media, as there are people who have an agenda. Civilized people only make founded observations and should NOT make it personal unless substantial evidence is available.

Take the case today, when a senior Cardinal of the Catholic Church has been accused of pedophilia and action is about to be taken against him. This is against a priest and NOT the Church, except some intimation that the Church itself was remiss at not doing enough to prevent its repetition once discovered.

It is therefore IMPORTANT to keep these issues in perspective and have a clear head when making these Press Statements about the insults to the main religion in Sri Lanka, obviously by people of other faiths, who would under the normal course of events NOT have much fondness for Buddhism. It must be noted that there are enough and more Buddhists, Clergy included who take umbrage at other religions and are NOT happy about conversions!

Conversions of adults should not be one that people should get unduly flustered about, as it happens in all directions, where Buddhist become Christian and Christians become Buddhists, however there is a difference where a Muslim person wants to become a Buddhist or Christian they face even more antagonism by other Muslims, than Buddhists do if a Buddhist converts to Christianity. Have you heard of any violations if a Christian becomes a Buddhist amongst the Christian Community? Well then similarly a Buddhist should not get overly antagonistic if it works the other way.

We should therefore apply the rules or laws equally and not make special cases for people to exploit. In short, NO ONE should be allowed to unfairly criticize other religions, without cause, however one must be cognizant of the fact that in this era of social media, it is difficult to bring offenders to justice.

The best means to counter any religious intolerance is NOT by force, but by living by example so that one’s religion is one to be emulated and NOT branded insincere or downright sinful. In that respect there is greater pressure on any MAJORITY religion whether it is Buddhism in Sri Lanka or Christianity in UK, to live by example of the precepts of the religion.

Lately due to behavior that is NOT in keeping with an elder of the faith, these practitioners have set bad examples, that is used by other religions as examples of religious behavior. It is then up to the Maha Sangha to take a stand against that person or Priest and Counter any suggestions that they may be in cahoots and are also in agreement with his despicable behavior.

It is incumbent upon the Buddhist Clergy in Sri Lanka therefore to live and behave by example so that they do NOT sound like hypocrites. If this is the case they can easily deflect any suggestions or innuendo made against Buddhism as merely being the work of fundamentalists of other religions which even those religions DO NOT condone, and so would be vilified by one and all.

I am not sure how the President will handle this thorny problem as the Kotte Declaration requests that the President take steps to stop this attack on the principle religion of Sri Lanka, without any rational basis for such attacks.

How can the President practically stop it, if he is unable to pin point who is making allegations? He cannot directly confront parties to ask for explanation.

Personally, from experience I know when a can of worms is shaken, the worms try to sneak out and cause even more problems, and instead of shutting out the issue, it just gets worse and you don’t know where else it will raise its ugly head. The old adage says let sleeping dogs lie, but in this case is the problem so grave, or is it just the perception of a few and NOT the many?

It is a matter for the Buddhist Sangha to immediately take a position that is acceptable to all or at least to a quorum before reaching out to the President for help. I am unsure if this has only affected the Kotte Sangha Saba or if it is a widespread perception. It is important to be PROPORTIONATE in acting on this fear or reality.

Personally I fear this is overkill, giving license to perpetrators to continue, as they are obviously having the desired effect on the target audience as their cajoling is to make them react, so they can use the REACTION for their benefit, rather than if it is completely pooh poohed as the work of some nut cases, then perhaps it will just die down. I rather suspect the advice the President will give is to simply ignore it, and NOT to exacerbate an issue out of proportion. 

School Admissions in Sri Lanka - Especially to Grade ONE

It is the time all over again for entry into Grade 1 for January 1st 2018

The Government has published the (two full pages of details on how the marks are allocated and how students are chosen for particular schools of the parents choice)

However as the article today shows how completely and UTTERLY despicable the whole process is, and if you were a parent with even a little bit of self respect and ability to afford it you would NOT in a million years want to go through this trial to get your child into a school this way.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/The-truth-about-school-admissions-131295.html

The link above shows an article that goes into detail about what actually happens, and why it is so unfair to the most qualified students especially those living literally NEXT door who cannot put their children to that school because of unfair and frankly illegal practices of the Politicians.

In fact I just saw in a a newspaper today, that a Principal of just one year in a Gampaha School has asked for a transfer immediately due to undue pressure from politicians.

This is simply untenable as the biggest headache principals face in Sri Lanka schools is the admission of students into Grade 1. There is a lot of bribery and money involved and parents are particularly bad on this as they somehow get a message accross that they are willing to pay so much to have their kid put in. So the bribe even if NOT solicited, is known prior to making the decision and so the Principal is faced with a huge dilemma, as they see these parents who are wealthy and they are absolutely penurious, and money TALKS! Its temptation staring at you.

How do you resolve this? I know it is for just 250 schools in the Country that this is a problem where the competition is fiercest. However there is NO REAL PLAN to resolve this crisis as parents are NOT willing to compromise when it come to which schools they will go to any lengths to put their children in!

