Concerns Raised Over Construction Of Buddhist Centre In Muttur
By Maryam Azwer
People in the Muttur area have expressed concern over plans to construct a Buddhist centre atop a mountain in Jabal Nagar, Muttur.
According to Mohammad Jihad of the Muttur People’s Forum, the mountain is surrounded by four villages, Jabal Nagar, Pachchanoor, Sahayapuram and Vettukadduchenai, which are predominantly Tamil and Muslim villages.
He said that hundreds of people from these villages depended on the mountain as a rock quarry, from which stones are sold as a means of livelihood. “The people are worried that they may be asked to stop their work here, and that they may lose their livelihood,” he said.
Another activist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that there had also been concerns raised as to whether the area would be declared a holy place in the future.
He also cited incidents that had taken place in 2003, where communal clashes had resulted over issues pertaining to the same mountain.
Earlier this month, discussions on these issues had been held at the Muttur Pradeshiya Sabha, and had been attended by local politicians, activists and religious leaders.
Meanwhile, Muttur Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, A. M. Harees, said that although no serious issues had arisen since construction on the Buddhist centre had started, people who depended on the quarry for their livelihood were very worried that they may lose these jobs in the future. “The rocks from this mountain are used for all development purposes, such as to build roads, and houses,” he explained. According to recent reports, the construction of the Buddhist centre was initiated on the request of the Seruwila Saranakiththi Nayaka Thero, and is being supported by the Ministry of Defence.
Mee rata iparani bauddha ratak, Budu pilima saha pansal hadanna muslim warungen ahanda deyak naa. atthawasaynma akkeripatthuweth loku pansalak sah budupilimayak hadanta ona. muslim waruntath puluwan kolomba Lokeye wisalama palliya hadanda. samagiyen wada karamu.
Better get used to it. This is a Buddhist country. There are no muslim areas or Tamil areas.
Before Muslims came to that area, there were two Buddhist worshiping places,
one near the Pachchanoor hill, close to the irrigation canal and one statue top of the hill. And, There Was a Big wooden Cross also Installed. Like the one at the CLAPPENBURG HILL at CHAINA BAY.It was visible to mariners at sea to find the way to Muttur.
after 1983 ,all were destroyed by LTTE AND OTHER GROUPS, Some Body installed a new cross there and and few buddhist fammilies left the area.
And There Was a Big BO tree at Killiwetty Ferry landing site junction.
that was cut by the Telecom with the instruction from former TULF MPS>.
What is the issue; religious centers must be built for the people of Sri Lanka by the people of Sri Lanka. Only terrorists and those who believe in fiefdoms for different ethnic groups will object to this project undertaken by the buddhist monks. The real issue is how to help those villagers to find an alternative livelyhood. It is not nice to see some folks slave in a quarry.Where is Chinthanya. The title of this article add fuel to the fire.
It is noted that wherever there is a place, even within other religions, and people, a Buddha statue, or Buddhist center, will be erected. As if to claim territory or remind other religions, who exactly rules here. This is a shame. We are a multi cultural, multi religious country, have been so for years, but it seem now that an ugly pattern of dominance is showing it’s ugly head. This will cause friction and more communal/religious problems for a country that has just emerged from years of terrorism. Where is the outrage from the Buddhist leaders?
It is about time that these people are told that Sri Lasnka is primarily a Buddhist country to Buddhists like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Syria, Indonesia, Usbekistan, Pakistan, Cosowo etc to Muslims. However I do not mean that others cannot exercise their freedom of religion, but, if Muslims can errect their Mosques in other parts of the country irrespective wehter that land is sacred to Buddhists or not then there cannot be any problem in errecting a Buddhist center as planned. Additionally, the rock belongs to the Govt. of Sri Lanka it has the right to use it in a way it please but people should realize that the Govt. property should not be looted as mentioned illegally. If they need rubble for construction purposes or not it should be obtained from another area with the permission of the Govt.
Why do you have to build Buddist Temple in a predominant Tamil?Muslim area
I am trying to think whether this is another way of ethnic clencing
FIRST GET THE BUDDHIST PRIESTS IN EXISTING TEMPLES TO
DO WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR, WHEN THEY RENOUNCED THE WORLD
AND GOT INTO YELLOW.
WHAT IS THE URGENT NECESSITY, BUT TO PROVOKE THE MUSLIMS AND TAMILS ??/
BANDA IN 1956, WITH HIS PRIESTS, TRIED OUT SOMETHING UNTIL HE WAS GUNNED DOWN BY PRIEST-BUDDHIST
THEN THE DEATH PENALTY WAS BROUGHT,ABOUT. THE BUDDHIST SOMARAMA CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY BEFORE HE DIED.
HE MUST BE HAVING THE LAST LAUGH IN HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
INCIDENTALLY I MISSED SOMETHING- BANDARANAIKE, BORN CHRISTIAN BECAME A BUDDHIST TO COME TO POWER.
WELL HE CAME TO POWER AND THEN HE WAS KILLED.,
BY A BUDDHIST PRIEST WHO BECAME A CHRISTIAN BEFORE HE DIED
There are several mosques and Kovils built in predominant Sinhala budhist areas in most parts of south Sri Lanka and still exsists without any issues. What are you talking about?
Why should it be ethnic cleansing? Nobody is asking Muslims or Tamils to leave? If a Kovil or mosque is built in Galle is that ethnic cleansing of the Sinhalese?
It is a good move. Let the Sri Lankans decide when and where they could have their shrines or homes. If those of you are not happy go back to your homes in the Middle east or middle ages…
Aha, then you may have to go to north India close to Bangladesh. Then Veddas should live…
Modayek oye thamun-nanse.
What about all lions going back Andhra where they believed to have come from. Then all problems solved.
WHY ASK MUSLIMS TO GO TO MIDDLE EAST OR HINDUS TO INDIA AS YOUR
MAIL IMPLIES?
LET US FIRST CLEANSE OUR TEMPLES. WELL THEN WE SINHALESE TOO HAVE TO GO TO INDIA,
AND LEAVE THE COUNTRY TO THE VEDDAHS.
If this is the mentality of the majority Sinhala Buddhists they and the country of Sri Lanka will never see the light of peace. The communities who are affected will never leave Sri Lanka but will keep on agitating for their rights.
people need homes
people need food to feed their children
children need schools
religious extremism begets extremism
wake up facists
i think government doing 99% corruptions and bad conduction.Then people are coming against the government.In that time government going to show that they are real patriotic or religious by arousing sinhalease buddhist community.
For example government may build temple in muslim village where no buddhist at all..they muslims object and gov may show that MR is sinhala buddhist thats why he want to build temple there..so fool people also say hureyyyyyyyyy MR is real buddhist..
More than half the country is living under the poverty line, but these fools in thirdl world SL are building temples. Bunch of idiots.
HI Zeus ,
mind you that this country belongs to the citizen of this country , not to any race or ethinicity , do you wanted the history then learn , it is not a buddhist country neither any others to belong to , if you do not know learn first , no body can claim that this is a buddhist country , although 72% are buddhist living in this country or so .
hope it is very clear to you now , do not aggravate the situ and create communal poltiics.