Mosque issue: Hakeem happy after talks with MR
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem said yesterday he had discussed the Dambulla Mosque dispute with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and that he was confident it would be resolved with justice to all.
“The President assured me he would not let the dispute get out of hand and will resolve the contentious matter without harming the interests of any individual or community,” the minister said
He rejected the claim by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne that Muslim ministers had agreed to relocate the mosque within the Dambulla sacred area and said the government must not let chauvinistic forces and extremists to use these disputes to create political, religious and social unrest in the country.
The minister said not a single Muslim political leader or politician had agreed for the relocation of the mosque as claimed by the premier.
He said the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government was strong because it enjoyed the support of nearly all minority parties.
“Therefore, the government is able to come out unscathed from this sensitive issue and do justice to all concerned. The UPFA government is committed to safeguarding the interests of the minorities and the SLMC believes the government will not deviate from this position,” the minister said and singled out a particular FM channel for spreading false and fabricated propaganda with a chauvinistic flavor that gave vent to the protests by some extremist elements.
“If any one attempts to shift this mosque, which has existed since 1963 to another to another location will be considered as an unjust act, which goes against the sentiments of all Muslims in the country. We will not give into violence, intimidation or thuggery,” the minister said.
He said there was the danger that even the global Muslim community which hither maintained a friendly relationship with Sri Lanka and even opposed the US resolution at the UNHRC sessions in March would look at Sri Lanka differently if something unnecessary or unwarranted happened over the Dambulla mosque.
“The SLMC and all Muslims without hesitation oppose moves to shift the mosque as it will result in dire consequences if anyone attempted to do so. There is no compromise on this matter and there is no need to collect funds or beg for money to relocate the mosque,” the minister said adding that a small section of extremist elements were attempting to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka and the government taking advantage of free speech, free association and the free media.
Courtesy: DM Online / Pix by Getty Images
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka Defence Secretary graces 53rd Bangladesh Armed Forces Day November 26, 2024
- MP Ramanathan Archchuna faces arrest warrant over 2021 traffic incident November 26, 2024
- Court orders Arjuna Mahendran to appear over 2015 treasury bond case November 26, 2024
- Sri Lanka to present 2025 Budget on January 9, 2025 November 26, 2024
- Sri Lanka Government issues gazette on ministries’ subjects and responsibilities November 26, 2024
Let’s see MR’s decision, we people will take decision based on that. Who ever came to power in this country killing Sinhalese community.
YES LET SEE WHAT MR WILL DO!
Mr Hakeem is happy because he can keep his job as Cabinet Minister. Hakeem does not care about the mosque. He only wants to be a Minister with all the benefits. He jump from UNP to SLFP withour shame. He doesn’t care about muslims; he doesn’t care about anyone else. He is only worried about the business he is doing because of his position in Government; he is wooired only about the commis. When it is near the next election, he blame the Government for destroying the mosque and join the party winning the elction to become Minister there again. This is just like Thondaman who fight for 60 years for the estate labourere. The estate labourer is still living in ‘lines’ and multi- millionairre Thondaman’s son drive around in fancy sports cars. These guys are the worst traitors.
Nobody want to kill any single sinhales in Sri lanka…..all differents coomunities should have it equel rights then sinhales that´ts it.
1963 is not a far for SINHALES who owened this Srilanka since more than 1963yrs..!
They’ve mistaken the fairness of Sinhalese who are secured by the Buddhism…!
There’ll be a little wonder of Buddhism in the outlook which turns whole world upside down……
then how about the other politicians Mr.
Let’s not take bad decisions out here, court will provide the best and the correct decision.
We are getting hand in hand to build new temples around eastern area as its within Lanka and its one nation, hope no issues with it then.
Donation boxes will be install all the temples and the collections will be gone to build new temples in north-east areas.
Dear comments writers!
Please anyone can answer my 4 questions?
1.Where Bhudha was born?
2.Where he lived?
3.Where he preached bhudhism?
4.Where he died?
Ok if Bhudha mentioned sacred places, where those are the places?Anyone everytimes can´t announce the holy places.
