THE GOVT. IS INVOLVED WITH BBS REGARDLESS OF DENIAL - RAHMAN

April 1, 2013 

The Muslim nations must feel foolish having voted in favour of Sri Lanka on the US-led resolution at the UNHRC after the recent attack in Pepiliyana, Western Provincial Councillor Mujibur Rahman stated.

Speaking at a press conference held in Colombo today (April 1) Rahman said that he was baffled at the fact that the government had stayed silent on this issue after around 40 incidents of attacks against Muslims were reported in the recent past.

He added that even though the government had continuously stated that it has no connection with the Bodu Bala Sena the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was involved with the organization.

He further stated that the police force in the country was strange and that he could not understand the SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem’s behavior following the incident in Pepiliyana.

Rauf Hakeem was apparently asleep during the incident while we have not been able to get any sleep for 6 months due to the various attacks on the Muslim community, Rahman stated.

A tense situation erupted in Pepiliyana where a mob attacked a shop on March 28.

The attack was later clarified to be caused by a love affair while a nearby clothing shop was also attacked by the unruly mob.

Bodu Bala Sena says it aims to create a moral society

By Hansani Bandara-Sunday, March 31, 2013

The Bodu Bala Sena Organisation (BBSO) will set up youth corps to educate youth about the dangers of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse.

Among other things, BBSO will hold monthly conferences in all districts to make Buddhists aware of the challenges they face and to advise them how to overcome these problems. The organisation’s next general conference is scheduled to be held today in Kelaniya.
The organisation is also planning to set up an academic institution called the Bodu Bala Sena Vidyayathanaya which will incorporate Buddhist leadership and attitudes with other disciplines such as management and information technology, said Dr. Dilantha Withanage, Programme Coordinator.

“Students are only taught theoretical knowledge but they are not taught values,” Dr. Withanage observed. “This university will help produce academics with moral values,” he said.

Dr. Withanage blamed ‘groups with ulterior motives’ for misrepresenting their campaign as a fight against Muslims. He claimed that there were well planned efforts to make it seem as if the BBSO used violence and spread hatred among communities. “Sending text messages threatening Muslims is a part of this plan. We are well aware of these things,” he said.

The BBSO was ready to accept that Sri Lanka was a multi-religious and multi-racial country, even going to the extent of letting other communities hold their religious festivals in Buddhist temples, provided they were willing to reciprocate. “I will let them play on my field provided they let me play on theirs,” he pledged. “But what is the assurance that they will?” Dr. Withanage said.

At another BBSO conference last week, its Secretary, Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera challenged anybody to prove that the organisation used violence to achieve its goals. “If we are using violence, why won’t the security forces arrest us?” he asked.

Ven. Gnanasara openly alleged that nine out of 11 leading narcotics importers to Sri Lanka were Muslim. He said they were destroying the lives of young people in the country. Asked for evidence, Dr. Withanage told the Sunday Times, “These are known public secrets,” he said.

Among the programmes BBSO plans to conduct is the restoration and renovation of Buddhist shrines, particularly in rural areas. Dr Withanage denied that his movement opposed the existence of the Kuragala Mosque in the Ratnapura District. He said the BBSO was only worried about vandalism of historic sites in Kuragala.

The organisation will launch the BBSO Youth Corps this week to educate young people about the dangers of smoking, alcohol and drug abuse. It will conduct workshops on leadership and personality development and promote healthy living and eating habits through an effort called ‘Arogya Parama Laba’. This week, an awareness programme will be launched in Pannala to educate farmers about the use of organic fertilizers.