Something to ponder, we are still trying to come up with the best solution for this NEVER ENDING problem.

Its time the MMDA is no longer part of the law of the land and should be replaced

with the same law for ALL citizens of Sri Lanka irrespective of their beliefs, and origins!

The BBC today is highlighting a frightening problem our Media in our own Country is reluctant to bring to the discussion table as one of the most serious practices of today, and which will have permanent harmful effects on our INNOCENTS! Namely the Muslim Marriages and Divorce Act. Shortened as MMDA for purposes of discussion.

Today’s BBC website: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39898589

Lets get a grip on what is and is NOT child abuse first. There are NO different definitions of that depending on your religious beliefs as Mormons in the US were also engaging in such Child Abuse and their practices were also subject to the law of the land and NOT Mormon Law.

Lets be clear, this is NOT an attack on Islam, as it was never the intention of Islam that children should be subject to torture. It is the interpretation of this by either pedophiles in their community or zealots who have NO place in religion and the rest of the Community, the 99% of Muslims who abide in the law of the Land to accept that it is time that we all adhere to one Law and not different ones just because of some past precedent.

I implore the sane to read the article in full, and realize that what we have at the end of this is a male dominated culture, that is against the precepts of Islam and their teachings and are being interpreted in order to belittle, subjugate and enslave half of the believers in Islam that that what their merciful God has ordered, which IS NOT THE CASE.

It is up to the elders of the Community to immediately make peace with their community first in doing what is right and just and then agree to abide by the law of the land in Sri Lanka above any other law so that they being rightful and full citizens of Sri Lanka behave that way and are NOT treated as a special case as it is done today.

Please go to any police station and ask any policeman. They say that it is very difficult to deal with the Muslim people when complaints of this nature are made as the strictures imposed on Muslim Kids by the Community are barbaric to border on torture of the worst kind in allowing them certain freedoms afforded Children and their rights, and after that once they are Adult afforded to all adults in this Country as rightful citizens within the law. 

THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THIS IS IF THE LAW IS EQUAL TO ALL WHO LIVE IN SL! 

HAS ANYONE GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?

It is universal after all!

Poson Season – Tradition and Modernity – Have we truly lost the plot?

Mercifully the Dansalas are in full swing at this time of the year, especially in the vicinity of the religious areas where this Festival is particularly important. So whether it is at Mihintalaya Temple and premises, where the Bo Sapling, Mihindu Maharahathanan introducing Buddhism to Sri Lanka is venerated, or Anudradhapura where the Sri Maha Bodhi is venerated orThanthirimale where Sangamitta Maharahathanan’s visit is remembered, these places are teeming with pilgrims at this time of year, and with it a carnival atmosphere.

Added to this the Watadage in Medirigiriya, a historic and archeological site of note, has its ONLY annual religious festival in these premises over Poson Poya. Even the annual Dansala by the Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa is performed in a big way feeding thousands of pilgrims without any charge for two to three consecutive days, becoming part of our tradition. Not to be outdone, the Annual Poson Maha Bath Dansala in Melsiripura feeds over 200,000 people during the season, as is a permanent fixture from morning to late at night NON STOP and they collect funds for this all year round, with just the bank balance being in the region of Rs75M to ensure each year all steps are taken to ensure they go smoothly in a disciplined manner.

While I know there is reference to the Dansalas being a unique aspect our Sri Lankan Buddhist Culture, the extent to which we go about it is still not appreciated Internationally, or with foreign visitors to this Country.  The Poson ones are famous in the North Central Province and Vesak Dansala held throughout the Country. Even on Esala Poya, people organize Dansalas in small villages as part of a community effort to be selfless or with ulterior motives.

Of course there is no end to the type of Dansala that one does, with Bath Dansalas being the traditional ones to feed the weary traveller/pilgrim on their journey to these religious sites and temples, they have spread into Fried Rice Dansalas, Ice Cream Dansalas, Sow, Beli Mal, Iced Coffee, Orange Juice, Soup, Noodles to name just a few variations.

Those who arrange these each year, collect funds from businesses and wealthy individuals who are asked to contribute, but with NO accounting, we don’t know if many actually make money on the side by organizing them and pocketing some of the proceeds as their share for their effort, negating the very concept. It is almost impossible to regulate the donations with how the funds are spent, and so many a confidence trickster is at work in some instances.

Usually those performed in the main areas of religious worship and pilgrim’s rests are more regulated to prevent any major embezzlement.

It must be remembered that due to this tradition, it is now open season, where people don’t even cook on Poson Days and make it a point to go to Dansalas to satiate their appetites for all the meals and liquid refreshments available. Some people get together into a tractor trailer and go from one to the other, eat and drink not as pilgrims but merely to take advantage of the generosity of others. These are NOT necessarily people in need or want, but do this out of a sense of camaraderie and social interactions which one remembers years later, of the exploits of Dansal Trips. In some cases people ask for packets to take with them, usually frowned upon, but often successful, so they can take it home for another meal, taken for a sick relative, but in reality, just being greedy.

