ARREST ALL HATE PREACHERS

IMMEDIATELY SRI LANKA CIVIL

SOCIETY TELLS GOVT.

Image: Extremist Buddhist monks has become violent hate

mongers in recent times in SriLanka.

18/11/2016
I a letter to Inspector General of Police with copies to leaders of
the government hundreds of citizens have asked the government
to immediately arrest all hate preachers notwithstanding their
religious of social affiliations.

The letter calls for urgent action by the Police on ollowing

incidents:
(1) Immediately arrest Gnanasara himi for the statements he
made on 15 November 2016, which fuel communal tensions and
expressly threaten and incite violence against ethnic and religious
numerical minorities. There is adequate evidence in the public
domain about Gnanasara himis previous conduct, and he is
already involved in legal proceedings about the threat to repeat
Aluthgama he made in June 2016.
(2) Immediately arrest Ampitiye Sumangala Himi from
Managalaramaya, Batticaloa for his numerous racially charged
abuse and violence, and on many occasions, acting with complete
disregard for the law, as is quite indicative in the footage weve
provided above.
(3) Investigate the actions of all other extremist groups and
persons and take necessary action under the law.
(4) Update the public on the status of the complaint made by the
Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) on Gnanasara himis threat to
repeat Aluthgama.
(5) Inform the public on the steps taken to prevent future
incidents that are likely to incite racial and religious violence by
groups that propagate hate-speech and threats of violence
against ethnic and religious numerical minorities, in particular
those led by Buddhist monks due to the privileged position and
immunity they hold in society.

Full text of the letter follows.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Police Headquarters,
Colombo 01
Dear Mr. Pujith Jayasundara,
Complaint on Police inaction in relation to Buddhist monk-led
violent attacks on numerical minority ethnic and religious
We are outraged by the blatant Police inaction and the
complacency of the State towards the culture of impunity which
prevails around the continuing trend of Buddhist monk-led violent
attacks on ethnic and religious numerical minorities.
While the Sri Lankan Constitution clearly guarantees all citizens
the right to equality, non-discrimination and freedom of religion
and religious worship, the number of attacks against religious and
ethnic numerical minorities across Sri Lanka, by ethno-nationalist
majoritarian groups, typically led by one or more Buddhist monks,
remains unchecked. Civil society groups have consistently
documented and reported such attacks to relevant authorities.
However, charges have never been brought against the
perpetrators, despite the conduct of these monks being in clear
violation of hate-speech and anti-discrimination protections under
Sri Lankan law.
This morning, the following story where the notorious leader of
the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Buddhist monk, Gnanasara himi, in
responding to the arrest of Suresh Prasad (alias Dan Priyasad), a
self-proclaimed Saviour of the Sinhalese1, was brought to our
attention. Gnanasara himi has threatened a bloodbath and in the

video clears states that, we must sort this issue out with stones,
poles and blood, because if this is what they want, then this is
what they will get! The story details that Gnanasara himi was
calling for the arrest of Secretary of the Sri Lanka Thowheed
Jamath (SLTJ), Abdul Razik within 24 hours, as a response to the
arrest of Dan Priyasad. Subsequently, we were informed that
Abdul Razik was arrested by the Maligawatte Police, and is now in
remand custody. The arrest, and the speed at which it was
effected, illustrates that Gnanasara himis words have immense
influence, even on the Police, which should act as an
independent establishment. This is deeply problematic,
especially in the face of Police inaction against the spate of
violent attacks and threats of attacks carried out by extremist
groups, in particular Buddhist monks.
This is not the only recent incident involving Gnanasara himi. In
June this year, he made a public declaration at a rally in
Mahiyanganaya, that they could at any time re-enact the
Aluthgama violence 2 (this was in reference to the anti-Muslim
riots in 2014 in which four persons were killed, 80 injured, and
approximately 10,000 displaced). This speech was documented
and the video was widely shared online. The Muslim Council of Sri
Lanka (MCSL) filed a written complaint 3to the Inspector-General
of Police (IGP) regarding the incident and requested immediate
action. However, to our knowledge, no action has been taken
against Gnanasara himi to date.
Recently, another video of a Buddhist monk, identified as
Ampitiye Sumangala Himi, Chief Incumbent of the
Mangalaramaya Temple, in Batticaloa, has gone viral on the
internet. The video shows the monk using extreme racist
expletives and abusive language to verbally assault and threaten
a Tamil public servant (Grama Sevaka (GS)) in the presence of a
uniformed police officer. The police officer in question stood by
and observed the attack without taking the necessary action to

