{"id":24234,"date":"2013-08-14T17:08:58","date_gmt":"2013-08-14T21:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=24234"},"modified":"2013-08-14T23:06:40","modified_gmt":"2013-08-15T03:06:40","slug":"violent-attack-by-extremist-mob-on-masjid-deenul-islam-at-grandpass-strongly-condemned-statement-with-208-signatories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=24234","title":{"rendered":"Violent Attack by Extremist Mob  on &#8220;Masjid Deenul Islam&#8221; at Grandpass Strongly Condemned -Statement with 208 Signatories."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><br \/>\nStatement condemning the attack on the Masjid Deenul Islam at Grandpass, Colombo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>August 15, 2013<br \/>\nColombo, Sri Lanka<\/em><\/p>\n<p>We the undersigned strongly condemn the violent and unprovoked attack on the Masjid Deenul Islam in Grandpass area on Saturday, August 10, 2013 by an extremist mob injuring 12 people, in the wake of the Eid Festival.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24274\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/AM081413.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24274\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/AM081413-600x450.jpg\" alt=\"pic courtesy of: twitter.com\/azzamameen\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-24274\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-24274\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">pic courtesy of: twitter.com\/azzamameen<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We are outraged over the spate of violent attacks against Christian and Muslim places of worship, and remain deeply concerned about the rise of extremist rhetoric around the island.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>While recognising and promoting the constitutionally guaranteed rights of free speech, religious worship, and assembly, we urge all communities to respect the religious beliefs \u2013 and the associated rights \u2013 of their fellow citizens, and to not be influenced by State-condoned Buddhist extremists groups.<\/p>\n<p>At this time, we also wish to express our deep disappointment at the lack of concrete outcomes from inquiries into multiple other attacks against places of worship that have occurred in the recent past. <\/p>\n<p>We are extremely disheartened at the silence and the visible apathy displayed by the Government and the Mahanayake Theros of the Tri-Nikayas, at a time when the rights to religious worship and assembly of its citizens are being threatened by extremism. We also wish to highlight apparent State complicity, and the level of impunity repeatedly granted by the State to extremist elements in the country.<\/p>\n<p>We urge law enforcement authorities to ensure strict adherence to rule of law and prosecute those who are responsible for these heinous crimes, in the existence of abundant evidence put forward by both the public and the media. In addition, we are very disturbed to see continued Police inaction and delays in responding to incidents of racist mob violence, which is a clear indication of State complicity, and the lack of any interest by Defense Authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.<\/p>\n<p>We welcome and endorse the open letter of protest by Muslim members of the Government addressed to the President of Sri Lanka, and share their view that &#8220;the lukewarm and ineffective measures taken by the law enforcement agencies on previous occasions, when Muslim communities and their mosques were deliberately attacked, seem to have emboldened some extremist groups who seem determined to create chaos in the country that is still in search of national reconciliation after a prolonged war.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Further, we call on the Government to investigate into and hold accountable those responsible for the brutal killing of three youth in Weliweriya earlier this month, when the State sent in the military to quell a civilian protest calling for clean water. <\/p>\n<p>In light of reports of media suppression and violence against media personnel reporting from the scene, we strongly urge law enforcement authorities and the protestors to respect the freedom of the press, and to take all measures to ensure their safety.