Sri Lanka: Tweaking The Muslims

| by Col R. Hariharan (April 22, 2014, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lanka re!iden" Ra#apak!a $hy i! "%eakin& "he 'u!li( Co((uni"y, %hi)h by and lar&e had been hi! loyal poli"i)al ar"ner* Sin)e 2012 "he +uddhi!" ,rin&e or&ani-a"ion +odu +ala Sena (++S) ha! )on"inued i"! a""a)k! %i"h i(puni"y on indi.idual!, in!"i"u"ion! and bu!ine!!e! )onne)"ed %i"h 'u!li( )ul"ural and reli&iou! pra)"i)e! and iden"i"y like pla)e! o, %or!hip, reli&iou! edu)a"ion, %earin& o, burkha, and Halal (ea". Chur)he! ha.e al!o had "heir !hare o, !u)h ha"e )a(pai&n!.

/n "he la"e!" in,a(ou! epi!ode, la!" %eek ++S "hu&! di!rup"ed a pre!! )on,eren)e or&ani-ed by "he 0a"hika +ala Sena (0+S) in Colo(bo a" %hi)h "he 0+S ,ounder General Se)re"ary $a"areka 1i#i"ha 2hera had "hrea"ened "o e3po!e "he ++S leader Gala&oda A"h"he Gnana!ara. 2he 0+S General Se)re"ary had been leadin& a )a(pai&n a&ain!" ++S a""a)k! !in)e 2014. 2he ++S %a! ,ounded by "%o (onk! 5 6ira(a $i(ala#o"hi and Gala&oda A"h"he Gnana!aara a,"er "hey broke a%ay ,ro( "he ri&h" %in& (onk! par"y "he 0a"hika Hela 7ru(aya (0H7) !ayin& i" %a! no" (ili"an" enou&h in pro"e)"in& +uddhi!(. So "rue "o "heir !en"i(en" "he ++S ha! been (ili"an" !in)e i"! !"ar". /" ha! been "hri.in& on "he paranoia &enera"ed by "he belie, Sri Lanka i! no" a (ul"i5reli&iou! )oun"ry bu" a Sinhala +uddhi!" one. /"! )ore "he(e appear! "o be "ha" Sinhala +uddhi!" iden"i"y need! "o be pro"e)"ed ,ro( "he "hrea" o, /!la( and Chri!"iani"y. /!la(i) e3"re(i!( %hi)h %a! ne.er a re)konable "hrea" in Sri Lanka ha! pro.ided "he ++S a )on.enien" %hippin& hor!e "hank! "o 0ihadi "errori!(8! &lobal re)ord. A))ordin& "o an A!!o)ia"ed re!! repor" o, 0anuary 14, 2014 a" ++S rallie! (onk! )lai( 'u!li(! are ou" "o re)rui" )hildren, (arry +uddhi!" %o(en and di.ide "he )oun"ry. ++S (onk!

(ake (any a))u!a"ion! abou" Chri!"ian pa!"or! (akin& !ui)ide bo(b ki"!, 'u!li(! "akin& )hildren a%ay "o "rain in aki!"an %i"hou" o,,erin& !uppor"in& e.iden)e. /" 9uo"ed "he ++S General Se)re"ary Gala&oda A"h"he Gnana!ara a! !ayin& :2hi! i! a +uddhi!" na"ion, !o %hy are "hey "ryin& "o )all i" a (ul"i)ul"ural !o)ie"y* ;o" e.eryone )an li.e under "he u(brella o, a +uddhi!" )ul"ure.< 2he ++S ha! been able "o )hanneli!e "he Sinhala +uddhi!" )hau.ini!" pa!!ion! by pro.idin& .i!ible (ani,e!"a"ion! o, /!la(i) and Chri!"ian iden"i"y a! "ar&e"! "o .en" "heir an&er. 2he!e in)lude (o!9ue! and )hur)he!, Sunday !)hool!, reli&iou! &a"herin&!, reli&iou! in#un)"ion! like halal (ea" !lau&h"erin& and )er"i,i)a"ion, and %earin& o, burkha by %o(en. So(e o, ++S )on)ern! like "he de(and ,or