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In a twitter message today, former Sri Lanka Captain Mahela Jayawardene strongly condemned the recent violent clashes that erupted in the country and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice regardless of race, religion or ethnicity.

Inciting violence, hatred and threats against other citizens because of their diverse backgrounds is harmful for sustained peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Ridiculing their religious beliefs and destroying their properties is terrifying for the targeted groups and distressing for the law-abiding community members. A free nation shows its maturity by allowing minorities to enjoy the same rights and privileges the rest of the community is entitled to.

In June 1980, Sri Lanka acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and it came into force in September 1980. Article 17 of the ICCPR provides that “No person shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation”, and “Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks”. Article 20(2) states that "any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law".

However, in practice, legislative measures have done little to address or deter the reasons for such unacceptable forms of behaviour. The international experience indicates that racial hatred legislation is not the answer to curb these situations. The use of community education in schools and local communities and mass public education campaigns better serve such purpose.

Since 2013, the violence against Muslims in Sri Lanka has become more frequent. The latest round of attacks has taken place in Ampara last week. An unsubstantiated rumour that tablets that could cause infertility had been either mixed or found mixed in a meal served by a wayside restaurant owned by a Muslim to a Sinhala customer has been the cause for these senseless attacks. This rumour has been debunked by many medical specialists including gynaecologists. However, the fact that it had gained traction shows that extremist and nationalist rhetoric have influenced the thinking of the ordinary people. The repercussions of this incident have become internationalised with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation expressing its deep concern about the developing situation.

The fundamentalists accuse Muslims of expansionism, pursuing an anti-Sinhala-Buddhist agenda through destroying their relics and heritage, building Mosques on Temple grounds/ruins, forcibly converting Buddhists, forcing Sinhalese out of business, taking over land and sanctuaries to expand the population, and using various methods such as mixing birth control/infertility medication with food items and underwear etc. to make Sinhala women barren. By handing out leaflets and sending inflammatory and spurious SMS messages and videos with inflammatory and spurious SMS messages and videos, the fundamentalists frequently whip up anti-Muslim sentiment throughout the island.

After a mosque and several shops owned by Muslims had been attacked, the situation has now been brought under control with the intervention of the security forces and certain civil society and religious entities. Attempts are also being made to establish an inter-faith peace committee to subdue tensions and maintain peace and unity of the communities. The security forces had taken measures to safeguard all vulnerable religious places of worship in the Ampara Town. The food in question that led to this issue had been referred to the government analyst for further investigation.

The question that must be asked is how could a mob initiate these violent incidents at a location not so far away from several camps of the Police, army, air force and the STF, and also attack some mosques situated further away from the location? Several arrests have been made allegedly in the midst of objections some Buddhist monks in the area had raised. Apparently, the person who claimed to have found the ‘pill’ in his meal has given a wrong address to the police and disappeared. Nevertheless, the Government has taken measures to launch a special investigation into the alleged initial inaction of the Police and them submitting an incomplete 'B' report. In addition, the government is to provide compensation for the damages caused to private property during this incident.

This incident carries the hallmarks of a well-planned covert attempt to disturb the peace, particularly in the wake of a grenade explosion a few days ago in a bus in Bandarawela, which was deliberately misinterpreted as being the work of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE). The situation could have turned out much worse. The political affiliations of those who initiated this erroneous claim must be carefully looked into.

In this light, the future of the country depends on advancing national reconciliation by upholding the dignity of all ethnic groups and promoting inter-racial and inter-religious tolerance, as well as allaying the unfounded fears of the Sinhala people. The government actions to address the fear psychosis created by the recent incidents is awfully inadequate. The silence of the political leadership, particularly the President and the Prime Minister, is stunning and incomprehensible. Publicly declared commitment and proactive intervention of the political leadership are essential for managing such inflammable situations.

It could be said that people who have become increasingly alienated and angry due to their desperate situations have become tools of the far right racists. While there is no quick fix, a better solution would be to improve the socio-economic conditions that will help curtail such behaviours. A truly mature pluralistic society can be gauged by its capacity to meet intolerant opinions, attitudes and vile invective with tolerance, so long as they do not breach criminal laws of conduct. The best way to counter their scurrilous claims is by engaging in informed public dialogue and debate.

The Sri Lankan Government needs to proactively conduct an urgent inquiry to protect peace, establish the rule of law, take all those involved in violence into custody and bring the perpetrators to justice. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has also called upon the government to expeditiously investigate this incident. Unless the civil society and the government work together to bring the issues being rumoured into public debate, the non- majoritarian communities will continue to be harassed and subjected to further violence. And the ordinary people should be skeptical of the rumours and false propaganda publicised through social media to mislead and divide communities with devastating consequential violence.

Minister of education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that all government schools in the Kandy district will be closed until further notice.

A Police curfew has been imposed in the Teldeniya and Pallekela police divisions with immediate effect until 6 pm today, Sri Lanka Police said.

Police spokesperson Ruwan Gunesekera said that curfew was imposed to diffuse a tense situation that arose in Pallekele and Theldeniya areas.

He further said that a special team from the Criminal Investigation department has been sent to Theldeniya under the instructions of IGP Pujith Jayasundera.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, will visit Sri Lanka this week as planned while the country is in a state of emergency, a UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said on Tuesday.