<\/p>\n<p>We wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured in this attack, and commend the calm resilience demonstrated by many of those who were victimised. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Signatures;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>1.\tA.H. Stephen &#8211; Deputy Secretary General, Liberal Party of Sri Lanka<br \/>\n2.\tA.M. Faaiz \u2013 Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n3.\tA.S. Mohamed Rayees<br \/>\n4.\tAinslie Joseph &#8211; Convenor, Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA)<br \/>\n5.\tAisha Ajmal Wahab &#8211; Student<br \/>\n6.\tAisha Nazim<br \/>\n7.\tAjmal Wahab \u2013 Partner, Bullion Exchange Jewellers<br \/>\n8.\tAmal de Chickera<br \/>\n9.\tAmar Gunatilleke<br \/>\n10.\tAmeena Hussein<br \/>\n11.\tAnandi Devendrakumary<br \/>\n12.\tAnberiya Hanofa<br \/>\n13.\tAnitha Selvarajah<br \/>\n14.\tAnn Jabba<br \/>\n15.\tAnoma de Alwis<br \/>\n16.\tAntonio A. Oposa Jr. &#8211; (Philippines)<br \/>\n17.\tAnukshi Jayasinha<br \/>\n18.\tAnushya Coomaraswamy<br \/>\n19.\tAyeshea Perera<br \/>\n20.\tAzra Abdul Cader<br \/>\n21.\tB. Gowthaman<br \/>\n22.\tBalasingham Skanthakumar<br \/>\n23.\tBannu Ifthikar<br \/>\n24.\tBhathiya Waduge &#8211; Director\/Structural Engineer, CSE Consultants (Pvt) Ltd.<br \/>\n25.\tBhavani Fonseka<br \/>\n26.\tC. Gadiewasam \u2013 Journalist<br \/>\n27.\tCayathri. D.<br \/>\n28.\tChamindry Saparamadu<br \/>\n29.\tChandra Jayaratne &#8211; Former Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce<br \/>\n30.\tChandraguptha Thenuwara<br \/>\n31.\tChandralal Colombage<br \/>\n32.\tCheran Rudhramoorthy<br \/>\n33.\tChulani Kodikara<br \/>\n34.\tD.B.S. Jeyaraj \u2013 Journalist<br \/>\n35.\tDamaris Wickremesekera<br \/>\n36.\tDanesh Casie Chetty &#8211; Ambassador (Retd.)<br \/>\n37.\tDeanne Uyangoda<br \/>\n38.\tDevika \u2013 Colombo<br \/>\n39.\tDinesha Samararatne &#8211; University of Colombo<br \/>\n40.\tDinidu de Alwis<br \/>\n41.\tDinouk Colombage &#8211; Journalist<br \/>\n42.\tDr. A.M. Ali Saja \u2013 Doctor<br \/>\n43.\tDr. Anita Nesiah &#8211; National Peace Council (NPC)<br \/>\n44.\tDr. Danesh Karunanayake &#8211; Senior Lecturer, University of Peradeniya<br \/>\n45.\tDr. Dayan Jayatilleka &#8211; Former Ambassador to the UN in Geneva<br \/>\n46.\tDr. Leonie Solomons &#8211; Social Entrepreneur<br \/>\n47.\tDr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan &#8211; Development Economist &#038; Principal Researcher, Point Pedro Institute of Development<br \/>\n48.\tDr. Neavis Morais &#8211; Senior Lecturer, Open University of Sri Lanka<br \/>\n49.\tDr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu<br \/>\n50.\tDr. Ranil D. Guneratne &#8211; University of Colombo<br \/>\n51.\tDr. Sepali Kottegoda<br \/>\n52.\tDr. Shamala Kumar &#8211; University of Peradeniya<br \/>\n53.\tDr. T. Jayasingam \u2013 National Peace Council (NPC)<br \/>\n54.\tDr. Vagisha Gunasekara &#8211; Senior Research Professional, Centre for Poverty Analysis<br \/>\n55.\tDr. Vivimarie VanderPoorten Medawattegedera &#8211; Senior Lecturer, Open                    University of Sri Lanka<br \/>\n56.\tDr. Zulfika Ismail<br \/>\n57.\tEmil van der Poorten<br \/>\n58.\tFaizun Zackariya<br \/>\n59.\tFreddy Gamage &#8211; Meepura Newspaper\/Center for Peoples Dialogue<br \/>\n60.\tFurkhan Bee Ifthikar<br \/>\n61.\tG.S. Lakshan J.S. Dias<br \/>\n62.\tGamini Viyangoda<br \/>\n63.\tGavin Britto &#8211; Co-Founder, RuCode International<br \/>\n64.\tHarean Hettiarachchi<br \/>\n65.\tHarini Amarsuriya &#8211; Open University of Sri Lanka<br \/>\n66.\tHarith de Mel \u2013 Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n67.\tHashintha Jayasinghe &#8211; Graduate<br \/>\n68.\tHerman Kumara &#8211; National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO)<br \/>\n69.\tHilary Perera Wirasinha \u2013 DoC<br \/>\n70.\tHilmy Ahamed<br \/>\n71.\tIfthikhar Aziz &#8211; President, Sri Lanka Pakistan Friendship Association<br \/>\n72.