Sri Lankan minister wants anti-Islam film banned locally
COLOMBO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) — Following strong protests by Sri Lankan Muslims, a Cabinet Minister here on Tuesday called for the controversial anti-Islam film to be banned in the country.
Housing and Construction Minister Wimal Weerawansa, who is also the leader of the hardline nationalist National Freedom Front (NFF) party aligned with the government, told media that access to the film “Innocence of Muslims” should be banned for locals.
He called on Google to censor its availability so that it could not be accessed by the Sri Lankan public.
“This movie is a gross violation of ethics. U.S. authorities should work to remove the movie from the internet,” he said.
Weerawansa’s comments come amid increasing protests from Sri Lanka’s Muslim population to have the movie removed from the internet.
Sri Lanka’s Religious Affairs Deputy Minister M.K.D.S Gunawardena told Xinhua that steps would be taken to ban the movie locally, which includes newspaper notices warning people to abstain from watching it.
On Monday, thousands of Muslims marched to the U.S. embassy here in protest of the film. It was the third demonstration in less than a week.
The string of protests began last Wednesday and has since seen an increase in the number of participants.
After the first protest, the embassy released a media statement insisting that “the United States strongly rejects both its (the film’s) contents and messages, and had nothing to do with the video.”
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Senior Professor Rathnayake appointed to restore order at University of Ruhuna November 24, 2024
- Sri Lankan fishing vessel seized with massive drug haul in Maldives November 24, 2024
- Audit reveals misuse of electric vehicle permits for migrant workers in Sri Lanka November 23, 2024
- IMF approves third review: Sri Lanka secures $333 million tranche under EFF November 23, 2024
- Sri Lankan President urges accountability and unity for a better future November 23, 2024
wimal is a real pretender.The real cinematic person and more over he has been assaulting the US gov for the past UN controversial war crime against the civilians in Sri lanka.
Now this is a real chance for him for accusing the US gov and not for the sake of muslims.
there are lots of senseless and uneducated, why not educated muslim fools also think that this man is supporting for the nation ethics but is that statement true??
think.
Hey Wimal,
Booooooooooo!
Just do something useful for the country. At least plant some trees on either sides of a Colombo road or clear up a bloacked ditch that breeds millions of Dengue mosquitoes.