Council of Sri Lankan Muslim Organisations United Kingdom Meeting with the Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Britain

Giving serious consideration to the on-going Anti-Muslim Campaign in the country by the newly emerged Boda Bala Sena, a Sinhala Buddhist extremist organisation, supported by the Jathika Hela Urumaya, which is at the moment highly orchestrating the Halal Certification issue; COSMOS UK sought an urgent meeting with the High Commissioner His Excellency Dr Chris Nonis for Sri Lanka in Britain, to convey the concerns of Sri Lanka Muslims living in the UK and to present a Memorandum addressed to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka making proposals for the prevention of the escalation of the said campaign into a national conflict, and for measures to be put into place to ensure unity among all communities and the prevalent of lasting peace and harmony in the country. The Meeting was held on 21 ^st February at the High Commission in London.

The umbrella organization COSMOS UK delegation consisted of representatives of seventeen organisations. At this meeting the associate orgnizational members from Leicester, Reading, Crawley, Slough, Hemalhemstead, Harrow, West London and East London were present. Other officials of the High Commission who were associated with the High Commissioner at the Meeting were first secretaries Mr Chaminda Kularantne and Mr K Yoganaadan.

At the Meeting which lasted for more than an hour and a half the delegates conveyed the serious concern of Sri Lanka Muslims in the UK on the ever-increasing racially and religiously motivated activities of some extremists groups such as the Boda Bala Sena targeting the Muslims and Christians in the country. In responds to feeling of the community leaders the High commissioner, His Excellency Dr Chris Nonis assured that those concerns will be conveyed to the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka.

Proposals set-out in the Memorandum addressed to His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa are:-

1. Banning of hatred websites and prohibiting hate mongering and hate speeches, likely to cause dissension and animosity towards races and religions. At a minimum, the government should investigate accusations of hate speech/writing and prosecute when necessary.

2.Formation of a joint Peace Council with representatives from all religions both clergy and laity which will intervene in these matters and take effective action to avoid situations of this nature and to promote inter communal harmony.

3. Undertaking a constructive program to raise awareness in schools and universities regarding the need to ‘live and let live’ and respect each other’s cultures and religions, and also teach basics of all religions.

4.Forming grass root level neighbourhood peace committees under the auspices of local government bodies to build confidence and a sense of security among communities

5. Ensuring the law enforcement authorities to take a sterner and impartial stand when dealing with the offenders. (we saw this being observed in the breach in recent times)