In islam we have only three holy places,This three places are our last profeet decly his times.Nobody can´t after profeet Mohamed (saw) that anywhere announce holy places.
Mecca.(saudi arabia)
Madina(saudi arabia)
Masjidul al aksa (jerusalam)
Buddhist philosophy is so strong and most of psychological theories were formulated from Buddhism.
Islamic and Christianity is against science. In science class and in university science stream, they learn and believe natural evolution but in religious and theology in same universities, learn creation of the world by a good.
Buddhist philosophy has very strong science base.
I am not speaking for Buddhism but for philosophy and realty.
Does any Muslim science (Zoology or Botany) professor in a university teach in Science class that god created the world or natural evolution, Charles Darwin’s theories ?
Hi Aziz, Nepal (today), India, India, India are the answers.
So what is your point?
Do you want all other religions to find holy places the way Proffet Mohomed did? Muslims find their places their own way and Hindus in their own way, Christians in their own way and Buddhists have their own way. They are all different.
So what is your point?
So please tell us where bhudha his self menthioned that Bhudist holy places?
We are muslims respect every religeons,we never against any kinds of religeons.I have much sinhala bhudists friends,we always keep them good friends ships.(My grand mother offer one of sinhala friend small land also build their house)
God believers…! Let me show the Point.,
Don’t compare your “beliefs” with the great Buddhism.! The Great Buddhism is not a Belief. Buddhism is the theory of existance & non-existance of the world, which calls as Dhamma..!
It’s true that all holly places relating to the “Buddha” are in India & Nepal. But the Buddhas main hollyness & importance is “Dhamma” found by the Buddha himself. And Dhamma-hollyness comes to “Sangha(monks)” who applies the Dhamma.
So, there’re three holly pleasings in buddhism as Buddha-Dhamma-Sangha..
The holly Dhamma & Sangha disappeared later in India but but Srilankan monks kept exercising Dhamma in ancient sinhala kingdoms mainly in Anuradhapura/ Dambulla/ Polonnaruwa. The remains in those places today are belong to temples where those monks were exercised Holly Dhamma.
They’re the only monks who protected pure teachings of Buddha till today letting rest of the world also to learn pure Buddhism from srilanka. That’s why buddhist monks are involving today to rescue those places.
Because those places are important world heritages…
Hi Amden!
U menthioned that three places are Bhudists holy places,so why last times monks are fighting for KURAGALA(Jailani -Balangoda)they said this place also belong bhudists holy places???
Do u accept monks are violence way their preching?
I mentioned only 3-main ancient kingdoms but there’re many places where were buddhist temples in past all over the island. Because there were only buddhists in ancient srilanka.
For example there’s a church just in front of Tooth Temple in kandy which installed by western invaders later. I know ‘Kuragala’ & there should be a historical evidences for.
Buddhists should not be violent & it’s not acceptable but Buddhists are great people when comparing with Muslims & Chritians. Because they are both openly carrying on large scale violent killings all over the world.
Buddhists monks never order to kill people but only trying to secure the buddhism in srilanka where they owned since more than 2000yrs. Even a small bird has the right to voice in its own nest, so why not for Buddhist monks..?
There were no muslims or christians in srilanka till few hundred years back. So both of them have only few 100yrs history here. How do you point finger like a child to such majority in srilanka…?
Indians and Nepalis are foolish people when considering about their religion. clay worshipers.
Not only in india & Nepal but majority of the world going to astray in religion today. indians failed to keep exercising the Buddhism because it’s not so easy. The truth is the hardest thing to see.
Then the wrong & bad doings are very easy in the world but doing right & good are the extremely difficult.
Now at present there’s a trend in seeking the truth all over the world. Because the worlds major Beliefs based on God is Not a Practical at all. It’s just a Story & has no practical purpose in life.
How stupid is the belief of a gods influence on you while you do everything yourself in your life..? And while no one is knowing actually how the before & after of this life too.
Then today even the majority of Buddhists including monks are also not following the correct path of Buddhism but only buddhists by name.
So, despite the religion we everyone Must try best to find & exercise the Practical Truth which leads away from all troubles instead troubling each other..!
:((