You are on page 1of 11

Take Urgent Action To Stop Attacks

On Muslims
The following statement issued by a group of concern citizen of Sri Lanka on the recent
attack on Muslim people.
( June 1! "#1$! %olombo! Sri Lanka &uardian' (e the
undersigned Sri Lankans strongly condemn the )odu )ala Sena*s ())S' highly
inflammatory hate speech against! and brazen physical attacks on the Muslim
community in +luthgama! )eruwala! (elipenna and ,harga-Town in June "#1$. (e
belie.e that the .iolence is directly linked to recent statements by the ))S targeting
Muslims. (e call upon the authorities to immediately conduct independent
in.estigations into the incidents! and hold to account perpetrators and those complicit
in such acts. (e belie.e inflammatory statements made by the &eneral Secretary of the
))S! &alagodathera &nanasara! clearly demonstrates his pi.otal role and
responsibility for the .iolence. (e therefore call upon the authorities to take
immediate steps to arrest and charge him for the deaths and destruction in the area.
+t the time of issuing this statement! reliable sources who ha.e access to the area
during the last few days confirm the de.astation and destruction in the region!
including the killing of at least three people! with unconfirmed reports that this figure
maybe higher! and in/uries to around 0# people. 1n addition! mos2ues ha.e been
attacked and .andalized! and many Muslim-owned houses and businesses in the area
damaged and destroyed. ,espite curfew being imposed in the area! the .iolence and
the gathering of mobs continued with the inability or unwillingness of the security
forces to control them. Many innocent men! women and children continue to li.e in
fear of further attacks. (e are e3tremely disturbed that there continue to be reports of
mobs in the area and that the insecurity in these areas continue! despite the presence
of security force personnel. 4n June 15th there was an incident where a shop was
attacked in ,ehiwela. There are rumours of tensions and incidents from other areas.
1n such a disturbing conte3t! we call on the &o.ernment of Sri Lanka to take
immediate and effecti.e action and ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous
.iolence are held to account. The &o.ernment has an obligation to protect all citizens
of Sri Lanka and end impunity. &i.en the brazen attacks on the Muslim community!
the &o.ernment must deploy additional police and other law enforcement authorities!
and ensure that they take pre.enti.e and responsi.e action to ensure the safety of
communities at risk. (e are aware of the authorities ha.ing made a number of arrests
so far. 6owe.er! media reports state that many were released within the day. 7urther!
the ))S &eneral Secretary &alagodaaththe &nanasara is reported to be free to roam
about and to incite further hatred and .iolence! and has not yet been 2uestioned.
8nimpeded access should also be granted to food and relief con.oys as well as to
independent actors and the media to report without hindrance or harm on the
situation.
There are basic protections pro.ided in the %onstitution and the legal framework for
the safety and security of all citizens. The 9resident! who is also the Minister of
,efence! and his brother! the Secretary to the Ministry of ,efence and 8rban
,e.elopment! must ensure that law and order is maintained and reassure the citizens
of Sri Lanka that appropriate action is being taken to pre.ent any further .iolence and
that the perpetrators will be held to account! including those who incited and
spearheaded the .iolence. The authorities should also take this opportunity to issue a
public apology for failing to protect its citizens against .iolence.
(e ha.e in recent times seen the selecti.e use of specific laws such as the 9re.ention of
Terrorism +ct (9T+' to arrest and detain ci.ilians! ci.il society and media personnel in
the name of :national security;. (e ha.e also witnessed the law being used to stop
peaceful protests elsewhere in the country. +nd yet! the police permitted the ))S rally
to take place despite the pleas of a number of actors! including politicians within the
&o.ernment who argued that it would e3acerbate tensions. The legal framework
outside the 9T+ can and should be used to deal with situations such as this where
there is an egregious .iolation of the %onstitution and laws of the country.
