By Imaad Majeed
Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana has said the attack on the
Masjidul Khaira in Dambulla was the work of professional extremists.
A group of over 1000 protestors led by Buddhist monks gathered at the
mosque on Friday (20) preventing the obligatory Jummah prayers.
Protestors threw stones and chanted slogans claiming the area is sacred
to Buddhism and therefore cannot tolerate the mosque’s religious
activities.
Mowlana said “there are unseen hands at work and the public is aware
of this. I feel that we have to join hands and eliminate these
extremists. This was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister and the
President is taking action and may participate in the meeting scheduled
for tomorrow (23) to see that an impartial solution is found.”
Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs A.L.M. Hizbullah condemned the
attack and said “if there is any dispute, it must be discussed and seen
to. Surrounding the mosque and staging a protest only disturbs the
harmony in this country that has been restored after a 30 year war.”
“We can always have a dialogue and sort out any issues. I will be
personally visiting the mosque in Dambulla. I have arranged to speak to
the Chief Minister. I have made arrangements with the police to have a
meeting between the divisional secretariat and the relevant officials.
We will see to it that we reach an understanding between the two parties
and that the mosque is not demolished,” Hizbullah added.
According to Hizbullah, the Masjidul Khaira is over 50 years old. “I
have prayed at this mosque as early as 1985 when I was still in
university. There have been no issues in the past. Only recently have
there been problems when the number of people coming into the mosque on
Fridays for Jummah prayers increased,” Hizbullah said.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress parliamentarian Hasen Ali also condemned
the act, stating the perpetrators belonged to an extremist group. “The
saddest part is that this incident had occurred before the presence of
the security forces who are supposed to uphold law and order in this
country. They have become spectators,” Ali said.
“This is the first time that Muslims were prevented from engaging in
their obligatory Friday prayers. They say that the area has been
declared a sacred area for Buddhists. Everything is sacred, including
mosques. You can bring down liquor stores, but why would you bring down a
place of worship?” Ali queried.
“The government cannot come out with any stale reasons. They must
find a solution. From their attitude it becomes evident how this country
has suffered on ethnic lines. These incidents will further polarize the
ethnic population in this country,” Ali added.
“There is concrete evidence. The police are aware of the culprits.
Action must be taken against them. Similar incidents have taken place in
Mahiyangana and Anuradhapura, as well as smaller incidents around the
country that have not been reported. These must be put to a stop,” Ali
said.
UNP parliamentarian Kabir Hashim said “this is infringing on the
religious freedom of the Muslim community. This will create an issue for
the goodwill of the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people. If the mosque was
built illegally, discussions could have been held to seek a solution,
instead of staging a violent protest.”
“Having been built in 1963, such a protest should have taken place
then and not now. The government should remember the support of Muslim
countries for Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. An
immediate and independent inquiry should be conducted over the Dambulla
incident,” Hashim said. | 
