Elpitiya ‘Liberated’ By BBS: No More Muslim Shops!

By Colombo Telegraph -March 31, 2013

Shops operated by Muslims in Elpitiya to vacate the premises soon, the Colombo Telegraph learns.

All 13 shops of the Muslims in Elpitiya are legally owned by Sinhalese but have been given on annual rent. The legal agreements are renewed every year. According to the Colombo Telegraph sources the Bodu Bala Sena has approached the legal owners of the Muslim establishments in Elpitiya and directed them not to extend their leases. All Sinhala owners of the shops have informed the Muslim businessmen to return the vacant shops, after the conclusion of the annual rent. Elpitiya will then be “liberated” according to Bodu Bala Sena.

Bodu Bala Sena conducted a meeting on 29th March in Elpitiya. BBS ordered all Shops and Restaurants to close from 11.00 a.m. and shop owners were asked to attend their procession white cloth and join their public meeting in the town. There are 13 shops operated by Muslims and they remained closed throughout the day, in expectation of violence.

Buddhist Monk Galabodaaththe Gnanasara - BBS

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Ban BBS

 

By Indika Sri Aravinda-Sunday, March 31, 2013

Minister of National Language and Social Integration Vasudeva Nanayakara is to submit a Cabinet paper seeking a ban on extremist groups, including the Bodu Bala Sena, Ravana Balaya and Sinhala Ravaya.

The Minister told The Sunday Leader that the Cabinet paper is being drafted and will be submitted in two weeks time.
He said that the Cabinet paper will seek to bring in new laws to crack down on such groups in the wake of the recent religious tensions in the country.

Nanayakkara accused the Bodu Bala Sena, Ravana Balaya and Sinhala Ravaya of spreading hatred and disharmony among religions and other communities.

He also accused the police of failing to take action against such groups despite them openly advocating hatred.
Nanayakkara also said that he had written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa regarding the hate campaigns targeting Muslims in the country.

“Under our constitution anyone can follow any religion they want. If people feel threatened then they should complain to the police and the police must take action or they can go to Court,” he said.

His comments came in the wake of the recent attack on the Fashion Bug store at Pepiliyana and hate campaigns targeting other Muslim establishments.

The Bodu Bala Sena denied any involvement in the Pepiliyana incident but the monks had openly spoken against the clothes store at a public rally recently.

The latest incident led to Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Minister of Justice, Rauff Hakeem requesting President Mahinda Rajapaksa to convene a cabinet meeting to discuss the rising religious unrest and civil disturbance in the country.

Minister Hakeem has also contacted all the Muslim parliamentarians including Senior Minister M. H. M. Fowzie (who is currently out of the country) and Ministers Rishard Bathiutheen and A. L. M. Athaullah for the meeting in this regard.

An SLMC statement on Friday said that the Minister had expressed his displeasure and had condemned the attack on a private business site. He believes that this was seemingly carried out as a sequel to the ongoing attacks on the religious places and hate campaigns against Muslims and other religious minority communities in the country.

Minister Hakeem also said he was dismayed at the ineffective response of the law and order machinery in containing the spread of such violence and unrest that fuels insecurity and peace of all minority communities in Sri Lanka.