There is a clear need for an impartial in2uiry into the causes for the .iolence to identify
perpetrators of the attacks and the role played by the police and armed forces. 1t is also
paramount that the State fairly compensates those who suffered the loss of family
members! and the destruction of and damage to property.
(e urge the authorities to take specific steps to build the confidence of the Muslim
community as e2ual citizens of Sri Lanka. The recent attacks on Muslim places of
worship and businesses are part of a wider trend of .iolent attacks against Muslims
and other religious and ethnic minorities! including the %hristian community. 6ence!
there is a need to address this wider issue of .iolence against religious minorities. Most
urgently! to take pre.enti.e action! including deploying ade2uate security forces in
areas where minorities are under threat from further .iolence.
More than fi.e years after the end of the war! it is imperati.e that we e3plore a.enues
for coe3istence and come together to build a society that cherishes and celebrates its
inherent pluralism. Thirty years after the carnage of )lack July 10<! this most recent
.iolence is a tragic reminder of how little we as citizenry ha.e learned from the past.
7inally! this statement e3presses solidarity with our fellow citizens! the .ictims and
sur.i.ors of the .illages of +luthgama! )eruwala! ,harga Town! (alpitiya and
(elipenna. Much needs to be done to address the recent .iolence and we belie.e much
can be achie.ed if the &o.ernment acts swiftly and decisi.ely to fulfill its fundamental
responsibility for protecting all citizens of Sri Lanka and we as Sri Lankans play an
acti.e role to renounce the .iolence and act in solidarity with those under threat.
=ote by the drafters> Subse2uent to the compilation of signatures for this statement an
incident was reported. ?en. (atareka ?i/itha Thero! was found beaten up! with his
hands and legs bound! by the side of the 6irana bridge! in 9anadura this morning
(Thursday 1th'. 6e is currently recei.ing treatment for his in/uries at the =ational
6ospital! %olombo. ?en. ?i/tha Thero has been a .ocal critic of the )odu )ala Sena
())S' and an ad.ocate for inter-religious harmony. 6is outspokenness has resulted in
him coming under attack and being sub/ect to serious threats and intimidation
allegedly by members of the ))S.
Signed by@
1. +. Santhiapillai
". +.M. 7aaiz - +ttorney-at-Law A ,irector! Secretariat for Muslims
<. +adhila Bayaam
$. +ffan +riff
5. +hmed 6ussain
C. +inslie Joseph
D. +/it +beysekera
0. +/ita Badirgamar
. +/ith %. 6erath - 6iru =ewspaper
1#. +man +shraff
11. +mana 6ussain
1". +marnath +marasingham
1<. +meena 6ussein
1$. +nandha Joseph
15. +nberiya 6anifa
