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Amid claims and counterclaims, deadlines and discussions, the crisis awaits speedy solution

By Wasantha Ramanayake

As the dispute over the mosque in Dambulla continues for the second week amid local and international media focus, a solution to it may come in the coming days with the intervention of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President returned to the country on Friday after a five-day official visit to South Korea. During his stay in South Korea, Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne tried to solve the dispute. But his attempts created a fresh controversy with Minister A. H. M. Fowzie and Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana denying his claim that they took part in a meeting where a decision was taken to shift the mosque to another place.

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Attack on Dambulla Mosque

By Latheef Farook

The   attack to demolish the Dambulla Khairiya Jumah Masjd Friday 20 April 2012 is not the “beginning” as stated by the pro government Buddhist monk who led the mob to attack the mosque in an act of sheer lawlessness.

This unfortunate incident in fact is the latest in the series of provocations unleashed to set the Muslims, who pose no threat or nuisance to anyone, against Sinhalese. Most Sinhalese, especially those in the Dambulla area, distanced themselves from this vandalism stating that “we are living in peace with Muslims and this was done by people brought from outside”.

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Past week has been a historic one for Sri Lanka Muslims due to the unpleasant Dambulla mosque incident occurred on 20th April 2012. Sri Lankan Muslims not only in Sri Lanka but all over the world were focussing on the post attack development around the country. While some associations organised protests to show their anger and refusal of government's decision to remove the Masiid, All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulema (ACJU) releasing an a statement last week requested Muslims to avoid protests and not to distrub the law and order of the country. The statement also recommended Muslims to engage in supplications, observe fast and make Dua seeking Allah's (swt) assistance for a peaceful settlement to the matter.

In this backdrop, yesterday's Jummah sermons in most of the Masjids in Sri Lanka were around this subject. These sermons were addressed in several angles to the issue however all of them with particular emphasis on how Muslims should take up such difficult times and how Qu'ran and Hadeeths guide us in this respect. Special Duas were also recited in some mosques.

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By Dr Sulaiman Rifai, Naleemi (London)

20/04/2012 is one of the darkest days in Srilankan Muslim history. Muslims have been living in this country for more than 1000 years peacefully with all communities and indeed, they have contributed immensely for the integrity and sovereignty of this Island since ancient time. Yet, in recent time, some extremist Buddhists with collaboration of some politicians have been trying to destabilise the communal harmony between Muslim community and Singhalese community.  Recent attacks on Muslim mosques, increasing racial abuse and discrimination against Muslims people justify such claims. There seems to be some hidden conspiracies to wipe out religious identities of minority communities in Srilanka. Otherwise, how on earth these extremists Buddhists people under the leadership of their chief monk could attack this mosque in a day light while hundreds of army and police officers were looking at them doing nothing to protect this mosque from these mobs. It may be they are under greater political influence and been instructed not to upset the crown for fear of more communal tension. It is pathetic that some extremist elements take laws in their hands as if Srilanka is lawless land.