\tIsuru Perera &#8211; Social Research Supervisor<br \/>\n73.\tJake Oorloff<br \/>\n74.\tJanaki Jayawardena &#8211; University of Colombo<br \/>\n75.\tJansila Majeed<br \/>\n76.\tJayanthi Kuru-Utumpala &#8211; Women and Media Collective<br \/>\n77.\tJayatilaka Kammallaweera<br \/>\n78.\tJehan Perera \u2013 National Peace Council (NPC)<br \/>\n79.\tJehanki Anandha<br \/>\n80.\tJeyachithra Selambaram<br \/>\n81.\tJoe William<br \/>\n82.\tJoel Fernando &#8211; Business Development Manager, Insu Trading International<br \/>\n83.\tJuwairiya Mohideen<br \/>\n84.\tK. Aingkaran &#8211; Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n85.\tK.S. Ratnavale \u2013 Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n86.\tKath Noble<br \/>\n87.\tKrishna Velupillai<br \/>\n88.\tKumudini Perera<br \/>\n89.\tKumudini Samuel<br \/>\n90.\tKusal Perera \u2013 Journalist<br \/>\n91.\tLakshan Dias \u2013 Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n92.\tLeila Udayar<br \/>\n93.\tLiyanage Amarakeerthi<br \/>\n94.\tLucia Nicholas<br \/>\n95.\tM. Rahman &#8211; Mannar<br \/>\n96.\tM.A. Sumanthiran \u2013 Member of Parliament &#038; Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n97.\tM.H. Mohamed Hisham<br \/>\n98.\tMahaluxumy Kurushanthan &#8211; Mannar<br \/>\n99.\tMahendran Thiruvarangan<br \/>\n100.\tMala Liyanage &#8211; Executive Director, Law and Society Trust<br \/>\n101.\tMandana Ismail Abeywickrema &#8211; Journalist\/President, Sri Lanka            \tJournalists&#8217; Trade Union (SLJTU)<br \/>\n102.\tMano Ganesan \u2013 Convener, Civil Monitoring Commission (CivilMC)<br \/>\n103.\tManouri Pieris &#8211; Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n104.\tMarianne David<br \/>\n105.\tMario Gomez<br \/>\n106.\tMarisa de Silva<br \/>\n107.\tMathuri Thamilmaran &#8211; Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n108.\tMelani Manel Perera<br \/>\n109.\tMelisha Yapa<br \/>\n110.\tMenaha Kandasamy<br \/>\n111.\tMichael O&#8217;Leary &#8211; Freelance Writer<br \/>\n112.\tMichelle Pinto<br \/>\n113.\tMinna Thaheer<br \/>\n114.\tMirak Raheem<br \/>\n115.\tMohammed Ajiwadeen &#8211; Research Officer\/Parliament of Sri Lanka<br \/>\n116.\tMohammed Mahuruf &#8211; Secretariat for Muslims<br \/>\n117.\tMuzzammil Cader &#8211; SAMADANA\/M, Centre for Promoting Non Violence, \tConflict Resolution &#038; Peace Building<br \/>\n118.\tNadeesh Jayasinghe<br \/>\n119.\tNalliah Kumaraguruparan Ashokbharan &#8211; Law Student<br \/>\n120.\tNigel Nugawela<br \/>\n121.\tNilshan Fonseka<br \/>\n122.\tNimalka Fernando &#8211; Women&#8217;s Political Academy (Sri Lanka)<br \/>\n123.\tNirmal Ranjith Dewasiri<br \/>\n124.\tNirmanusan Balasundaram<br \/>\n125.\tNishelli Perera &#8211; Senior Strategy Analyst<br \/>\n126.\tP.A.R. Anuruddha<br \/>\n127.\tP.N. Singham<br \/>\n128.\tPadmika Dissanaike<br \/>\n129.\tPadmini Weerasooriya &#8211; Mothers and Daughters of Lanka<br \/>\n130.\tPrabu Deepan<br \/>\n131.\tPriti Sudra<br \/>\n132.\tPriya Thangarajah<br \/>\n133.\tProf. Kumar David<br \/>\n134.\tProf. M. Sitralega<br \/>\n135.\tProf. Navaratna Bandara<br \/>\n136.\tProf. Priyan Dias &#8211; University of Moratuwa<br \/>\n137.\tProf. Sumanasiri Liyanage \u2013 Principal (Retd.), Marx School<br \/>\n138.\tPushpalatha Paramasivam<br \/>\n139.\tR.M.B. Senanayake &#8211; National Peace Council (NPC)<br \/>\n140.\tRaashid Riza<br \/>\n141.\tRaghu Balachandran<br \/>\n142.\tRajaluxmi Visvasam<br \/>\n143.\tRajani Chandrasekaran &#8211; Jaffna<br \/>\n144.\tRajiva Wijesinha \u2013 Member of Parliament<br \/>\n145.\tRamla Ajmal Wahab &#8211; International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)<br \/>\n146.\tRemo Shihan<br \/>\n147.\tRenton de Alwis &#8211; Former Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism<br \/>\n148.\tRev. Dr. Jayasiri Peiris<br \/>\n149.\tRev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos<br \/>\n150.\tRev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga<br \/>\n151.\tRev. Fr. Reid Shelton Fernando<br \/>\n152.\tRev. Fr. S. M. Praveen (OMI)<br \/>\n153.\tRev. Fr. Sebamalai<br \/>\n154.\tRev. Fr. Sherard Jayawardane<br \/>\n155.