1C. +ngelica %handrasekeran
1D. +nita =esiah
10. +nitha Sel.ara/ah
1. +nn Jabbar
"#. +nnie Burian E ,irector! %entre for Social %oncerns
"1. +nukshi Jayasinha
"". +nushaya %ollure
"<. +reeb +hamed
"$. +r/ini =awal
"5. +sanka )rendon Fatnayake
"C. +sanka (i/esinghe
"D. +sker Bhan E Secretary! Muslim %ouncil of Sri Lanka
"0. +zhar +hamed
". ). &owthaman E +ttorney-at-Law
<#. ). Skanthakumar
<1. )ha.ani 7onseka
<". )uddhima 9admasiri
<<. %. %olombage
<$. %. &adiewasam
<5. %aryll 9erera
<C. %ayathri ,i.akalala
<D. %hami 6ameed
<0. %hamindry Saparamadu - +ttorney-at-Law
<. %handani (ithana
$#. %handraguptha Thenuwara
$1. %handrika ). Bumaratunga - The South +sia 9olicy A Fesearch 1nstitute
$". %handrika &adiewasam
$<. %handula Bumbukage
$$. %hantelle 9ieris
$5. ,.6.S. Maithripala E 9eradeniya
$C. ,.=. +mbala.anar - )atticaloa
$D. ,eanne 8yangoda
$0. ,eborah 9hilip
$. ,ehini (iratunga
5#. ,hamsiri 7onseka
51. ,hanushka 7ernando
5". ,ilanda 9elpola
5<. ,inesha Samararatne
5$. ,inidu de +lwis - Gditor-in-%hief! The Fepublic S2uare
55. ,inushka Jayawickreme
5C. ,inuwan Senaratne - =etwork Gngineer
5D. ,r. +. Fohan 9erera
50. ,r. ,harmasena 9athira/a
5. ,r. 7ara 6aniffa
C#. ,r. Jehan 9erera E =ational 9eace %ouncil (=9%'
C1. ,r. Bumudu Busum Bumara - 8ni.ersity of %olombo
C". ,r. Michael Foberts
C<. ,r. 9ushpa Famlani ,issanayake
C$. ,r. F. %heran
C5. ,r. Famya Bumar
CC. ,r. Fanil ,. &uneratne
CD. ,r. Sepali Bottegoda
C0. ,r. Si.amohan Sumathy
C. ,r. Sunil (i/esiriwardena
D#. ,r. Hulfika 1smail
D1. ,umindu Barunasekera
D". Glane Sa.i (i/esekera
D<. Glma 6ussain
D$. Gmil .an der 9oorten
D5. Grmiza Tegal - +ttorney-at-Law
DC. Gsther Surenthira/
DD. G.angeline S. Gkanayake
D0. 7. Solomantine
D. 7aizun Hackariya - ,irector! Muslim (omen*s Fesearch A +ction 7orum
0#. 7alih %affoor
01. 7arah 6ussain
0". 7arha 7athima
0<. 7arzana Bhan
0$. 7athima 6ameed
05. 7azil 6ussain
0C. 7azlur Muzammil
0D. 7reddy &amage - %enter for 9eople*s ,ialogue
00. &a/en Mahendra
0. &amini +kmeemana
#. &ehan &unatilleke
1. &ithan/ali +lgama
". 6ans )illimoria
<. 6ans &ray
$. 6arean 6ettiarachchi
5. 6asangi =andasena
C. 6ilmy +hamed
D. 1an 7erdinands
0. 1kram Iakeem
. 1romi 9erera
1##. 1zhara 6uzair
1#1. Jake 4orloff
1#". Janaki &alappatti
1#<. Janakie Sene.iratne
1#$. Jayanta de S. (i/eratne E =egombo
1#5. Jayantha ,hanapala
1#C. Jayanthi Buru-8tumpala
1#D. Jayasingam T. E =ational 9eace %ouncil (=9%'
1#0. Jeanne Samuel
1#. Jehanki +nandha
11#. Jezima 6ussain
111. Joe (illiam
11". Jothie Fa/ah - Fesearch 9rofessor! +merican )ar 7oundation
11<. Jo.ita +rulanantham
11$. Juanita +rulanantham
115. Juweriya Mohideen - (omen +ction =etwork ((+='
11C. B. (ettasinghe
11D. B. J. )rito 7ernando - 7amilies of the ,isappeared
