Ulemas split into two: prayers conducted as usual in Dambulla mosque; Muslim demonstrations in Colombo
Friday 27 of April 2012

(Lanka-e-News-27.April.2012, 11.30PM) Two huge protest demonstrations were staged today by the Muslims after their Friday Jumma prayers in front of the Fort railway station and near the Dewatagaha mosque. Following the communiqué issued by the supreme Muslim Organization , the All Ceylon Jamiyathul ulema Association yesterday , there had arisen a split within the Association. A group had alleged that the Association is unscrupulously doing the sordid biddings of the Govt., and is now functioning independently as Lanka Jamiyathul ulemas. The new Organization held its protest today with the participation of members of the other opposition parties. Peratugami Samajawadhi party M P Ajith Kumara , Western Democratic Party Mano Ganeshan and leader of Samjawadhi Peramuna , Wickremabahu Karunaratne also participated in the protests.

(this picture shows such a demonstration. More pictures below)

Meanwhile , like how the Jumma prayers were conducted in the Dambulla mosque which was the target of attack in the usual way as were carried out for the last 40 years . A crowd of about 1500 devotees congregated for prayers. There was nobody there to protest . The devotees peacefully conducted their prayers and peacefully dispersed.

At Puttalam , the Muslim devotees after the Jumma prayers went on a peaceful procession .
Iran Ambassador Ayatholla Tashkari had held discussions with the Premier today ,pertaining to the Muslims’ issue. Full story >>