protect the public servant or stop the Buddhist monk. When the
police officer finally stepped in, he did so in a seemingly hesitant
and fearful manner.
The recent incident involving Ampitiye Sumangala Himi again, is
not an isolated incident. The same monk has been involved in
multiple incidents 4 where he has behaved in a similarly abusive
and violent manner, including an incident where he assaulted a
female police officer and other villagers5. To date, no action has
been taken against Ampitiye Sumangala Himi for his conduct.
In another incident, also in June 2016, a vigil for equality, under
the banner Different Yet Equal organised by a group of
concerned citizens was attacked and violently disrupted6 by a
group calling themselves SinhaLe and lead by its National
Coordinator, Arambepola Rathanasara himi. The attack took place
in the presence of police who were reluctant to stop the violent
mob, and instead attempted to lecture and question the peaceful
demonstrators on their vigil and presence. In a separate incident,
there is also video footage of the SinhaLe group rabidly
threatening all Muslims with death.7 In another incident in
August this year, Rathanasara himi and some SinhaLe goons,
intimidate and threaten8 to harm two female Christian
worshippers and a Christian pastor.
In yet another incident, a Tamil couple was violently intimidated
by abusive Buddhist monks within a temple premises in Colombo.
The victims of this violence have been in hiding, and are still
living in fear of reprisal for having publicised their horrific
experience.9
Public behaviour of this kind is in clear violation of hate-speech
and anti-discrimination protections under Sri Lankan law,

particularly as provided for in the International Covenant of Civil

and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act (ICCPR Act).10 The ICCPR Act
provides that No person shall propagate war or advocate
national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to
discrimination, hostility, or violence,11 and that every person
who does so, or who attempts to commit, aids or abets, or
threatens to commit such acts, commits an offence that is
punishable with up to 10 years imprisonment.12 The failure of the
State to take immediate action to investigate and hold individuals
accountable for this type of conduct is a clear violation of its
obligations under law and a failure of its obligation to uphold
constitutional guarantees and the duty to protect all persons from
such threats and violence.
A joint civil society submission13 to the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination in August 2016, documented
132 incidents faced by Christians and 141 incidents against the
Muslims, in a span of one year, since 2015. These incidents
include attacks on places of religious worship, and numerical
minority religious communities being disrupted during times of
worship and prayer. The Sri Lanka Campaign, in an article
published in May 2016, states: no prosecutions have yet been
brought against Buddhist extremists implicated in previous
attacks on Christians or Muslims. In particular the inability and
unwillingness of the authorities to take action in investigating the
murder of Muslims in the course of the 2014 riots continues to
feed concerns that the Government is not taking the issue of
Buddhist extremism seriously enough. 14
We are deeply frustrated and angered by the sheer lack of will
from the State in actively and publicly condemning this kind of
racist rhetoric and hate-speech, and taking immediate legal
action against perpetrators. The Police should move immediately
to bring to justice all those in violation of Sri Lankas antidiscrimination and hate-speech laws, including Buddhist monks.

The Government must seriously consider the impact and

influence such groups that propagate hate-speech and threats of
violence against ethnic and religious numerical minorities have on
the general public, by way of creating a dangerously permissible
environment for civilians to act in a similar manner, without fear
of consequence. A clear example of which is an incident where a
group of self-proclaimed Sinhala Buddhist Champions or
Saviours of the Sinhalese threatened to burn and kill Muslims,
make a mass call for recruits to serve their worthy cause, and
incite the masses with ethnically and religiously charged
misinformation. A member of this group, Dan Priyasath, was
arrested by the Fort Police on 15 November, following public
outrage and pressure, including by several members of
Parliament.15
The Police must adopt a uniformed response to acts of religious
violence, threats of violence, and hate-speech against religious
and ethnic numerical minorities. Under the fundamental principle
of equality before the law, all who engage in such conduct,
including Buddhist monks, must be held to account. It is the
obligation of the Police to enforce the law equally, without
exception.
Further, the protection of the tenet of equality must be paramount
to all law enforcement authorities. This is critical to reconciliation,
to which the State has publicly declared a commitment. When
ethnic and religious numerical minorities are subjected to hatespeech, threats of violence, and discriminatory actions, and the
State is passive or indifferent to these acts, discussions of
reconciliation ring superficial and insincere.
We urgently demand the following action from the Police:

