Leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress has warned
of communal clashes if authorities do not take immediate and
appropriate steps to stop the construction of any future Buddha
Statues in Muslim predominant areas.
Making a speech in Parliament, SLMC leader Rauff
Hakeem urged the government to avoid the construction of any
more Buddha statues in the Muslim majority areas of the East in
order to prevent possible communal clashes. "The government must
stop this. It has the potential to incite communal violence and
disrupt centuries of harmony between the Muslims and Buddhists
in the East".
He further expressed confidence in the members
of the House saying "I hope the members would understand the
sensitivities in this issue. He claimed that Buddha statues were
constructed in Ullei,, Pothuvil two months ago by some political
elements who wanted to shift the racial balance by planting
unsuspecting Sinhala villagers in Muslim dominant areas.
‘Buddha statues are suddenly being erected in
tsunami affected areas in the East. Statues are coming up even
before houses are built. This might even threaten the peace
process and the National Security" he claimed. (Lanka
Academic)