The social changes in 30 years have seen people rarely wearing white anymore, even fewer observing Sil on Poson, and with the proliferation of motorbikes, large numbers travel from one place to another on a bike which is easier than using a bus with pilgrims as in the past, that restricts their freedoms, and entails hanging around and walking long distances to where the buses are parked.

One inevitable consequence of families and couples traveling by Motorbike is that the women also now wear pants NOT dress/lama sari or white saris. A whole new style of dressing bordering on what one wears for carnivals has taken over the solemnity of the Poson at the Temple.

Worse, the loud speaker system has taken over where the blaring of the sound at high volume seems to be the order of the day, with popular songs which have nothing to do with religion playing in the temple premises. Heaven and Earth will split open at these sights, and I ask how can anyone go to any of the aforementioned temples to pray or observe Sil on Poson if it is a carnival without any other explanation for it.

The commercialization of Poson where any place where people are gathered becomes simply a place full of temporary shops selling almost anything your care to want is now part and parcel of Poson. Some vendors make so much money from sales that Temples such as Mihitale Raja Maha Vihare has got wind of that and opened up the whole temple premises to shops charging high fees, to help with the Temple financial needs of the year. This further restricts the picnic space for pilgrims to rest their weary legs under a tree on a mat, making the whole exercise more of penance than of privilege and purity!

If personal opinion is sought, I don’t like the current trend of it being a loud marketplace, with the religious site a hostage to people’s needs and greed rather for religious observation. Even the traditional flower shops for offerings are no where to be seen and flowers so overpriced when they are found that it is also an opportunity for huge financial gain from a captive, docile, public.

The Saudi Arabian Footballers in Australia – Should be banished from international competition for life – UNLESS

They did it as an act of defiance against their own Federation and the Saudi Govt. as a means of showing their displeasure about the policies and practices of their Government. That means they are showing signs of the “Freedom of expression” though it is a warped method of doing so!

SO what is all this about? Simply that at an international Soccer competition, against the Australian side at the Adelaide Oval, at some point in the match a minute of silence was observed as a ‘mark of respect’ for those who perished at the London Bridge bombing where two young Australian Females lost their lives by being butchered by one or all of three Religious Fanatics in the name of THEIR GOD.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4586804/Saudia-Arabian-soccer-player-honours-minute-s-silence.html

Firstly, even if you do not subscribe to the mark of respect, in order to be respectful of the OCCASION, you simply stand and do nothing for 60 goddam seconds. Instead BAR 1 decent guy, the others ignored this and began playing the ball, while the other Saudi spectators ALSO ignored this gesture by actively moving about and shouting as if to show DISPLEASURE at the gesture.

Taking all this into consideration, I have given them the benefit of the doubt, as their Federation itself apologized to the Australians for their actions which implied it is NOT official policy to behave that way which is why I assumed it to be their act of defiance against their AUTHORITY showing their displeasure. Of course I accept that I can be wrong.

There were some who said that they behaved like that as a show of disgust, as they believe in an Islam which says that the killing of non-believers is actually to be commended in their religion. Who will say that?  If that is what the religion does indeed preach, we have a serious problem with religious tolerance as far as our Islam adherents are concerned. I trust it is ONLY ISIS who do that, and these players were NOT sympathetic to them. I wish someone to elaborate.

Of course there is a lot of surmising here, as I simply cannot logically explain this action by these players who SHOULD respect international norms, as that is what it is. After all the FA had rejected other shows of solidarity such as armbands as contrary to IFA rules so is this moment of silence also contrary to such? I don’t know the answer to that and maybe someone will enlighten me on that.

So to conclude, if upon investigation it is found that this behavior was sanctioned, then I pray that Saudi Arabia is forever banned from International Sport with immediate effect, with as much publicity given in their Country for why this action has been taken. It is time that we do not allow people to export their form of disrespect, to other traditions, other religions, women and Asians who they think are below their stinking selves, that we show that it is time they return to the desert where they came from and return to herding camels, to save their sorry arses from starvation.

It is almost certain that most of the troubles and terrorism we face this millennium is due to Saudi Arabia and its influence on the thought process of Islam adherents to believe a particular and peculiar form of Islam that is arguably literal and against modern day practice, and possibly not what was meant by Mohammed the Prophet. Using his good name to commit dastardly deeds is surely NOT giving them any place near their prophet, but a sure permanent purgatory, where they will live in hell!

Instead of the Saudi action against the Qataris that now look like sour grapes as they refuse to play ball, by having an outspoken Media channel directed at Arab speaking people, a first that is so widely available, they should look to their inner selves NOT to insult the holy places that they have seized as theirs to guard.

It is time to stop being politically correct in the face of violations of decency to begin with which falls into behavior not sanctioned by religion. It is adopted by a nation as an affront to humanity. Worse we have permitted the Country even a place in the UNHRC due to its financial clout and NOT for anything else, as the world still works for a few privileged and not for true justice, no matter how it is cloaked at the UN. While I agree that the UN is not the Angel they are trying to be, they are at least in a position to impose world norms on the human race, and Saudi Arabia MUST take heed without arrogance.