(1) Immediately arrest Gnanasara himi for the statements he

made on 15 November 2016, which fuel communal tensions and
expressly threaten and incite violence against ethnic and religious
numerical minorities. There is adequate evidence in the public
domain about Gnanasara himis previous conduct, and he is
already involved in legal proceedings about the threat to repeat
Aluthgama he made in June 2016.
(2) Immediately arrest Ampitiye Sumangala Himi from
Managalaramaya, Batticaloa for his numerous racially charged
abuse and violence, and on many occasions, acting with complete
disregard for the law, as is quite indicative in the footage weve
provided above.
(3) Investigate the actions of all other extremist groups and
persons and take necessary action under the law.
(4) Update the public on the status of the complaint made by the
Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) on Gnanasara himis threat to
repeat Aluthgama.
(5) Inform the public on the steps taken to prevent future
incidents that are likely to incite racial and religious violence by
groups that propagate hate-speech and threats of violence
against ethnic and religious numerical minorities, in particular
those led by Buddhist monks due to the privileged position and
immunity they hold in society
Foot notes:
1 Colombo Telegraph, Police Arrests Saviour Of The Sinhalese
Who Threatened To Bomb Muslims

https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/police-arrestssaviour-of-the-sinhalese-who-threatened-to-bomb-muslims/
2 Colombo Telegraph, Video: BBS Gnanasara Back In Action,
Promises To Repeat Aluthgama Mayhem
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/video-bbsgnanasara-back-in-action-promises-to-repeat-aluthgamamayhem/
3 Colombo Gazette, BBS back to old habits, Muslim Council writes
to IGP http://colombogazette.com/2016/06/25/bbs-back-to-oldhabits-muslim-council-writes-to-igp/
4 Multiple incidents of racist abuse and violence by Sumangala
himi http://www.asianmirror.lk/news/item/17668-batticaloamangalarama-temple-monk-destroys-cornerstone-after-presidentfails-to-attend-event, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA2XArDXH8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOeT7EaDjw0,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QekwjYXw1QY,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MCagBHR5yo,
http://www.virakesari.lk/article/13563,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPNhiJ77Pms,
http://battinaatham.com/description.php?art=6337 &
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKeg76RoIHs
5 Vakeesam.com .

http://www.vakeesam.com/%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF
%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF
%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE
%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF
%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE
%AE.html
6 Footage on SinhaLe disruption of peaceful vigil
http://www.vikalpa.org/?p=28041,
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
fbid=10210663613375039&set=pb.1489297727.2207520000.1479217858.&type=3&theater,
http://www.vikalpa.org/?p=28025,
http://www.bbc.com/sinhala/sri-lanka-37088711,

http://groundviews.org/2016/08/16/different-yet-equal-oneffectively-battling-hatred/ & http://roar.lk/editorial/time-stoppretending-sinha-le-anything-racist/

7 SinhaLe threatening to kill all Muslims
https://drive.google.com/open?
id=0BzO8SAlmDKanUTN4YmpIX3pua2s
8 Rathanasara himi and SinhaLe goons, intimidate and threaten
Christian worshippers and a Pastor
https://www.facebook.com/SJBOFFICIALPAGE/videos/10437383257
33995/ &
https://www.facebook.com/SJBOFFICIALPAGE/videos/10437424424
00250/ 9 DBSJeyaraj.com Tamil Family in Colombo Suburb
Suffers Terrible Ordeal at the Hands of a Religious Mob
http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/49409
10 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act
No. 56 of 2007.
11 ICCPR Act, s 3(1).
12 ICCPR Act, ss 3(2) and 3(3).
13 Report by Centre For Human Rights Development, National
Christian Evangelical Alliance Of Sri Lanka and Minority Rights
Group International https://goo.gl/fWhcPD
14 Sri Lanka Campaign, Ominous rise in attacks on Sri Lankas
Christians https://www.srilankacampaign.org/ominous-riseattacks-sri-lankas-christians/
15 Colombo Telegraph, Police Arrests Saviour Of The Sinhalese
Who Threatened To Bomb Muslims
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/police-arrestssaviour-of-the-sinhalese-who-threatened-to-bomb-muslims/
CC:
1. H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President.
2.Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister.
3.Hon. Sagala Ratnayake,Minister of Law & Order and Southern
Development.
4.Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