aboli!hin& bir"h )on"rol (ea!ure! and ad.i)e "o Sinhala! "o !"op u!in& "he( "o ha.e ,i.e "o !i3 )hildren "o in)rea!e "he Sinhala popula"ion (i&h" appear bi-arre. +u" a" lea!" in !o(e !e)"ion! o, people !u)h de(and! are ,indin& !uppor". +y doin& !o(e de," "i&h" rope %alkin& be"%een "he "%o )o((uni"ie!, 'u!li(! ha.e e)ono(i)ally pro!pered. So(e !e)"ion! o, Sinhala! and 2a(il! ,eel "he 'u!li( ha.e "aken ad.an"a&e o, "he period o, L22= in!ur&en)y %hen "he 2a(il bu!ine!! )o((uni"y %a! under !ie&e. So "here )ould be a )la!! an&le "o "he !uppor" e3"ended "o "he ++S. 2he ++S "a)"i)! !ee( "o be %orkin& a! i"! !"ren&"h i! &ro%in& in dire)" propor"ion "o "he hea" &enera"ed by i"! (e!!a&e and "he nu(ber o, pro"e!"! i" or&ani!e! a&ain!" 'u!li(! and "o a le!!er e3"en" on Chri!"ian!. /n a !ho% o, !"ren&"h, (ore "han 1400 +uddhi!" (onk! and 1>,000 people a""ended a ++S rally in Colo(bo on ?ebruary 1@, 2014. /n "he year 2014, barely a year a,"er i" %a! ,ounded in 2012, ++S )arried ou" appro3i(a"ely 241 a""a)k! a&ain!" 'u!li(! %hile Chri!"ian! ,ared !li&h"ly be""er %i"h A1 in!"an)e! o, a""a)k! on "he( a))ordin& "o a repor" )o(piled by "he Sri Lanka 'u!li( Con&re!! (SL'C). 2he >05pa&e SL'C repor" "i"led :Reli&iou! .iolen)e in Sri Lanka< %a! handed o.er "o "he 7; Hi&h Co((i!!ioner ,or Hu(an Ri&h"! 'r! ;a.ane"ha( illay by none o"her "han "he 'ini!"er o, 0u!"i)e Rau, Hakee(, leader o, "he SL'CB 'r! ;a.ane"ha( illay, pre!u(ably dre% upon "he SL'C repor" %hen !he !poke a" "he la!" 7;HRC !e!!ion. /n her oral repor" on Sri Lanka !he !poke o, "he !ur&e in in)i"e(en" o, ha"red and .iolen)e a&ain!" reli&iou! (inori"ie!, in)ludin& a""a)k! on )hur)he! and (o!9ue!, and la)k o, !%i," a)"ion a&ain!" "he perpe"ra"or!. Apparen"ly "he !u))e!! o, ++S ha! unner.ed "he 0H7 %hi)h had )on!idered i"!el, a! "he !ole pro"e)"or! o, +uddhi!(. /" ha! added i"! penny8! %or"h "o in)i"in& an"i5'u!li( !en"i(en"! %i"h i"! !hare o, ha"e !pee)he!. And o"her )opy )a" or&ani-a"ion! o, "he ++S like "he Ra.ana +alaya ha.e )o(e up "o add "o "he (i!)hie,. 'any reli&iou! leader! in)ludin& +uddhi!" prela"e!, )i.il !o)ie"y or&ani!a"ion! and leader! o, poli"i)al and !o)ial !pe)"ru( ha.e )onde(ned "he a)"i.i"ie! o, ++S a! a "hrea" "o na"ional uni"y. +u" a" "he !a(e "i(e, ++S8! "he(e and !o(e o, "he de(and! ha.e ,ound !uppor" ,ro( !o(e o, "he /!land8! pre!"i&iou! +uddhi!" reli&iou! head! like "he A!!i&iriya 'aha ;ayake. So(e edu)a"ional in!"i"u"ion! ha.e banned "he %earin& o, burkha by 'u!li( !"uden"!. /" i! di,,i)ul" "o i(a&ine !u)h a)"! o, la%le!!ne!! "akin& pla)e a&ain!" a poli"i)ally i(por"an" (inori"y )o((uni"y %i"hou" "he kno%led&e o, "he hand!5on re!iden" Ra#apak!a. +eyond appealin& "o "he people ,or na"ional uni"y, "he re!iden" !ee(! "o ha.e done li""le "o ea!e "he &ro%in& ,eelin& o, in!e)uri"y o, 'u!li(! and Chri!"ian!. Cne %ould ha.e e3pe)"ed "he re!iden" "o "ake !eriou! no"i)e o, ++S Dan"i5'u!li( a)"i.i"ie! par"i)ularly a,"er "he SL'C leader Rau, Hakee( had pre!en"ed hi! repor" "o "he 7;HRC. +u"

