UN ATTACK ON ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONSTITUTION WHICH GIVES BUDDHISM ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE

The visiting so called Independent Expert on Minority Issues of the Human Rights Council Rita Izsak-Ndiaye has stated that despite there being a semblance of peaceful coexistence between different religious groups, there are challenges in relation to minority religious groups who face difficulties in constructing certain new places of worship and accessing cemeteries.

Her biased statement came in specific reference to members of smaller Christian and Muslim denominations who challenging the Buddhists in coastal area and North and East two Provinces.

“Article 9 of the constitution is sometimes used to the detriment of other religions,” she noted. Construction of Buddhist temples, shrines and statues, at what is described as an alarming pace, in areas that were traditionally non-Buddhist, is being met with animosity.

She said she has been monitoring for several years, with concern, reports of attacks by Buddhist extremists especially between 2011 and 2014 notably by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) which incite violence and hatred against religious and other minorities while proclaiming the racial superiority of Sinhala Buddhists.

She said such aggressions ‘must not be allowed and tolerated. “It is of utmost importance that through effective prosecution of perpetrators those who incite or perpetrate hatred and violence are not allowed to succeed in deepening divisions between communities.

In the course of public consultations on constitutional reforms, discussions about possible amendments to Article 9 featured prominently. Whether changes are made or otherwise, the protection and promotion of minority religious communities must be further safeguarded,” she added.

However, it is fact that Sri Lanka is a Sinhala Buddhist country with majority of Sinhalese. In that context Buddhism shall be given the foremost place in all affairs of the Island including in the Constitution.

Number of minority communities are trying die-hard to change the composition of the country in favour of their respective minority religions by discriminating the Sinhala Buddhists.

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