5.Hon. Mano Ganesan, Minister of National Co-existence Dialogue

and Official Languages.
6.Hon. Ruwan Wijewardena, State Minister of Defence.
7.Hon. Jayantha,Jayasuriya PC, Attorney-General
8.Dr. Deepika Udagama, Chair, Human Rights Commission of Sri
Lanka.
9.G.M.W.P. Jayathilake, Secretary, Judicial Service Commission
Secretariat.
10.Prof. Siri Hettige, Chairperson, NationalPolice Commission.
11.Ven. Mahanayakas of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters
Signed by;
1. A. Rex Bowie
2. A.B.M. Ashraff
3. A.L. Anvara
4. A.M. Jaseel
5. A.P. Udangamuwa
6. Ahamed Nizar
7. Ainslie Joseph 8. Aisha Nazim
9. Aloysious Diaz
10. Ameena Soysa
11. Ameer Faaiz
12. Anberiya Hanifa 13. Andre Perera
14. Aneesa Firthous
15. Annie Kurian
16. Anoma Silva
17. Anthony Benedict
18. Antoinette Diaz 19. Anton Marcus Trade Unionist
20. Anton Perera
21. Anuradha Rajaratnam
22. Anuruddha Fernando
23. Anushani Alagarajah
24. Anushka Jayasuriya
25. Areeb Ahamed

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63.

Aruna Kulatunge
Aruni Welegedera
Asma Rahman
Audrey Gunasekera
Ausha Ramachandra
Ayesha Perera
Ayudhya Gajanayake
Azhar Ahamed
B. Gowthaman
B. Senn
Balasingham Skanthakumar
Bisliya Bhuto Puttalam 38. Buddhi Galappatthi
Buddika Samarasinghe
Caryll Tozer
Chandra Welegedera
Chandraguptha Thenuwara
Charith de Silva 44. Chulananda Samaranayake
Cyril Welegedera
D.B.S. Jeyaraj Journalist
Damith Chandimal
Dannelle Diaz
Daya Athanayaka
Daylan Diaz
Deanne Uyangoda
Deborah Philip
Dedunie de Silva
Dharsha Jegatheeswaran
Dilan Ramanayake
Dilani Fernando
Dileepa Vitharana Open University of Sri Lanka
Dilshy Banu
Dimithri Gunasekera
Dinu Peiris
Dinuka Fernando
Dr. Clotilda Perera
Dr. Farah Mihlar 64. Dr. Indi Akurugoda Ruhunu University

65. Dr. Isabelle Lassee

66. Dr. Jehan Perera
67. Dr. Mareena Reffai
68. Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
69. Dr. Tasneem Perry
70. Dulindra Fernando
71. Dylan Perera
72. E.T. Saleem
73. Emil van der Poorten
74. Ermiza Tegal
75. Errol Perera
76. Eupracia Silva
77. Faizun Zackariya
78. Fatima Razik Cader
79. Florine Marzook
80. G. Nishshanka
81. G.G. Nilanthi Rupika 82. Gamini Viyangoda
83. Gayathri Gamage
84. Geeni Perumal
85. Geethika Dharmasinghe
86. Godfrey Yogarajah
87. Harean Hettiarachchi 88. Harini Amarasuriya Open
University of Sri Lanka
89. Harshani Bogahawatte
90. Hasanah Cegu Isadeen
91. Herman Kumara
92. Hilmy Ahamed
93. Hiruni Athukorala
94. Hisham Shums
95. Ian Ferdinands
96. Iresha Dilani
97. Iromi Perera
98. Jake Oorloff
99. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala
100. Joe William
101. Josephine Nanayakkara

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Jovanka Jayaweera
K. Guruparan University of Jaffna
K. Hemalatha Jaffna
K. Jawhara
K. Kandeepan
K. Mafasa
K. Nihal Ahamed Addalaichenai
K.G. Gamage
Kalani Subasinghe
Kenneth Pitigala
Keshala Shyamen 113. Krishan Siriwardana
Kumari Vitharane
Kumudini David
Kusal Perera Journalist
L. Anuja
Lalith Soysa
Lanka Muhandiram
Liam Fernando
Lucille Abeykoon
M. Aasha Jaffna
M. Rahman Researcher
M.B. Irfan
M.B. Mihyar
M.K.M. Ibrahim
M.L.M. Ismail
M.M.M. Baseer
Mahesh Senarathna
Manel Wijekoon
Mangaleswary Shanker Attorney-at-law
Manike Perera
Mariam Pishori
Mario de Soyza
Marisa de Silva
Melisha Yapa
Mercy Rajapakse
Michelle Pinto 139. Minoli de Soysa