110. Barin 7ernando
11. Baushalya 9erera - 8ni.ersity of Belaniya
1"#. Biruthika Thuraira/ah
1"1. Brishna ?elupillai
1"". Buhanithy &unachandran
1"<. Bumaran =adesan
1"$. Bumari Bumaragamage
1"5. Leah Lakshmi 9iepzna-Samarasinha
1"C. Leana 9ieris
1"D. Leila 8dayar
1"0. Lihini 7ernando
1". Lionel )opage
1<#. Luwie =. &aneshathasan - +ttorney-at-Law
1<1. M. Mohammed Fifaadh
1<". M.+. Sumanthiran E +ttorney-at-Law
1<<. M.6.M. +/meer
1<$. M.L. (eeraman
1<5. M.F. Fahman
1<C. Mahalu3my Burushanthan
1<D. Mahendran Thiru.arangan
1<0. Mahiya +bdul Fafeek
1<. Marina Thowfeek
1$#. Mario &omez E 1nternational %entre for Gthnic Studies (1%GS'
1$1. Marisa de Sil.a
1$". Mariyahl 6oole
1$<. Mayani (eeraman
1$$. Mehdi Shahriar
1$5. Melisha Iapa
1$C. Minoli (i/etunga
1$D. Mirak Faheem
1$0. Miyuru &unasinghe - 1ndependent %onsultant
1$. Mohamed 6isham
15#. Muhammad Siddee2
151. Mu/eebur Fahman
15". Munza Mushta2
15<. Muttukrishna Sar.ananthan - 9oint 9edro 1nstitute of
,e.elopment! 9oint 9edro
15$. =.B. +shokbharan
155. =.9.M. (oleedh
15C. =adia 1zzy
15D. =adishka +loysius
150. =agulan =esiah
15. =aloofa Bayaam
1C#. =a.eed Bayaam
1C1. =azly Babir
1C". =icola 9erera
1C<. =igel ?. =ugawela
1C$. =ilantha 1langamuwa - Journalist
1C5. =ilshan 7onseka
1CC. =imalka 7ernando - (omen*s 9olitical +cademy
1CD. =imanthi Fa/asingham
1C0. =inel 7ernando
1C. =issanka ,e Mel
1D#. =iyanthini Badirgamar
1D1. =izreena 1smail
1D". =usthar Mohamed
1D<. 4mar Bayaam
1D$. 9. Sel.aratnam
1D5. 9.=. Singham
1DC. 9aba ,eshapriya
1DD. 9aikiasothy Sara.anamuttu E %entre for 9olicy +lternati.es (%9+'
1D0. 9ar.een Muhammed
1D. 9eter Fezel
10#. 9hilip ,isanayake - Fight to Life 6uman Fights %enter
101. 9hilip Setunga
10". 9rabu ,eepan
10<. 9radeepan Fa.eendran
10$. 9rashanth Buganathan - Teacher*s %ollege! %olumbia 8ni.ersity
105. 9rathiba 9erera
10C. 9rianil +beynaike
10D. 9riya Thangara/ah
100. 9riyanthi 7ernando
10. 9rof. (Gmeritus' =. Shanmugaratnam
1#. 9rof. +.M. =a.aratna )andara - 8ni.ersity of 9eradeniya
11. 9rof. 7iona Bumari %ampbell
1". 9rof. 6arendra de Sil.a
1<. 9rof. Jayantha Sene.iratne - 8ni.ersity of Belaniya
1$. 9rof. Maithree (ickramasinghe
15. 9rof. 9riyan ,ias - 8ni.ersity of Moratuwa
1C. F.M.). Senanayake
1D. Fabiya 7aizal
10. Fa/ah 9erera
1. Fa/ani %handrasegaram
"##. Famani Badirgamar Muttulingasamy
"#1. Fan/it &alappatti
"#". Fashmini de Sil.a
"#<. Fasika ,eepani
"#$. Fathika 1nnasimuttu - The Social +rchitects
"#5. Faya 6ussain
"#C. Fazeen ,een
"#D. Fegina Famalingam
"#0. Fe.. 7r. Jeyabalan %roos
"#. Fe.. 7r. =andana Manatunga
"1#. Fe.. 7r. Fohan ,ominic
"11. Fe.. 7r. S.?.). Mangalara/ah E Jaffna
"1". Fe.. 7r. Sarath 1ddamalgoda
"1<. Fe.. Jason J. Sel.ara/a E Senior 9astor! +ssembly of &od!
