“And Abuse Not Those Whom They Worship Apart From Allah”

By Mass L. Usuf –DECEMBER 28, 2018

Mass L. Usuf

The motivation to write this column arises from the recent attacks damaging several statues of Buddha in the Mawanella area. Is this country ready for another streak of communal violence, death, destruction of properties and international opprobrium?

Just last week it was reported that the Prime Minister met foreign diplomats in Colombo seeking to revoke travel advisories. “Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has held discussions with heads of missions from EU countries to inform them that the country’s political situation was returning to normalcy. The meeting comes in the wake of travel advisories issued by several countries cautioning their citizens about visiting Sri Lanka following the outbreak of the recent political crisis.” (Colombo Telegraph, 23.12.2018). In the backdrop of this meeting visualise another ‘Aluthgama’ or ‘Digana’ triggered from what is considered a hotspot ‘Mawanella’.

Elderly Person

It is a strange coincidence to note that yesterday (26/12/2018), Ash Sheikh A.C.M. Sadakathullah passed away. He was a victim of the Digana riots that took place in March 2018. The attack by the Sinhalese youth, on this innocent elderly person, who looks a grandfather to anyone was simply unimaginable. The bus in which he was travelling was stopped to identify any Muslims travelling in it. Since Mr. Sadakathullah was easily identified from his dress, he was reportedly dragged out of the bus and had been clubbed with iron bars by a gang of marauding youth. This had happened in Ambatenna while this elderly gentleman was returning from Akurana during the Digana riots.

The Late Sadakathullah Moulavi

He was critically injured as a result of being repeatedly hit on the head and was in hospital for almost eight months in a state of coma. He was in an immobile state due to the head injuries. After enduring several months of trauma, he succumbed to his injuries. His family has been facing untold hardship since they were financially underprivileged. He was the former Vice President of City Jammiyathul Ulama and Senior Aalim (Cleric). Sadakathullah Moulavi was former Teacher at St. Sylvester College and popularly known among all communities for his religious sermons in the Sinhala Language.

What is and what is not

The government’s investigative and intelligence arms are served by well experienced personnel. In the absence of political interference and peer pressure from within, these officers are capable of digging out the truth. What is a common refrain in the aftermath of these occurrences is the haste to condemn with hackneyed rhetoric. What is not done effectively is to get to the bottom of these plots. It is important to investigate into the driving force behind these dastardly acts, the tacticians if any, behind these attacks and the reason for such an exploit.

Read More