COLOMBO :Muslim political leaders have expressed grave concerns over Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa/s appointment of a Special Task Force headed by Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera to study the implementation of the proposed ‘One Country,One law’ in Sri Lanka.
On Wednesday,Oct. 27, Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a 13-member Presidential Task Force to study the implementation of the concept “One Country, One Law” and prepare a draft Act.
An Extraordinary Gazette notification was issued establishing the Presidential Task Force comprising 13 members.
The 13 member Task Force is led by Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera.
13 members includes Prof. Dayananda Banda, Prof. Shanthinandana Wijesinghe, Prof. Sumedha Siriwardana, N.G. Sujeewa Panditharathna, Attorney-at-Law Iresh Senevirathne, Attorney-at-Law Sanjaya Marambe, Eranda Navarathna, Pani Wewala,, Moulavi Mohamed of Ulama Council in Galle, Lecturer Mohamed Inthikab, Kaleel Rahuman and Azeez Nizardeen.
Former minister and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader, Rauf Hakeem said in a statement issued to the press on Thursday : “We strongly condemn the appointment of Rev. Gnanassara Thera’s appointment to head the task force since, the Thera has been convicted by the court of law for contempt of court and the Presidential Commission on the Easter Sunday Blasts has also recommended action against this Thera for his actions against the national interests.
He was speaking to the media following a development committee meeting at the district secretariat in Kandy on Thursday Oct.
“ Ethnic tensions continue to mount as the multi-ethnic Sri Lankan public and public opinion on the issue of ‘one country, one law’, which is largely incomprehensible to anyone, is widely disseminated and strong doubts have been raised,” the parliamentarian said,
The recent appointment of Gnanasara Thera as the head of the task force has been provoking, especially by a person, who have publicly blasphemed Islam, Muslims and Allah, and who has publicly poured out his hatred on religions other than Buddhism
“ This action of the government can be considered as an act of incitement to perpetuate unrest in the country and the frequent occurrence of inter-ethnic conflicts,” Hakeem said..
There is no doubt, Hakeem said that this short-sighted move by the government will cause massive damage to the country’s reputation, especially as Sri Lanka has already earned the hatred of Muslim nations in particular and the peace-loving world in general.
Former minister and parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen said that the Muslim community is sad and disappointed over the appointment of Rev. Gnanassara Thera, whose actions had called for legal action by the President Commission on the Easter Sunday Blasts. Muslims in Sri Lanka have been living peacefully with other communities in this island for more than 1,000 and the community is now subject to various threats and damages ever since the ethnic war ended.
” We have no confidence in this Thera who has been appointed to this task force,” he stressed,
Mujibur Rahman, parliamentarian said that the whole country cannot understand the purpose of the president who has appointed a Thera of this caliber,who was convicted twice in a court of law and still he has several cases pending for this racist activities,Rahman also said that the Thera has been notorious for his vindictive actions to set one community against the other to create dissension among peace-loving people. Appointing such a person to this responsible post leave the nation in deep distress,Rahman added.