%ha.akachcheri
"1$. Fe.. Sr. ,eepa 7ernando
"15. Fe.. Sr. =oel %hristine 7ernando
"1C. Fe.. Sr. F. 7ernando
"1D. Fikaz 6ussain
"10. Fikaza Laffir
"1. Fiza Iehiya - +rchitect A Sustainability %onsultant
""#. Fohini (eerasinghe
""1. Fomesh 6ettiarachchi
""". Fonnie Iogara/ah
""<. Foshni de 7onseka
""$. Fossana 7a.ero-Barunaratna
""5. Fuhanie 9erera
""C. Fuki 7ernando
""D. Fukkaiya 6ussain
""0. Fushdi Hackariya
"". Fuwanthie de %hickera
"<#. S. =anthikesan
"<1. S. Fatna/ee.an 6. 6oole
"<". S. Samaraarachchi
"<<. S. (i/esundara
"<$. S.%.%. Glanko.an - 9rogram 4fficer! H4+ Sri Lanka
"<5. Saadi2a 7auz
"<C. Sachini 9erera - +sian-9acific Fesource A Fesearch %entre for
(omen
"<D. Sampath Samarakoon E Gditor! ?ikalpa
"<0. Samudrika Syl.a
"<. San/ana 6attotuwa - Gditor! &round.iews
"$#. San/e (ignara/a
"$1. San/ee. ?is.anathan
"$". Sarah Babir
"$<. Sarala Gmmanuel E )atticaloa
"$$. Sarath Fatwatte
"$5. Saro/a Si.achandran
"$C. Sashie 9eiris
"$D. Sena (eeraman
"$0. Senaka (eeraman
"$. Shantha ,. 9athirana - 6uman Fights ,efender
"5#. Shanthi ,ias
"51. Sharmini )oyle
"5". Sharmini Fatwatte
"5<. Shaza (ickramarathne
"5$. Shehan de +lwis
"55. Shifan +hmed
"5C. Shihan Shamsudeen
"5D. Shreen Saroor - (omen +ction =etwork ((+='
"50. Shuaib Samad +li
"5. Shyara Jaleel Bhan
"C#. Silma +hamed
"C1. Silma Mohideen +hamed
"C". Sitralega Maunaguru
"C<. Sohan 7ernando
"C$. Srinath 9erera - +ttorney-at-Law
"C5. Ste.e de la Hilwa
"CC. Suba Si.akumaran
"CD. Subky 6ussain
"C0. Sumanasiri Liyanage
"C. Sunanda ,eshapriya
"D#. Sundaram ,i.akalala
"D1. Sunela Jayewardene
"D". Sunethra )andaranaike
"D<. Sunila Mendis
"D$. Supoorna Bulatunga
"D5. Suren ,. 9erera E +ttorney-at-Law
"DC. Suren 7ernando
"DD. Suren (atson
"D0. Tanu/a Thuraira/ah
"D. Tanya 7erdinandusz
"0#. Thaha Muzammil
"01. Thiruni Belegama
"0". Thyagi Fuwanpathirana
"0<. Tisaranee &unasekara
"0$. Tony +ngie
"05. Tony Senewiratne
"0C. 8.L. Jaufer
"0D. 8daya Balupathirana - 1=74FM 6uman Fights ,ocumentation
%entre
"00. 8peka ,e Sil.a
"0. ?.?. &aneshananthan - Lanka Solidarity
"#. ?agisha &unasekara
"1. ?asuki =esiah - +ssoc. 9rof. of 9ractice! =ew Iork 8ni.ersity
"". ?ino (i/eratne
"<. ?iran %orea
"$. ?iranthi Bumarage
"5. ?isaka ,harmadasa - +ssociation of (ar +ffected (omen
"C. ?rinda %horaria
"D. Ialini,ream
"0. Iasantha &unawardena
". Iazmin (oleedh
<##. Iazmin Iousuf
<#1. Hairina +riff
<#". Hara 6ussain
<#<. Hiyada 6assian +li

You might also like