In fact this episode will merely fade away as no one wants to upset the apple cart as it could affect the world order! Whatever that means and however it is measured. However, it is time we drew a line in the Desert Sands of Saudi Arabia to read the riot act to their rulers, that time is running out for their survival and it is better sooner rather than later to conform to Arab norms at least, and affect the needed changes in their own Country, to play a role in the world as humane and decent people to all, and NOT just their kind.

Most of the Saudis suffer deeply with the lack of jobs and a future other than being dependent on the state and so unable to express an independent opinion on anything for fear of their gravy train being suddenly frozen. Either way it is only time when this train is wrecked at some point. Let it not happen suddenly but gradually in the interests of peace and stability in the Middle East.  

Has the era of Political Correctness ended?

There is a huge pressure on Govt to stop politically correct behavior and go for the jugular in trying to nip terrorism in the bud. Is that good or bad? First question is whether being politically correct has left us in too secure a situation where we don’t worry about people’s skin color or religion, and WE SHOULD.

This question is like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. If there are 5 million muslims in the UK and there are 150 dedicated terrorists lurking about planning their next move, should all 5 million suffer, be suspects, have people look at them differently, have all their mosques bugged and the such like to possibly, YES POSSIBLY detect one or two incidents before they happen.

Then how do you stop it. Like in Sri Lanka just defeat terrorism totally. Sri Lanka was lucky we killed the terrorist leader, the cause of the trouble so that few could carry the cudgels and back someone else. I understand that the Government also killed the family, so that no one can rise up, unlike Osama Bin Laden’s son (one of his many sons) who has decided to take up where his father left off and continue the radical path to glory!

The authorities are caught between a rock and hard place in order to make this decision, as the majority of Britons could clamour for more policing more checking on Muslims and keeping tabs on them, and Muslim British in return will feel like foreigners in their own Country, MORE SO than they feel today, as some probably feel that, to turn into fanatics as they have some grudge against the host country. This is a sociological problem of when cultures DON’T mix, as they have a distinct culture. Many blacks have a black identity they wish to keep and ghettoize themselves creating a self perpetuating Gang and Drug Culture that has never been properly resolved. It is the middle class blacks who live in mixed neighborhoods in places like Atlanta GA that have been able to get out of this prophecy by climbing up the social ladder and trying to integrate some with difficulty with Whites but effectively giving up any trappings of black identity and culture.

In the Sri Lankan sense you get the same. You get the Tamil suburbs of Scarboro where you have streets of Tamils hardly mingling with any other Canadians of any European descent! They may integrate with intermarriage but it may be a slow process.

The issue with Islam is that the religion encompasses a way of life built around the mosque and call to prayer 5 times a day, and the need to go to Muslim schools and with the strict dietary habits can only obtain Halal food in only certain places and therefore they congregate OUT OF CHOICE to live with other MUSLIMS only to the chagrin of the host community who would like them to integrate and don’t see why they don’t, not understanding their particular religious beliefs.

Actually the Amish also behave like these Muslims but as they are so small in number and they live isolated lives that ensure they don’t even mix, do not cause a lot of problems outside their own community. I don’t know about young Amish boys and girls who give up their ties and move to the mainstream, they may do it for a short time or forever, but it rarely ends in bloodshed.

We must also be proportionate in understanding and taking action, as terrorism is such a small event, in terms of the number of other mishaps one faces in a day, but it gets more publicity out of all proportion to its numerical worth due to the world we live in and the people therefore are open to being scared and press their government for more action.

I don’t know how much resources the Security Forces are putting into this area, but I am sure a lot is being spent to find this needle in a haystack crime. Therefore if one looks at it in an objective way the spend in trying to second guess where the nest terror strikes may cost at the rate of 1Billion Pounds per death from terrorism a very high price to pay for finding this needle!

It is therefore important that we keep a sense of proportion, in a Country that does NOT have unlimited resources to fight a scourge. The fact we allowed this state of affairs to get to this stage is the problem. If one then goes to the base of this it could be the formation of the State of Israel as far as Musilim terrorism is concerned. Then the US interventions over the years in places like Libya and Iraq merely destabilized them, causing the problem and NOT solving it. So it seems dictators are necessary evil in keeping those countries stable and not falling into anarchy as Democracy just does not seem to part and parcel of their psyche, being better served by a dictator. One could then point to the MR regime too as one that had some stability despite the crimes committed by the state in the name of law and order and stability.

This is a constant argument that does not go away, and especially at Election time, the parties are playing further games of make believe in order to hold onto power or gain power adding another dimension!

We can therefore safely conclude that whatever action we take may not be the best in hindsight, even though at the time it was made it seemed the best. In that sense those in government dictator or democrat has the lives of millions and the worry of billions under their power. If they use it unwisely many people suffer. To me after Trump, I cannot see any improvement in democracy from fascism!

Radicalization – how does it happen and why?