Ra#apak!a8! i((edia"e re!pon!e %a! "o !e.erely repri(and Rau, Hakee( ,or !ub(i""in& !u)h repor" "o "he 7;HRC. C"her par"ner! o, "he 7 ?A )oali"ion a))u!ed "he 'u!li( (ini!"er ,or :%a!hin& dir"y linen in "he publi).< 2he o,,i)ial line "ro""ed ou" "o e3plain &o.ern(en" ina)"ion i! ludi)rou!. /n early 2014, 'edia 'ini!"er 6eheliya Ra(buk%ella )alled "he an"i5'u!li( a)"! :(inor a&i"a"ion! "ha" are nor(al in any (ul"i)ul"ural !o)ie"y.< A))ordin& a repor" he !aid i" %a! in"ended "o en)oura&e )o((uni"y (e(ber! "o %ork ou" "heir o%n proble(! addin& :/, "hin&! &e" (ore !eriou!, %e %ill "ake a)"ion E 2he!e kind! o, "hin&! )an ruin a na"ion, %e are a%are o, "ha".< 2he ++S i! al!o in.ol.ed in a !lan&in& (a")h %i"h "he All Ceylon 'akkal Con&re!! (AC'C) led by 'ini!"er ,or /ndu!"ry and Co((er)e Ri!had +a"hiudeen a,"er "he ++S a))u!ed o, 'u!li(! o, ille&ally !e""lin& in $ilpa""u ,ore!"!. 2he a)"i.i"ie! o, ++S !ee( "o ha.e unner.ed +a"hiudeen %ho had been a lon& "er( loyali!" o, re!iden" Ra#apak!a. 2he AC'C re#oinder !aid "he apparen" i(puni"y %i"h %hi)h ++S %a! a)"in& rai!ed 9ue!"ion! %he"her i" %a! runnin& Da parallel &o.ern(en"8 like "he L22= durin& i"! e3i!"en)e. 2he AC'C )alled ,or a DCo((i!!ion o, /n9uiry8 "o look in"o po!"5%ar in)iden"! a&ain!" (inori"ie! in &eneral and 'u!li(! in par"i)ular. 2he 'ini!"er ,or ;a"ional Lan&ua&e! and So)ial /n"e&ra"ion, 1a!ude.a ;anayakara, %ho had been )ri"i)al o, ++S, in a re)en" in"er.ie% "o Ceylon 2oday !aid i" !hould be pro!)ribed by la%, a! i" %a! di!rup"in& reli&iou! har(ony in "he )oun"ry. He !aid "he dor(an" a""i"ude adop"ed by "he poli)e, e!pe)ially %i"h re&ard "o "he ++S and i"! a)"ion!, %a! due "o "he poli"i)al i((uni"y "ha" "he or&ani-a"ion en#oyed "hrou&h "he in"er.en"ion o, a hi&h5rankin& &o.ern(en" o,,i)ial. Si&ni,i)an"ly he !aid, :/ )an )learly !ay "ha" "he ++S i! en#oyin& !uppor" ,ro( a hi&h5rankin& S"a"e o,,i)ial. 2ha" i! %hy i"! (e(ber! are beha.in& in !u)h a (anner. =.en "he poli)e are lenien" "o%ard! "he( o%in& "o "hi!. 2here i! !o(eone i(pedin& "he poli)e ,ro( )arryin& ou" in.e!"i&a"ion! a&ain!" "he ++S. : 2he Fe,en)e Se)re"ary Go"abaya Ra#apak!a had !ho%n !o(e in"ere!" in "he ++S. He %a! "he Chie, Gue!" a" "he openin& o, 'e"h Se.ana, "he +uddhi!" Leader!hip A)ade(y !"ar"ed by "he ++S on 