Do You Know About the Deadly Violence Against Muslims in Sri Lanka? Not If You're Reading Local Media

Screenshot of the YouTube video of the the speech of BBS Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero

Screenshot of the YouTube video of the speech of BBS Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero.

At least four people have been killed, 78 people injured and a number of Muslim shops and homes torched in recent clashes between Muslims and hardline Buddhists in the Sri Lankan coastal city of Aluthgama, but don't expect to learn much about it from Sri Lanka's mainstream media. 

Those news outlets provided little to no mention of the unfolding violence, according to Ayesha Perera for Indian citizen media site Firstpost. Groundviews, an award-winning alternative citizen journalism site based in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, reported the “reasons range from orders from higher-powers to self-censorship over fear of pushback.” They took screen captures of some of the major newspapers as the riots were happening to prove the point. 

In the absence of local coverage, social media and international news outlets have become the dependable sources for information. On Twitter, reports on the violence were shared using the hashtag #Aluthgama.

Tension in Aluthgama was already boiling before the clashes, fueled by reports that a Muslim man allegedly attacked a Buddhist monk. After local Sinhalese Buddhists protested police inaction on June 12, 2014, authorities arrested a suspect and two others, and the situation appeared to die down.

But Buddhist nationalist organization Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) revived the anger on June 15 with a rally in Aluthgama. The group's secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, a Buddhist monk, delivered a fiery speech against the Muslim community. He said regarding the heavy police presence in the area:

I would like to say that it is Sinhala Police in this country. And the army in this country is Sinhala Army. Hereafter, if a Marakkalaya (offensive way of addressing Muslims) or any other Paraya (another abusive way of addressing foreigners) keeps so much as a hand on a Sinhala Person, let alone a Monk, it would be the end of all these fellows.

YouTube user Sri Lankan Expat uploaded the speech with English subtitles:

After the rally, BBS supporters marched into Muslim-majority areas chanting anti-Muslim slogans, and clashes eventually broke out. Several Muslim shops and homes as well as a mosque were vandalized or torched. The violence continued throughout the night, leaving three Muslims dead. Thousands of Muslims took refuge in nearby schools and other shelters.

The following night, a 58-year-old Tamil was mistaken to be a Muslim and flogged to death, bringing the count of those killed to four, according to the Colombo Telegraph.

The Foreign Correspondents Association of Sri Lanka posted photos to its Facebook page showing the devastation. BBC correspondent in Sri Lanka Charles Haviland tweeted photos as well:

The Sri Lankan authorities imposed curfew in Aluthgama and the nearby Muslim majority Beruwala town to ease tensions. BBS, which maintains it was protesting peacefully but was pelted by rocks, blamed the police for the riots in Aluthgama and warned, “Do not make us have to tell the people to boycott Muslim businesses.”

Muslims make up 10 percent of Sri Lanka's mainly Buddhist population. Over decades, Muslims in Sri Lanka have been living peacefully amongst a largely accommodating Sinhalese and Tamil population. However, in recent years, anti-Muslim sentiment has been on a rapid rise amongst sections of the political class.

The phenomenon is simultaneous with a rise of Buddhist extremism. BBS has made headlines since 2012 for a number of violent protests and attacks against Muslims. The group succeeded last year in making authorities drop Muslim halal labeling and calling fellow Buddhists to boycott such products manufactured and sold at retail chains.

Blogger Tisaranee Gunasekara questioned why police and special forces failed to prevent the riots in Aluthgama. “Mobs are cowardly. At the first real sign of decisive action by the police and the [Special Task Force] the rioters would have melted away,” he wrote.

Indrajit Samarajiva, a blogger in Sri Lanka, warned that allowing extremist groups to act as they wish will have dire consequences:

What’s scary is that the government tolerates and even supports groups like this. It was this misconception that radicals can be controlled which led to so much bloodshed and toppled governments in the past. It is this appeasement of racism which sows the seeds of discord and war.

Some groups are taking a stand to counter the riots. Sri Lanka Unites, a youth movement, is encouraging its followers to speak up against hate. Campaign for Justice, a collective against racism, says it has organized a protest for June 18. 

11 comments

  • JSRT

    This is prepostrous. The Muslims funded by Saudi Arabia have been spreading all over Sri Lanka, bringing their hardline regressive living, asking for Islamic rights and we even dont have the right to fight back? This shows the control of Saudi Arabia money over USA and UK. Thousand of people being killed all over teh world but they find the time to warn us about 3 people killed in riots. Very suspicious.

    • Are those Sri Lankan Muslims you mention recent migrants or are living there for centuries? It would be interesting to know how a section of Sri Lankans with a different religion are receiving funds from foreign countries to spread all over Sri Lanka (should they be in a ghetto?). Regarding rights I see that your words are contrary to the Sri Lankan constitution (http://www.actnowsrilanka.org/en/act-now/constitutions). Would also like to know who has warned whom. Very suspicious indeed.

  • presanna

    Government patronage for BBS: MP Anura Kumara saying with much collected evidence. BBS is
    notorious terrorist origination created by government according to MP Anura
    Kumara. President of Sri Lanka must resign this position now before come out of the truth.
    Where in Buddhism has told kill 45 days old infant. Act in violent way, open night club and casino and so
    on. This ashamed for us as Buddhist. If muslim created such rampage, what would
    have been their situation by now. May be entire sri lanka muslim now must have killed. Which comprise 9% of total population
    by BBS. this is going to be disaster. if Mr.Rajapakse not stopping acting in double stand manner

  • Steve

    Looks like to me that the Sri Lanken Buddists are being pragmatic in regards to the threat of cult of Islam unlike most of the world. This cult doesn’t make a good neighbor and when they reach large enough numbers, Sharia law will follow. Then what of your precious human rights?

    • Shafrul Nassar

      Is muslims massacre the only solution that you could come up with..are we not humans who bear the same blood regardless to ethnic difference. All religious law does not promote any such atrocities to a living. We proudly call our selves Sri Lankan’s where we held hands together and celebrated our country’s victory in any format. Majority of the Sri Lankan’s do not support anti-muslim racism, we love peace and we plead to live in harmony, do not tip the balance in equality.

      • Steve

        Since when is “muslim” a race? How can one have “racism” against muslims?

        • Shafrul Nassar

          If you want me to clarify what “race” is well its how large population’s of human classified by categorizing ethically or distinctively. Muslim is the race and islam is its religion. My determination is to cease corruption of public morality.

      • Ava_Ian

        Quran teaches muslim to kill the disbeliever/ non-muslim. Quran says strike our neck and smite our fingers [8:12~13] seize us and besiege us [9:5~6] slay us [4:89~91] crucify us, cut our hands and feet, banished us from the land [5:33] smite our neck [47:4] Are we not human that islam teaches muslims to kill us?

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