Sri lanka Muslims Web Portal Diversity and Inclusiveness
Incident
On Friday the 20th April, some devotees around eighty in number, as usual had gone to the Masjid in Dambulla for Jummah prayers.
A crowd estimated around 2000 had come on procession along Matale Road and had tried to enter the Masjid but due to narrow access all could not enter the Masjid during which time Police also had prevented them from entering. On hearing the commotion on the road the worshipers, who were getting ready to perform Jummaah prayers, did a Mashura, recalling the Kattankudy Masjid massacre, decided not to perform the Jummah prayers but seated, along the partition wall, in the Masjid remembering Allah. The obligatory congregation prayer was not performed.
As the mob led by a Bikhu insisted to enter the Masjid, the police arranged to get the worshipers out and let few of the agitating crowd to enter the Masjid. On seeing the emptiness of the Masjid, they had damaged the water container, thrown some items here and there and had pushed the Mimber to the ground.
The police cleared the crowd, arranged the items as it was and sealed the Masjid which was subsequently opened to public and performed Luhar prayers on Saturday. Minister Fawzy had visted the site on Saturday.
I performed Maghrib/Isha Prayers on Sunday, by joining Isha Jama'ath, on my return from my trip.
Damages
Major concern ' prevention of obligatory prayers'
Others are as mentioned above.
Issue
Muslims were prevented from prayers due to tension created around the Masjid by a mob led by Buddhist Monks.
The incident have been blown out of proportion, by those who have a hidden agenda to create tension between the Muslims and Buddhists, but due to correct approach by those involved and by the help of Allah, it is under control, Alhamdulillah but need to be addressed properly. This in process and our next bulletin will carry details of the proposed solution to this major issue Insha Allah
Dear Farida,
I am a Sri Lankan Muslim living in suburb of capital city Colombo. We live peacefully. We have a beautiful mosque built in a Sinhalese area but no discrimination. Even our President has given
us religious freedom.We have a radio channel which broadcasts the Azan five times a day. Some communal minded buddhist monks created this problem. Other than that Muslims are safe in Sri Lanka.
Although you are not a Sri Lankan Muslim, I thank you for your concern over the Muslims of SL
Thanks & regards.
Your sis. in Islam
Riaya Fassey Haseeb.
Dear Sirs,
I am a resident of the beautiful country of Canada. I am writing to you as a global citizen.
As you might already be aware, we have a very large Sri Lankan community here from all faiths. Buddhists, Hindu, Muslim and Christian.
We are neighbours living side by side. Our children go to school together.
I am not Sri Lankan by origin, but the news reported in the media, is so disturbing that I thought I should write to you as a global citizen. The Sri Lankans here in Canada are such great people and what I see in the media in Dambulla is quite shocking and quite frankly, unbelievable.
Just as we here, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims, live side by side and have our places of worship side by side not too far from each other, under the
Canadian citizenship, we do not fight with each other or give hard time to worship, why that cannot be possible in Sri Lanka, under Sri Lankan
citizenship in not understandable at all.
I am confident, as the leaders of the Sri Lankan people, you will unite the Sri Lankan people and no Sri Lankan will be treated lesser than another. I am sure you will givefreedom of worship to all Sri Lankans.
Yours Sincerely,
Farida Hatia