Can you believe it Kings College, London has an International Center for the Study of Radicalization! They study how it happens to perfectly ordinary people, and that is at the heart of the problem of identifying who is firstly most likely to be radicalized and then to detect those who in fact have been radicalized.

The researchers believe that it is NOT social media but strong social networks that are a decisive factor in moving people from being extremist in terms of their thoughts and beliefs to becoming terrorists.

A preacher offering a sense of Community, belonging and camaraderie within a circle of peers brings strong interpersonal bonds based on what they call “in group love” The internet is rarely able to give this potency and charm of a real world recruiter.

It is these people with this charm offensive that have to be closely monitored. After all even evangelical Christians have been drawn to preachers and been under a spell that spelled disaster for them like the Jim Jones tragedy in 1978 which consumed poison and killed themselves. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones

It is clear that the British Extremist Anjem Choudary and Palestinian American Ahamed Musa Jibril are past masters at indoctrination and it may take years for their efforts to bear fruit and it is also likely that mere words they use cannot be construed as violent, but the net effect of what they wish to see can only be done with violence and so the authorities and the law must be fully aware of the potential for crime, due to the actions of these seemingly innocuous preachers.

It is therefore best to have a good system of espionage that keeps track of these extreme preachers in Buddhism, Christianity and Islam as the mainstream of these religion will also wish to wash their hands of these people and would prefer if the authorities had a handle on these people who use mind games to change people’s thinking that can result in radicalized extremists resorting to violence to achieve their end. When religion is mixed in this as a top-up that allows them heavenly grace for their actions you have a cocktail that is LETHAL.

In the interests of the security of the state and the peace of Nation, it is important that law enforcement agencies have a tool to be on top of all these potential troublemakers before they make trouble and nip any foreign influence in the bud before mayhem reigns. I hope the powers are at least listening to this.

RADICALIZATION – How to prevent the worst outcome, there from!

Wikipedia Defines it: Radicalization is a process by which an individual, or group comes to adopt increasingly extreme political, social or religious ideals and aspirations that reject or undermine the status quo or undermine contemporary ideas and expressions of freedom of choice.

The outcomes of radicalization are shaped by the ideas of the society at large, for example, radicalization can originate from a broad social consensus against progressive change in society or from a broad desire for change in society. Radicalization can be both violent and non-violent, although most academic literature focuses on radicalization into violent extremism.

Radicalization that occurs across multiple reinforcing pathways greatly increases a group’s resilience and lethality.

De radicalization refers to preventive counterterrorism measures that aim to have those with extreme and violent religious or political ideologies, to adopt more moderate and non-violent views.

Let’s face it, we are now ONLY concerned with violent form of radicalization, why it happens and what can we do to counter it, or effectively stop it happening in its tracks as speedily and practically as possible.

While the world is currently concentrating on Islamic Fundamentalists who have been radicalized to the extent of committing violence against the society they are living in, and putting a huge amount of resources to counter it, we must not be blind to its possibilities from other disaffected communities who can just as easily be radicalized in its violent form.

SRI LANKAN CONTEXT

If Sri Lankan history is any indicator, the JVP uprising was the forebear of violent extremism, due to a political ideology which believed that change could ONLY happen with violence. The natural base for them were the disaffected youth, educated, but unable to find a satisfactory economic independence, from this educational freedom, and saw the establishment as its culprit, and wanted to replace the status quo with THEIR IDEOLOGY!

With so much experience therefore, we have failed to grasp, that lurking in the wings is a new religious ideology in opposing camps, that appeals to disgruntled youth, which opportunists are busy, behind the scenes, in manipulating their minds to this extremism, that WILL RESULT in violence as the only means of achieving their objectives. WE MUST STOP ITS PROGRESS and hopefully reverse this, but by providing a more palatable alternative.

SO what are the two opposing camps?

We have extreme Sinhala Buddhism that appeals to “LAZY” youth – the ‘rasthiyadu karayas’ who want to ride around in a bike, litter the junctions in three wheelers and blame all the problems they have on someone else, who are UNWILLING to take control of their lives and be goal oriented in a world full of opportunity, for which hard-work (brainwork too) is the only means. Young Bhikkus who see the material world take over their lives are also easily attracted to this cause, as they see MAMMON in the form of successful Muslims, traders from birth, rule their surroundings with every type of temptation for sale at a price and profit, quite the opposite of their beliefs of trying to remove desire!

ENVY takes over, and unless the elders summon the extremists into believing it is as against Buddhist values as other teachings, and counter, by teaching the true principles of Buddhism, that have been forgotten, leading many to forsake their religion because of it, and thus deal with their frustrations internally, rather than take it out on others. That will preserve the purity of Buddhist values.

On the other hand in Islam we have fundamentalist teachers, many of whom come from Saudi Arabia with state patronage, extolling literal interpretation of the Quran. This widespread indoctrination has completely transformed Sri Lankan Muslims, from more liberal traits of Sufism, where there is a ‘live and let live’ philosophy respecting other beliefs and most especially the ‘freedom of choice’ to a very rigid dress code, and strict rules on what they eat, as well as how they live and pray associating only with likeminded, that has actually ghettoized and stifled a once thriving community of fun loving people intermingled with all races, which was evidenced in the 1980s and before.