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Minuka De Silva
Mohmed Rifadh Jaffna
Mohomed Shihan Hanif
Munza Mushtaq Journalist
Nalin Perera
Nawaz Mustapha 146. Neville Ananda Attorney-at- law
Nicola S.
Nicole Liyanage
Nihal de Silva
Nihal Wickramasinghe
Nilanthi Dammika
Nilanthi Wickramage
Nilmini Rajakaruna
Nilshan Fonseka
Nishan Silva
Nishanthi Lokugamage
P. Kairudeen
P. Selvaratnam
P. Vasanthagowry Jaffna
Padmini Abdeen
Parakrama Herath 162. Parakrama Niriella
Pasindu Sadeep
Patrick Rosary
Philip Setunga
Prabu Deepan
Prema Gamage
Priyangani Rajapakse
Priyanjali Perera
Priyantha Peiris
Priyanthie de Silva
Priyanwada Pitigala
Prof. Kumar David
Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
Prof. Sinnaiah Maunaguru
Prof. Sitralega Maunaguru

177. R. Kalaiventhan
178. R. Mohamed
179. R. Sadanayaki
180. R. Vancuylanburg
181. Rahini Baskaran
182. Rajan Rajasingham
183. Rajany Rajeswary Jaffna
184. Ranitha Gnanarajah
185. Raul Moses
186. Rev. Fr. J.C. Paul Rohan
187. Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
188. Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga
189. Rev. Fr. Nandana Saparamadu
190. Rev. Fr. Ravichandran Emmanuel
191. Rev. Fr. S.V.B. Mangalarajah President, Justice and Peace
Commission, Catholic Diocese, Jaffna
192. Rev. Sr. Mabel Rodrigo
193. Rev. Sr. Nichola Emmanuel
194. Rev. Sr. Philomina
195. Rev. Sr. Rasika Pieris HF
196. Richard Nanayakkara 197. Riza Yehiya 198. Rohini Hensman
199. Roshan Pitigala
200. Roshani Priyanka D.M.G
201. Ruki Fernando
202. Ruvini Jayaratne Ramanayake
203. Ryan Ohlums
204. S. Ithayarani Trincomalee
205. S. Sasiyanthini
206. S. Tharsan Jaffna
207. S. Tharuni
208. S.A. Wijayaratne
209. S.C.C. Elankovan
210. S.L. Rifaya
211. S.L. Riyas
212. Saandra
213. Safiya Husain

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Sajeetha N.
Sakuntala Sachithanandan
Sampath Samarakoon
Sanjana Hattotuwa
Sanjaya Abeyrathne
Sanjeev Visvanathan
Sarala Emmanuel
Sarath Silva
Sasha Jayasundera
Seetha Wanniarachchi
Selvaraja Rajasegar
Selvy Thiruchandran
Senrath Sisira Kumara
Shamintha Jayatilaka
Shanali Perera
Shanka Prabash Dharmapala
Shanuki de Alwis
Sharine Gunasekera
Sharon Gauder
Shashikala Cooray
Shehan de Alwis
Shehan Silva
Shenali De Silva
Shiekh M.B.M. Firthous Naleemi
Shirabdi de Silva
Shiromi Lowe
Shiyan Jayaweera
Shreen Abdul Saroor
Silma Ahamed
Silms Ahamed
Sithy Zulfika Ismail 245. Srinath Perera
Subha Wijesiriwardena
Sumaiya Pallak
Sumika Perera
Sunanda Deshapriya
Sunela Samaranayake

251. Surangika Ranaweera

252. Suren Basnayake
253. Suren Perera
254. Suzie Beling
255. Swasthika Arulingam
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256. T. Balamurukan
257. T. Baskaran
258. T. Devarani
259. T. Karthika
260. T. Thavajohan
261. Tanuja Thurairajah
262. Tashya Gajanayake
263. Thiviya Loganathan
264. V. Shamin Jaffna
265. Vinodini Diaz
266. Visaka Dharmadasa Chair, Association of War Affected
Women (AWAW)
267. W.O.M. Fernando
268. Wyomi Abeywickrema
269. Y. Rinosa
270. Y. Setheeswary
271. Y. Subathra
272. Yamini Ravindran Attorney- at-law
273. Yves Bowie
274. Z.A.F. Wazniya
275. Zahabia A. Adamaly
276. Zahir Ahamed
277. Zahir Ahmed Abdul Majeed
278. Zeena Ikram
Photo courtesy Vikalpa.org
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