\tRev. Fr. Terrence Fernando<br \/>\n156.\tRev. Fr. V. Yogeswaran &#8211; Centre for the Promotion &#038; Protection of \tHuman Rights (CPPHR), Trincomalee<br \/>\n157.\tRev. Jason J. Selvaraja &#8211; Assembly of God, Chavakachcheri<br \/>\n158.\tRev. Sr. Deepa Fernando (HF)<br \/>\n159.\tRev. Sr. Helen Fernando<br \/>\n160.\tRev. Sr. Immaculate de Alwis<br \/>\n161.\tRiza Yehiya<br \/>\n162.\tRohana Ratnayake &#8211; Senior Lecturer in Law, Open University of Sri\tLanka<br \/>\n163.\tRoshni Alles<br \/>\n164.\tRuki Fernando<br \/>\n165.\tRushdi Jaleel Khan<br \/>\n166.\tRuvan Weerasinghe &#8211; University of Colombo<br \/>\n167.\tRuzaina Mahuruf<br \/>\n168.\tS.A.M. Jabir<br \/>\n169.\tS.C.A. Obeyesekere<br \/>\n170.\tSafana Gul Begum<br \/>\n171.\tSahan Mendis<br \/>\n172.\tSaliya Pieris &#8211; Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n173.\tSampath Samarakoon<br \/>\n174.\tSanja Jayatilleka<br \/>\n175.\tSanjaya Senanayake<br \/>\n176.\tSelyna Peiris \u2013 Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n177.\tShanthini Kanapathy<br \/>\n178.\tShariz Faleel \u2013 Manager &#8211; Finance &#038; Administration, Secretariat for \tMuslims (Guarantee) Ltd<br \/>\n179.\tSharni Jayawardena<br \/>\n180.\tShiromalee Perera<br \/>\n181.\tShreen Saroor &#8211; Women&#8217;s Action Network<br \/>\n182.\tShri Shankar Subramaniam<br \/>\n183.\tShyamala Gomez<br \/>\n184.\tShyara Jaleel Khan<br \/>\n185.\tSiritunga Jayasuriya &#8211; General Secretary, United Socialist Party<br \/>\n186.\tSivamohan Sumathy<br \/>\n187.\tSrinath Perera &#8211; Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n188.\tSubashini Ramesh<br \/>\n189.\tSulakshani Perera<br \/>\n190.\tSunanda Deshapriya \u2013 Journalist<br \/>\n191.\tSunil Jayasekera<br \/>\n192.\tSupipi Jayawardena &#8211; Researcher &#038; Lecturer<br \/>\n193.\tSwarnalatha Subramaniam<br \/>\n194.\tTehani Ariyaratne<br \/>\n195.\tThahir Kubais<br \/>\n196.\tThajun Mohamed Nishan &#8211; One Text Initiative<br \/>\n197.\tThanuka Nandasiri \u2013 Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n198.\tThiruni Kelegama<br \/>\n199.\tU.L. Jaufer<br \/>\n200.\tUpali Pannilage &#8211; Senior Lecturer, University of Ruhuna<br \/>\n201.\tUpeksha Thabrew<br \/>\n202.\tUpul Wickramasinghe<br \/>\n203.\tV. Jokeswaran &#8211; Teacher<br \/>\n204.\tV.S. Ganesalingam \u2013 Attorney-at-Law<br \/>\n205.\tVanie Simon<br \/>\n206.\tVenuri Perera<br \/>\n207.\tVisaka Dharmadasa &#8211; Association of War Affected Women<br \/>\n208.\tWasaam Ismail<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"tweetbutton24234\" class=\"tw_button\" style=\"float:right;margin-left:10px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdbsjeyaraj.com%2Fdbsj%2F%3Fp%3D24234&amp;text=Violent%20Attack%20by%20Extremist%20Mob%20%20on%20%26%238220%3BMasjid%20Deenul%20Islam%26%238221%3B%20at%20Grandpass%20Strongly%20Condemned...%20&amp;related=&amp;lang=en&amp;count=horizontal\" class=\"twitter-share-button\"  style=\"width:55px;height:22px;background:transparent url('https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-tweet-button\/tweetn.png') no-repeat  0 0;text-align:left;text-indent:-9999px;display:block;\">Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Statement condemning the attack on the Masjid Deenul Islam at Grandpass, Colombo August 15, 2013 Colombo, Sri Lanka We the undersigned strongly condemn the violent and unprovoked attack on the Masjid Deenul Islam in Grandpass area on Saturday, August 10, 2013 by an extremist mob injuring 12 people, in the wake of the Eid Festival. &#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=24234\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading &lsquo;Violent Attack by Extremist Mob  on &#8220;Masjid Deenul Islam&#8221; at Grandpass Strongly Condemned -Statement with 208 Signatories.&rsquo; &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24234"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24234"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24277,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24234\/revisions\/24277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}