The young people coming out of this culture, cannot and will not mix and have ideas of exclusion that limit their exposure to their OWN community only, which will only result in disdain for the host community that lives a very different life creating a schism that is NOW reflective of the tension.

They have also been indoctrinated that Holy War is acceptable in the literal sense and taking arms on behalf of their belief will reward them in heaven! This will justify any act of terrorism, no matter what the law of the land is, creating a similar problem that is faced in the Middle with ISIS, that can only be eliminated by force. This belief if untenable within Sri Lanka!

Most in the Muslim community have failed to come to terms with this as an aberration and have DONE NOTHING to restore the status quo amongst the community that existed and instead passively allowed this ideology to rule them. This is creating a powder keg that will only ignite in flames, unless both communities make an effort to be more reasonable. Just look at the difference between how Muslims behave in Kattankudy and Colombo and you will know what I mean. You may as well be in some small Saudi Town, where even liberal Dubai would be seen as Haram, in observing some East Coast Towns!  

With the increase in numbers, and the insistence of their religious elders in supporting Muslim Political Parties to get more political clout, and be king makers of any Government, due the power and leverage they have, creates angst within the host community, that is understandable. Something has got to give in order to re-establish a sense of Nation, Community and the long term well being of the Country which had harmonious relations with all communities in the past.

Multiple factions fighting in the Middle East, and Jihadi recruitment, further deified in Social Media, is why young people find outlets and reinforcement for their beliefs and rather than be passive in the face of aggression will resort to violence, knowing they have political clout to back them.

This threat referred to above has further exacerbated the Minority complex of the majority Sinhala population, who feel they have NO where to run, as they are restricted to Sri Lanka, and Sinhala Buddhism of a tiny minority of say 15 Million have to face a Muslim Behemoth of 2Billion people worldwide who ALL identify with each other due to the strong bond of religion that puts Islam above Nationalism and Nationhood. This lack of patriotism is a further thorn!

We must face it. Buddhism is MORE tolerant than Islam, and therein lies the root of this problem. Islam of today is more fundamentalist than Islam practiced in Sri Lanka for a thousand years. I know mixed marriages, where the husband is Buddhist and the wife remains Muslim and she is rejected by her community for marrying a Muslim. I also know situations where the Husband is Muslim and he insisted that the wife becomes a Muslim to marry, as it is NOT permitted in their religion. This kind of logic, of different rules, and the insistence of the Muslim Marriages Law that overrides the law of the land are all contentious issues that have created much disquiet amongst the Host Community.

I don’t believe it is a chicken and egg situation, where we are arguing which has taken precedence. It is simply that the Muslim community MUST be cognizant of the anxiety that is justified in the host community and must acknowledge a degree of justified concern about the turn of events, and stop playing into the hands of the fundamentalists for fear of being branded un Muslim.

I believe it is due to the passive acceptance of extreme doctrine WITHOUT contradicting its practice in order to keep the peace in the minority community that has created a SILENT MAJORITY of Muslims unwilling to act and hence this is the real problem that MUST BE solved as a priority IMMEDIATELY if religious tolerance it to prevail. It takes two to tango.

"HATE CRIMES AGAINST MUSLIM" is just an EXCUSE to avoid the CORE of the problem, namely the fundamentalism of the MANY and the bellicose comments within the Muslim Community that is creating the fear and knee-jerk reaction amongst a FEW. 

The Over-reaction to Terror in the UK – has become a Global News Item! - Are we slaves to Western Outrage?

REGARDING THE RECENT UK TERRORIST INCIDENTS

We who have lived for years with far worse terrorist incidents committed against Sri Lankan citizens of all races and creeds by the LTTE terrorists, had to contend with lukewarm response from the rest of the world, ESPECIALLY THE WEST, that to us seemed that they did NOT care, and worse had a following in their own midst, encouraging this terror as freedom fighters in the very same countries that are NOW suffering from these incidents.

After all NONE of the LTTE terror could have been unleashed on hapless Sri Lanka without the funds collected in the UK and France as well as of course Canada and the USA, from mainly well healed Tamil expatriates, who either willingly or forcibly contributed to the “Killing Fields” that was Sri Lanka.

As we just commemorated the 20^th anniversary of the Arantalawa Massacre on 2^nd June 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aranthalawa_Massacre let us NOT forget how brutal the LTTE were, and how effective their tactics were of putting the fear of survival to the people living especially in areas in close proximity to their range of operation. NO ONE helped us then to combat the LTTE, and many are NOW shedding crocodile tears about that period. The fear (unfounded) that the British live with today must therefore be put in perspective, and be proportional to what can actually happen.

