muslim Archives - Ceylon Independent

Hajj provides with necessary inspiration for a charitable life – PM

22Aug

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Hajj provides with necessary inspiration for a charitable life – PM

Prime Minister conveys his wishes for the Muslim community celebrating Eid-al Adha stating that Hajj provides the world with inspiration necessary for a leading a charitable life. He also requests Sri Lankans to be united as a nation to ensure a better future for the country. The complete Hajj message of the Prime Minister is as follows: “Hajj pilgrimage is considered to be one of the five pillars of Islam, which should be performed by all Muslims, who are physically and financially capable, at least once in their lifetime. Hajj marks the end of the period during which Muslims across the globe journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to reassure their faith in God. The expenses for the journey will be borne from what they earned through labour. The Hajj is a religious festival where...

India outrage spreads over rape of eight-year-old girl

13Apr

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

World

India outrage spreads over rape of eight-year-old girl

The brutal gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl has sparked outrage and anger across India. The body of Asifa Bano, who belonged to a Muslim nomadic tribe, was found in a forest on 17 January near Kathua city of Indian-administered Kashmir. The story made national headlines this week after Hindu right-wing groups protested the arrest of the accused, who also belonged to a Hindu community. People are angry that a gruesome crime has become a religious flashpoint. Police have arrested eight men, including a retired government official, four police officers and a juvenile in connection with Asifa's death. However, the arrests led to protests in Hindu-majority Jammu - lawyers tried to stop police entering the court to file a charge sheet and two ministers from the Hindu n...

Newly elected LG member arrested over Kandy unrest, other suspects re-remanded until April 10

29Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Newly elected LG member arrested over Kandy unrest, other suspects re-remanded until April 10

The Terrorist Investigation Division has arrested a newly elected local government member in connection with the attacks on mosques and Muslim businesses in the Digana area of the Kandy Administrative District during the communal clashes earlier this month. The suspect, identified as Kumara Mohottige Samantha Perera alias Araliya Samantha residing at Digana, No: 302, Rajawella (01), is a member elected to the Kundasale Pradeshiya Sabha from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the police said. He was arrested by the TID last night based on the investigations being carried out by the TID regarding the damages caused to businesses and places of worship in the Digana Town in the Theldeniya Police Division on March 5 and acting in a manner causing violence and hate between communities. Th...

European ambassadors visiting Kandy underscore need to redouble efforts to support national reconciliation in Sri Lanka

29Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

European ambassadors visiting Kandy underscore need to redouble efforts to support national reconciliation in Sri Lanka

The Ambassador of the European Union, Tung-Laï Margue, the Ambassador of Romania, Dr. Victor Chiujdea, and the Ambassador of Switzerland Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, visited the violence-hit Kandy district from 27-28 March 2018 and met with the Chief Prelates of the two main Buddhist chapters and the Muslim community. The Ambassadors paid their respects to the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Most. Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero, and the Chief Prelate of the Malwatte Chapter, the Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala. During a frank and constructive exchange about the recent violence against the Muslim community in Kandy district, the envoys emphasized the importance of starting a systematic dialogue with other religious leaders to avoid the recur...

Lawsuit after Malaysian flag reported as ‘IS symbol’ in US

22Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

World

Lawsuit after Malaysian flag reported as ‘IS symbol’ in US

A US employee association is being sued after restricting a Muslim man's membership over a row about a flag. Munir Zanial let a property at a lake owned by the organization for a Malaysian Independence Day party. The FBI was alerted when an employee reported Muslim guests were displaying what was described as a US flag defaced with Islamic State group symbols. The investigation ended when it emerged the flag was Malaysia's, but Mr. Zanial was banned from hosting events. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kansas has now filed a lawsuit accusing the Spirit Boeing Employees Association of "racial profiling and blatant religious discrimination". 'Blatant discrimination' Mr Zanial, a Muslim Malaysian aerospace engineer, was a paying member of the employee association when ...

19Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL, Main Story

President lifts state of emergency

By Chathuri Dissanayake As the army begins to withdraw troops from Kandy, President Maithripala Sirisena ended the state of emergency which was imposed in the country two weeks ago to control extremist attacks on the Muslim community in the central hill capital. President Sirisena signed the gazette notification lifting the state of emergency upon his return from a state visit to Japan, the President’s Media Division announced today. Army begins pulling back troops Kandy back to normal Compensation to be paid from today “The state of emergency declared on March 06, 2018 according to the instructions given by President Maithripala Sirisena has been lifted. President Sirisena after returning to the country following a successful state visit to Japan signed the Gazette ...

Army troops will ensure safety of all communities, assures Army Commander

9Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Army troops will ensure safety of all communities, assures Army Commander

Sri Lanka's Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, who visited the troubled central hill capital of Kandy on Thursday has assured that the Army troops will ensure safety of all communities. As normalcy was returning fast, Lieutenant General Senanayake visited Kandy Thursday and took stock of developments taking place in the aftermath of violence that sparked off in the general areas of Digana, Galaha, Katugastota, Menikhinna, Ambetenna, Akurana, Poojapitiya and a few other affected areas. Meeting with the Muslim religious leaders and community leaders during his visit to Kandy Thursday Lieutenant General Senanayake assured that he would do everything possible to provide full security to the mosques and villages where the Muslim communities are resident as the normalcy w...

Complaint lodged at Sri Lanka Human Rights Council against social media ban

9Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Complaint lodged at Sri Lanka Human Rights Council against social media ban

A complaint has been lodged by the National Movement for Consumer Protection with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) on blocking the access to the social media platforms such as Facebook, Viber and Whatsapp. The Sri Lankan government ordered to block social media networks to stop fueling communal violence through the social media as attacks on Muslim targets by Sinhalese Buddhist mob continued in central hill country despite the state of emergency few days ago. Accordingly, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) of Sri Lanka, in the interests of national security, access to certain social media sites and messaging platforms was restricted until further notice. Chairman of the National Movement for Consumer Protection Ranjith Vithanage has lodged the compl...

Government Analyst’s report says clump of flour, not medicinal pills found in the Ampara eatery food

9Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Government Analyst’s report says clump of flour, not medicinal pills found in the Ampara eatery food

The Government Analyst's report on the food served by a Muslim eatery in Ampara which said to have contained "sterilization pills" has been released. The Government Analyst's report to the police has concluded that the substance found in the food was a small dough and not anything related to a drug. Analysis of the particles has found that they were made of carbohydrates (starch). Anti-Muslim riots erupted in Ampara after a group of people who went for a meal at the Muslim eatery found clumps of particles in a paratha and alleged the owner has added "sterilization pills" to the food. The police have asked the people to discard the suspicions about the food served in Muslim eateries and act peacefully. Earlier medical professionals pointed out that there is no pill in western me...

Opposition Leader criticizes inaction of law enforcement authorities regarding communal violence

8Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

Opposition Leader criticizes inaction of law enforcement authorities regarding communal violence

Sri Lanka's Leader of Opposition and the Leader of main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R. Sampanthan seriously questioned the inaction of law enforcement authorities in response to the recent attacks on Muslim establishments in Ampara in the East and Digana area in the central hills. Speaking in parliament on the chaotic situation in the Kandy area, the Opposition Leader said all these people who have engaged in these hostile activities seem to have been able to get away without being obstructed by the law enforcement authorities. He said such incidents are clearly unacceptable and is indicative of sense of impunity. "People seem to have the confidence that they can engage in such acts and that the arm of the law would not reach them; that the Rule of Law would not be enf...