Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Date
Place/District
Nature of Attack
14 May
Onegama, Polonnaruwa
Attack and destroy of dwellings (huts)
15 May
Selvanagar, Trincomalee
Attack on Muslim villagers
15 May
Panadura, Colombo
Petrol bomb attack on Mosque
15 May
Kohilawatta, Colombo
Attack on Mosque
16 May
Selvanagar, Trincomalee
Attack on Muslim villagers
16 May
Kohilawatta, Colombo
Another attack on Mosque
17 May
Panadura, Colombo
Attack on two shops
18 May
Wennapuwa, Kurunegala
A shop burnt
21 May
Mallawapitiya, Kurunegala
Attack on Mosque
21 May
Elpitiya, Galle
A shop burnt
22 May
Maharagama, Colombo
A shop burnt
22 May
Kahawatta, Ratnapura
A shop burnt
Source: Groundviews
Morally Repugnant
As the King Dharma Asoka declared in his Edict XII, There should
be growth in the essentials of all religions. Growth in essentials
can be done in different ways, but all of them have as their root
restraint in speech, that is, not praising ones own religion, or
condemning the religion of others without good cause. And if
there is cause for criticism, it should be done in a mild way.
Sri Lanka cannot go on like this. After major attacks in June 2014
at Aluthgama, there were all indications that the BBS was
planning to celebrate the centenary of the 1915 Sinhala-Muslim
riots in 2015. What prevented this catastrophe was the change of
government and the political situation. Therefore, the present
government has a major responsibility to sustain and stabilize the
situation. An apparent problem may be one part of the present
government is one part of the past government.
The events during April and May are quite disturbing and
detrimental to national unity and harmony. These should be
curtailed not under an iron fist, as some would argue, but under
the rule of law. There should be national consensus going beyond
party politics and bringing all parties/sections together as much
as possible. It is difficult to imagine any democratic party or
formation would conscientiously approve what is conducted by
the BBS. At least that is the expressed position/s of all democratic
parties. Therefore, that potential should be utilized to the full
extent. There are parties (i.e. the Left) even in the Joint Opposition
that should be mobilized against the BBS xenophobic activities.