I am NOT saying serves you right. I am merely saying look, we have been there done that, and  suffered worse and you ignored us. What are you expecting the rest of the world to do now? Feel sympathetic! Is it De Ja Vu to us, who have come through so much loss, and we are ONLY now concerned with the loss of the Tamils(UNHRC threats) who have disappeared and NOT the Sinhala people who have disappeared from the various insurgencies against the Government in the past, amounting to 50 times the number of Tamils who have disappeared!.

Don’t forget that to date these RECENT UK incidents are from radicalized British, just as the LTTE atrocities were from radicalized Sri Lankans. In that sense there is NO difference, they were killing machines who had NO compassion. These people live in the community, and harbor some sick resentment against NORMAL average people, NOT against the rulers or wealthy per se, but against the everyday order of things that they are fighting against, just because some person with a grudge uses either ideology of separate state that many in the UK still subscribe to, and will at the drop of a hat contribute money under the very noses of the UK security forces, and the grudge that the radicalized muslims hold. 

It is one and the same thing, they are fighting for their cause because THEY believe their mission in killing IS NOBLE. I will appreciate if the reader compares the two instances and see that it is the radicalism that we MUST fight NOT the faith.

IN THAT CASE, let us now coral the preachers of HATE. We have LTTE preachers of Hate in the UK. Let us coral them too, as given a chance they too will wish to unleash terror in Sri Lanka and the location they wish to do their dastardly deeds JUST DOES NOT MATTER.

The UK govt. does NOT give a damn about them because they are concerned about the people who wish to commit these crimes WITHIN THE UK. If they go to Syria and do the same they don’t give a shit. That is where they are wrong, as one day they may turn the guns back on their own country that they have grown to hate. So will the Tamils in the UK, turn their terror within their own community first, before they go afar. So what goes around comes around. THE UK MUST STOP ALL TYPES OF RADICALIZATION and that is a tall order. HOW!!!

We have to now appeal to their elders to make sure their youth, the people who generally are easily brainwashed are NOT subject to these hate mongers. In Islam it is the minority of imams who spread this hate, and NOW we cannot hide behind the freedom of speech and say that people are allowed to say anything they want.

It is time all those who preach this hate, be it Imams within Sri Lanka who are currently radicalizing young people, or Imams in the UK who are also doing the same and Imams the world over MUST be targeted to be slapped with the same banishment. SO where do you banish all the world’s hate mongering Imams, as this has become a truly international problem, that affects Muslim Countries just as much non-Muslim Countries. There is NO desert island big enough to house them! Qatar you may say.

In fact if you speak to the Saudis today, they will say the preachers of hate are being fed by Qatar and so they have closed their borders with Qatar. If you speak to a Qatari they will say the preacher of hate and the radical Islamists are from Saudi Arabia.

NO WONDER Donald Trump is thoroughly confused, as he does not know a good Muslim from a bad one and so to make it easy upon himself he wants to ban all Muslims, and when it comes to Saudi Arabia he suddenly has AMNESIA forgetting they are also Muslim. (possibly the biggest culprits of all)

We cannot play this game anymore! We have to find where the problem lies. Then it has to be solved one way or another, and appreciate that others have had to contend with terrorism for a very long time, and it is ONLY now being faced by the UK to the extent that they are unable to comprehend.

It’s time UK and USA accept that terrorism of all forms is bad and acknowledge that Sri Lanka did suffer, and some of the punitive actions were justified for public safety. Similarly the PTA in the UK is now worse than it was in SL.

Stop the spread of hate mongering against anyone. We must live in harmony. Let us begin with Saudi Arabia and force them to allow people to worship any Religion of their choice, how is that for a start? OR BE ATHEIST TOO! That would then be a game changer and level the playing field a little. Why is it that no one is talking about it?

IT IS TIME THESE ARE CLEARLY PUT ON THE TABLE

DIplomats you have broken PROTOCOL by your bahaviour - Time for an apology!

I cannot understand how the Diplomatic Missions have any right to be called up to be lectured to by some suspect individuals, masquerading as politicians about Mosque Burnings

Worse, do they then have any rights to call a press conference and call upon the  Govt. to stop these alleged crimes?

http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Ensure-no-impunity-for-hate-crimes-EU-130055.html

Don’t get me wrong. A hate crime is a hate crime and NO one has any right to burn people’s places of worship or their businesses and it is in the Govt. best interest to protect these people, as well as take all necessary steps to prevent their recurrence.

What I am concentrating on here is the GALL of these foreign diplomats accredited to Colombo, to go at the behest of SOME members of the Muslim community, and I believe they are self- appointed with NO real authority of any sort, to listen to what they say, NOT have it properly corroborated and instead of USING NORMAL DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS to express concern and have it dealt with that way, use the BULLY pulpit to castigate the lawfully elected Govt. of the day, that if anything has the interests of ALL communities at heart!

The diplomats having gathered to listen to these people, should have merely said we will open our channels with the Govt. of Sri Lanka and inquire into the status of the investigations and the steps taken to protect vulnerable communities. They SHOULD HAVE RECUSED themselves from being led like sheep to a Media Circus and forced to make a statement! Worse, if I am not mistaken, this was done in a Mosque, not a place to call a press conference.

