___________________________________________________________________________________________
P.O. Box A1438, Sydney South, NSW 1235, Australia.
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: www.alma.org.au
Austra-Lanka Muslim Association Inc. (ALMA) is an incorporated not-for-profit community organisation based in Sydney,
New South Wales, Australia. It was founded in 1992 by a few members with the objectives of promoting good values, and
maintaining unity and friendship among the increasing number of Muslims of Sri Lankan origin and other communities in and
outside Australia.
Austra-Lanka Muslim Association Inc.
Incorporated in NSW as a Not-for-Profit Community Organisation
ABN 80 076 747 489
9 March 2018
The High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Australia
His Excellency Somasundaram Skandakumar
Sri Lankan High Commission
Canberra,
Australia
Your Excellency,
Violence against Muslims in Sri Lanka
Greetings from the Austra-Lanka Muslim Association Inc. (ALMA)
On behalf of the Muslim community in Sydney, we would like to place on record our concern and
extreme dissatisfaction on the atrocities meted out to the peace loving Muslim community in Sri
Lanka. It was our fervent belief that the racial disharmony that was the norm in the past, against which
we made repeated representation at that time, would come to a closure with the change of
leadership/regime which was replaced by the ‘Yahapalana’ government. Ever since this government
took over, racial discrimination and victimization of the minorities, particularly the Muslim community,
have continued unabated. Certain hard-line groups appear to be acting to instil an on-going fear
psychosis among the Muslim population in Sri Lanka. The despicable yet well-orchestrated attacks
which started in Ampara and spread on to Digana, Teldeniya, Katugastota, Akurana and other areas,
where a sizeable Muslim population lives harmoniously with the Sinhalese society, opened the gates
for further communal violence against the Muslims. These attacks were perpetrated by some Buddhist
extremist groups.
Regrettably, a personal dispute between some individuals has been used as an opportunity to incite
communal violence resulting in loss of lives and, unjustified destruction of Mosques, business
establishments, homes and vehicles causing extensive financial losses and psychological distress.
Obviously these dastardly and vindictive atrocities do not augur well for the image and growth of
Mother Lanka. The economy of the country is at its lowest ebb throwing the country in a state of total
disarray. The Law and Order in the country appears to be in the hands of the goons who could not be
controlled by the Government or Police and/or armed forces. The hatred and animosity the
perpetrators demonstrate, unfortunately has been targeted against the Muslims who have every right
to be part of the total populace. They are Sri Lankans too and should be treated like any other citizen
in the country. It is deplorable that things are not happening the way they should. These acts of
hatred, violence and destruction by Buddhist extremists has brought the country to a virtual standstill
thus inconveniencing the daily lives of the law-abiding citizens.
The 30-year war with the LTTE came to a closure in 2009, but the Muslim minority seems to be the
next target of this racial hatred exercise orchestrated in total connivance with certain hardliners of the
political community. Whether Sri Lanka will be able to revert to the early post-independence era that
created an environment where all the communities lived in peace and harmony is questionable and
seems a remote possibility.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
P.O. Box A1438, Sydney South, NSW 1235, Australia.
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: www.alma.org.au
Austra-Lanka Muslim Association Inc. (ALMA) is an incorporated not-for-profit community organisation based in Sydney,
New South Wales, Australia. It was founded in 1992 by a few members with the objectives of promoting good values, and
maintaining unity and friendship among the increasing number of Muslims of Sri Lankan origin and other communities in and
outside Australia.
While the Intelligence Service of the Sri Lankan armed forces played a significant role in efficiently
dismantling the powerful LTTE, failure to foresee the well-orchestrated attacks against the Muslims on
this occasion has created a sense of suspicion in the minds of the Muslim community.
Our prayers are certainly with those affected in the disturbances. Ironically enough of these atrocities
are being done in the presence of the security personnel who are accused to be mere observers. Is it
not a shame on those that are destined to protect the citizens of the country irrespective of caste,
creed or religion? Where is the country leading to, is it following the footsteps of Aung San Suu Kyi
with the determination to repeat what extremist monk Ashin Wirathu and his disciples did to the
downtrodden Rohingya Muslims? Only time will tell us and therefore the hapless Muslim community
in Sri Lanka have to live in constant fear of being killed or their properties being torched.
We also take this opportunity to place on record our sincere appreciation towards the majority
Sinhalese community, particularly the Buddhist clergy, who displayed their displeasure towards this
dastardly act and extended their genuine support to the victims.
We, representing Sri Lankan Muslims living in NSW are urging you, Your Excellency, to bring this to the
attention of the President, His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, The Prime Minister, Hon Ranil
Wickremasinghe and the Honourable Minister of Law and Order, our extreme disappointment,
displeasure and strong condemnation of the continual violence unleashed against the Muslims.
To assure our community in Australia, who are concerned about the safety of their family and friends
in Sri Lanka, we would appreciate if we can be informed of the constructive measures that the
government would take to prevent incidents of this nature occurring in the future.
We enclose herewith a compilation of documented incidents in Kandy as of 8 March 2018 for your
perusal.
We thank you for your kind consideration.
Sincerely,
____________________ ____________________
Rafi Mubarak Feroze Razik
President Secretary
CC: Mr Lal Wickrematunge,
Consul General of Sri Lanka in NSW and Queensland