Wiping out religious fundamentalism, top priority of Govt. - Patali

By Sandun A. Jayasekera 

One of the top priorities before the government was to enact legislations immediately to wipe out religious fundamentalism from the soil of Sri Lanka, which is proliferating like a cancer, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.   

It seems that the religious extremism or fundamentalism has already spread its vicious tentacles to many parts of the country. Therefore, the government must act sooner than later to put an end to this evil before it goes out of hand, he added.   

The responsibility lies in the hands of all 225 members in Parliament to introduce legislations in this regard unanimously as no Sri Lankan MP could take offense for this action, Minister Ranawaka noted.   

Minister Ranawaka told the media after he handed over the blue print of the ‘The National Action Plan to Build the Country and the Nation’ to Chief Prelates of the Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters at both viharayas.   

The display and printing of name boards and sign boards to identify streets, roads, buildings or any other establishment in the Eastern Province cannot be tolerated under any circumstances because it violates the Constitution and the Official Language Act. It also against the ethics and values of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. Most importantly it promotes religious extremism. Hence, all local government bodies in the East must act fast to remove these illegal name boards in their areas at once,” Minister Ranawaka said.   
“We cannot keep the emergency regulations in force for a longer period as it affects the good name of the country, interfaith harmony and peace, law and order, economy, tourism and Foreign Direct investment. That is why we need single and strong law for all communities living in Sri Lanka. The Constitution in any country does not permit to practice or enact laws based on religious or political ideologies. Sri Lanka must take a firm decision before long on burqa, hijab, niqab, abaya etc, Muslim marriages and sharia law as there are so many inconsistencies.   

If any community wears a dress exclusive to that community will not auger well for national reconciliation. If the customs, traditions or believes of a community confront the law of the land it also has to be changed, Minister Ranawaka stressed.   

Minister Ranawaka discussed the current political, security and economic situation of the country in particular in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday carnage.   

The Mahanayaka of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya, most venerable, Napane Premasiri Mahanayaka Thera expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Minister Ranawaka for his service to the country, Sasana and nation when he met the Mahanayaka at his temple.   

• We cannot keep the emergency regulations in force for a longer period as it affects the good name of the country, interfaith harmony and peace, law and order, economy, tourism and Foreign Direct investment
• Sri Lanka must take a firm decision before long on burqa, hijab, niqab, abaya etc, Muslim marriages and sharia law as there are so many inconsistencies