No threat to Lankans-Govt

5 October 2012 01:08 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

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Sri Lanka today said that there is no security threat to the Sri Lankan Community including the University Students in Chittagong in Bangladesh.

Issuing a statement the External Affairs Ministry said that “the attention of the Ministry of External Affairs has been drawn to the recent incidents that took place in Bangladesh which have caused a sense of anxiety and grief among some sections of the Sri Lankan community both here in Sri Lanka and in Bangladesh.”

The Ministry says
The attention of the Ministry of External Affairs has been drawn to the recent incidents that took place in Bangladesh which have caused a sense of anxiety and grief among some sections of the Sri Lankan community both here in Sri Lanka and in Bangladesh.

In this regard the Government of Sri Lanka wishes to note the following, based on a report provided by Sri Lanka High Commissioner Sarath Weragoda on the request of the Ministry of External Affairs.

The attack on several temples, pagodas and Buddhist dwellers in the Chittagong District Bangladesh sparked out from 29th September, causing panic among the Buddhist community living in the Chittagong District.

The latest reports indicate that about 15 temples and pagodas and about 100 houses of Buddhists living in the area had been set on fire.

Responding to the incident, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressed her deep concerns and ordered security to be provided to Buddhists living in the Chittagong District. Further, Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Minister of Industries Dilip Barua had also visited the affected area soon after the incidents. The High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on 03 October directed the Government to provide all mosques, temples, churches, pagodas, and other places of worship across the country to be provided with adequate security.

Officials from the Police Diplomatic Security Divisions in Dhaka had informed the High Commission that security in Chittagong and affected areas have been brought under control and also there is no security threat to the Sri Lankan Community including the University Students in Chittagong.

The High Commission in Dhaka is constantly in touch with law enforcement authorities in Bangladesh so as to ensure the safety and security of Sri Lankans in Bangladesh. The Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Chittagong, Mr Kaizer Javed Ally also has made arrangements with relevant authorities to safeguard the interests of the Sri Lankan community there while the Police had strengthened security of the Chancery and the Residence of Sri Lanka.

The Government of Sri Lanka in close consultations with the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh is constantly monitoring the situation in order to ensure the safety and well-being of all Sri Lankans in Bangladesh.

Comments - 8

Cobra Friday, 05 October 2012 01:35 PM

We hope so. There are lots of our kids over there who have nothing to do with all this and who are studying their butts off just because they have no hope in our local campuses and the whole system.

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Lokka Friday, 05 October 2012 02:40 PM

The Buddhist Temple that was attacked by Muslim mob once provided shelter to the same people when Pakistan invaded Bangladesh in the 1970s, and this is what the Buddhists in Bangladesh got as gratitude. The difference is are not fanatics of fundamentalists, but many Muslims are militant, fundamentalist and religion fanatics without any tolerance toward those what they call "non-believers". Even within the Muslim communities there is no tolerence - see how Sunnis and Shiaits attack each other in the Muslim world.

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Pundit Friday, 05 October 2012 03:50 PM

The students that are not competitive
enough to get into the SL universities usually
end up going to places like this, however, without straying
away from the main point I don't think
the Bangladeshi's will hurt us, we have always been friend's.We should not stir up any trouble. That is just stupid!

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sayed Friday, 05 October 2012 04:40 PM

wala insha alha

13 0

Anver Saturday, 06 October 2012 12:34 AM

LUNATIC ATTACK AGAINST MINORITIES IS NOT A MONOPOLY OF THE MUSLIMS. SEE WHAT HAPPENDED IN MYANMAAR.

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mercy Saturday, 06 October 2012 03:49 AM

A complete investigation is needed .Mr Lokka even the various buddhists sects also fight each other .Its not the system that is wrong u get fanatics every where even among the sinhalese the JHU for example .See how u feel when places of religeous worship is attacked the same with us in sri lanka too situation reversed .Generally its unislamic for a muslim to attack places of other religoues worship totally unislamic these guys are and cannot be muslims they are non muslims to do so.Let u and me be guided properly

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Ebraham Saturday, 06 October 2012 05:44 AM

See how sensitive religious issue to every community. Today Buddhists are hurt due to this incident. Imagine how Muslims in SL felt hurt when Monks created problem to Muslim worship places? And how Muslims would have felt when their supreme leader was insulted by a movie? Best thing is all communities should respect each other’s religious belief & should not act in a way where it will lead to problems. Majority of any community are remain silent, but a minor % of many communities are behind such issues under political influence.

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John Saturday, 06 October 2012 05:47 AM

Comments written by viewer in Sinhala news papers will lead to unnecessary communal crisis. Therefore it should be carefully filtered by authorities before those were published.

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