Under Secretary Feltman will visit Sri Lanka from the 9-11 of March and will hold discussions with Sri Lankan leaders. He is also expected to visit Kandy where two people were killed in the violence.

The visit by the Under Secretary General was planned before the island nation declared the state of emergency and is part of ongoing UN engagement with Sri Lanka, the spokesman added.

President Maithripala Sirisena has directed the security divisions and the IGP to conduct an impartial and independent investigation into the incidents which occurred in Digana, Kandy yesterday.

The President has also directed the Police and Army to implement a special programme in the area to ensure the security of all residents.

He also asked the Security Forces to work together with all parties to avoid further escalation of the situation and to take all necessary steps to establish peace in the area.

Rule of law, human rights, and equality are essential for peaceful coexistence, The US embassy in Colombo said in a statement today.

"It is important that the Government of Sri Lanka act quickly against perpetrators of sectarian violence, protect religious minorities and their places of worship, and conclude the State of Emergency swiftly, while protecting human rights and basic freedoms for all."

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday said that inciting racial violence must be made a non-bailable offence.

Minister Samaraweera in a Twitter message following the unfortunate incident that took place in Digana said that politicians who give leadership to such racial violence should be deprived of their civic rights.

“Enough is enough. Inciting racial violence must be made a non bailable offence and politicians who give leadership to such violence should be deprived of their civic rights,” he message said.

President Maithripala Sirisena said the government would not allow foreign direct investments (FDI) at the cost of local industries.

President Sirisena mentioned this in a discussion held regarding the issues related to local industries at the presidential secretariat yesterday.

A number of local Industrialists were present at this discussion.

President Sirisena who pondered on the fact that a precise policy for economy can only be constructed when local businesses and local industries are strengthened, said that he would take all the necessary decisions to protect the local industries.

The President also motioned that strengthening local industries is important when providing benefits to the masses.

Detailed discussions were held regarding the decisions that should be taken for the progression of the local industries while protecting them. The attention was given for the mechanisms that should be taken to promote local milk powder industry, local biscuit industry, as well as local motor products. Discussions were also held regarding the issues pertaining to indigenous Ayurvedic industry and steps that should be taken on behalf of its progression.

During this meeting, the President has given instructions to the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka to not to allow any foreign investment that would be a challenge to local industries, while paying his attention regarding the difficulties faced by local businessmen due to the granting of permission to a foreign retail networks to engage in business in Sri Lanka.

The discussion was also focused on how the high interest rates have affected the domestic industries, and the President said already discussions have been held to launch a programme to provide relief to the local industries through state banks.

President Sirisena emphasized at this discussion that the contribution of the public sector as well as the private sector is very important when building the economy of the country.

The President said that he will take steps to appoint a committee comprising of representatives of all the government agencies and local businessmen to look into the solutions that can be provided to them.

Ministers Malik Samarawickrama, Rishad Bathiudeen, Lakshman Kiriella, Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. Dr. R.H.S Samaratunga, Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy Industry and Commerce Secretary K.D.N. Ranjit Ashoka, Mrs. Chandani Wijewardana, Secretary, Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, Mr. Ravindra Hewavitharana, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development and others participated at this meeting.

All Army personnel have been restricted from posting any content in their Social Media accounts that carry information on national security or insulting remarks on politicians or public officials.

A series of restrictions on using Social Media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin have been issued to all Army personnel by Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake.

Accordingly, all Army personnel are barred from posting, uploading, forwarding or sharing any content that relates to national security, military affairs or political affairs. They are also not allowed to post or share insulting remarks on politicians or public officials, or anything that create racial or religious disharmony. Commenting on such posts is also not allowed.

Army Spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapatthu, confirming to the Daily News that a set of restrictions on using Social Media is in operation, said its objective is to maintain the good name and image of the Sri Lanka Army and avoid leaking of military information.

He said the restrictions were imposed about eight months ago and a reminder letter was issued last Thursday by the Army Commander asking all army personnel to strictly abide by the newly imposed regulations.

Army personnel have been asked not to reveal their military ranks or identity information in their Social Media accounts and not to post any photos in uniform. Posting photos with military armaments in the background is also not allowed.

The Army Commander in the reminder letter has emphasised that disciplinary action would be initiated against anybody who does not follow the above mentioned guidelines. The Army Spokesman said the IT division of the Army is receiving various observations on those who contravene the guidelines.

“These restrictions apply to all army personnel in general. Military officers cannot reveal anything and everything as they desire and they are expected to maintain certain standards.

“Lately, some ex-Army officers, who retired from the service a long time ago, could be seen using their pictures in uniform abundantly in the polls campaigns to market themselves. Some of the restrictions came in to being due to such misuses,” the Brigadier added.

Source : Daily News

The Government has decided to declare a State of Emergency island-wide for a period of 10 days to maintain law and order following violent incidents experienced in Digana and Theldeniya, Minister S.B. Dissanayake said a short while ago.

The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting held today under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has announced the closure of all provincial and national schools in the Kandy administrative district today in the wake of a Police curfew being imposed.

 Curfew was imposed after violence was reported in the Digana and Teldeniya areas in Kandy after a personal dispute escalated into racial tensions incited by several groups led by Buddhist monks.