'ar)h G, 2014. A))ordin& "o a (edia repor" "he Fe,en)e Se)re"ary in hi! !pee)h on "he o))a!ion had !aid "ha" he de)ided "o a""end "he e.en" :a,"er reali!in& i"! "i(ely i(por"an)e E. "he!e +uddhi!" )ler&y %ho are en&a&ed in a na"ionally i(por"an" "a!k !hould no" be ,eared or doub"ed by anyone. :A))ordin& "o "he ++S, i" %a! Go"abaya %ho en!ured produ)"! di!playin& Halal )er"i,i)a"ion %ere %i"hdra%n ,ro( "he (arke". $he"her he %ould !uppor" "he ++S Dun!a.oury a)"i.i"ie!, unle!! i" i! a par" o, a poli"i)al a&enda i! "he (oo" 9ue!"ion. 2he 'u!li( )o((uni"y in Sri Lanka i! barely "%o (illion !"ron&, ,or(in& #u!" 10 per)en" o, "he i!land8! popula"ion. 'o!" o, "he( !peak 2a(il, and like Sri Lanka 2a(il!, ha.e link! %i"h "heir bre"hren a)ro!! "he alk S"rai" in 2a(il ;adu. 'u!li(!, like o"her 2a(il !peakin& (inori"y, are di.ided .er"i)ally and hori-on"ally alon& !e)"arian, and )la!! and o))upa"ional a,,ini"ie!. Fe!pi"e "he!e li(i"a"ion! "hey ha.e been &rea" !ur.i.or! 5 bo"h poli"i)ally and !o)ially 5 durin& "he di,,i)ul" year! %hen "hey had "o !ur.i.e "he L22=5led 2a(il in!ur&en)y. /n ,a)", "hey had de.eloped "he ,ine ar" o, !ur.i.al no" only in "he %ar be"%een "he &o.ern(en" and "he 2a(il 2i&er! bu" be"%een "he "%o (a#or par"ie! 5 "he 7ni"ed ;a"ional ar"y (7; ) and "he Sri Lanka ?reedo( ar"y (SL? ).

/" i! e.iden" 'u!li( poli"i)al par"ner! o, re!iden" Ra#apak!a are ,eelin& ,ru!"ra"ed by "he ,ailure o, "he &o.ern(en" "o rein in ++S and )urb i"! an"i 'u!li( a&enda. /, un)he)ked, "he re!iden" run! "he ri!k o, aliena"in& "he 'u!li( )o((uni"y. 2o&e"her %i"h "he 2a(il! %ho already ,eel le" do%n by Ra#apak!a, "he "%o )o((uni"ie! (ake abou" 20 per)en" o, "he na"ional .o"e !hare %hi)h i! .i"al ,or !u))e!! in "he re!iden"ial poll. Can "he re!iden" a,,ord "o aliena"e "he!e .o"e! %i"h "he hope o, in)rea!in& hi! !uppor" a(on& Sou"hern Sinhala!* C, )our!e, )on"inued &o.ern(en" ina)"ion in )he)kin& "he ++S D,ree run %ould al!o belie "he &o.ern(en"8! !in)eri"y in a""endin& "o (inori"y )on)ern!. And i" i! no" &oin& "o help Sri Lanka8! )a!e a" "he 7;HRC %hen i" !eriou!ly "ake! up i(ple(en"in& "he re!olu"ion. So %ha" i! "he lar&er poli"i)al a&enda a" %ork in allo%in& !pa)e ,or Sinhala )hau.ini!" a)"i.i"ie! o, "he ++S kind* eople o, Sri Lanka %ould !"ar" de(andin& an!%er ,or "hi! 9ue!"ion ,ro( "he re!iden" %hen "he "i(e )o(e!. (Col R Hariharan, a re"ired 'ili"ary /n"elli&en)e o,,i)er, !er.ed %i"h "he /ndian ea)e 6eepin& ?or)e in Sri Lanka a! Head o, /n"elli&en)e. He i! a!!o)ia"ed %i"h "he Chennai Cen"re ,or China S"udie! and "he Sou"h A!ia Analy!i! Group. =5'ailH )olhari I yahoo . )o( +lo&H %%%.)olhariharan.or&)