Has our Foreign Ministry forgotten protocol? I know we have two new Ministers, but at least the Secretary to the Ministry must know the protocol of what they can and cannot do in a host country, and to my knowledge, this is OUTSIDE OF THEIR permitted activity.

They need to inform the foreign ministry, if they leave Colombo for over one night, but should they not inform or get permission if they wish to make a press statement calling the Govt. to account.

They have NOT used the back channels open to them, and instead broken all protocol, and it is time the Sri Lankan Government, HARSHLY condemns their action. Is it due to the GSP + conditions that they do not wish to rock the boat? That is sad. What is wrong is wrong and this is WRONG and we must have the courage to state this. Otherwise the Ministers have NO BACKBONE. They are mere lackeys of foreign powers to do their bidding and cannot stand up for their country when in international eyes, the Country is branded without foundation and proof, and there is NO proof that any of the alleged incidents have been carried out as an organized campaign of intimidation, rather more sporadic from individuals with personal agendas.

THE FOREIGN OFFICE MUST RELEASE AN IMMEDIATE STATEMENT THUS

The Government of Sri Lanka strongly condemn the action of a number of Diplomats representing their Governments, in making statements to the Media, flouting ALL Diplomatic Niceties and Protocol. They have repeated allegations, NOT proved by the investigating authorities, made by some members of the Muslim Community, purporting represent the Community, and who have little following, or those made by Government members in their personal capacity.

There are back channels that can be used to inquire into these acts of vandalism that are alleged to be hate crimes, and BY THIS ACTION has further NEGATIVELY affected the state of communal harmony, by convincing our brethren in the Muslim Community that there is an organized series of Hate Crimes been committed and continuing unabated, when there IS NO SUCH proof.

This reprehensible action by SOME members of the Diplomatic Community, has worsened rather than lessened the fear as it legitimizes or states as fact something that has yet to be proved. We would therefore appeal to the members of the Diplomatic Community to desist from such action in the future, as we have had prior experience of their interference that actually interfered the peaceful conclusion of the Civil Disturbances during the LTTE rebellion. As in that past instance, the proof came much later, and is surfacing only now, and similarly, it is possible, that persons making allegations and rousing fear are doing it for their personal agendas rather than to protect their community.

Media can actually make a situation worse by pointing to small isolated incidents and trying to make a case for organized and planned violence, as it is the STORY they want not necessarily the merits of the facts. Using this means to achieve a goal therefore is NOT in the interests of the security of Sri Lanka and will make the task of the security forces to investigate these incidents that much harder.

The GOSL respectfully requests our honored representatives of Overseas Governments to follow usual procedures that are UNIVERSALLY USED to bring their concerns in communicating with friendly governments, especially one that is Democratically and Elected and legitimate in all respects. Thank You    

In response to Galaboda Atte Gnanasara Thero's actions this is what I have to say!

“Let us not get too carried away. The ISIS behavior is worse than this. So he is just one of two peas in a pod, that should be all that is, instead of us giving into his extreme inflammatory utterings, like ISIS. In short he is at the extremist end that all religions have

https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/is-bbs-an-existential-threat-to-the-dharma/comment-page-1/#comment-2109347

As for threat to the Dharma it is more serious, as the biggest threat is the mainstream practice of it, NOT the fanaticism displayed here. Buddhists especially young people have become disillusioned with the current practice of MOST of the Temples, who are seen to want to acquire wealth, power and prestige by grandeur and NOT by simplicity. That is why they are turning away, by voting with their feet in not coming to Temple or following other faiths, that appear to be a better alternative to their desires! It is time to return to the core practice of Buddhism which will see a return of the heathen to it.

The whole gist of this essay should have been directed at the current behavior of the establishment Buddhism that has forgotten the precepts. Not attack a lone wolf and give him more credit than is due. He is also fighting the establishment for their impotence as much as other religions who are making hay due the impotence of the hierarchy.

Just to give an example of what I mean, Muhudu Maha Vihare in Pottuvil which I visited at the height of the war 25 years ago, effectively under Tiger control was a very large area of approximately 15 acres of archaeological interest, not properly fenced in.

Now it is about 3 acres and the local priest is complaining with no one listening, that it is encroached upon and down to 2 acres as people ( in this case Muslim, but if there were Tamil or Sinhala short of space to live would ALSO have encroached )

Whose fault is it? The fault of the Buddha Sasana Ministry for not protecting religious sites, and the Archaeology Department for not doing the same.

The politicians fearing backlash are impotent, NOT wishing to intervene, and use the law to determine ownership and residential rights. It is NOT for a poor priest to shout about it, but if I was that man I would probably make a similar complaint, but which is falling on deaf ears.

In comes Galaboda Aththo Gnanissara and he makes a big stink about it in the vilest and crudest language he knows as he believes this is the only way his point is heard by the masses. He surely is getting his message across, but JUSTICE is NOT! If there is one law of the land fairly applied to all Citizens with no exceptions for different faiths, most of the problems will be solved.”