BBS Continues Agitation Against Halal Certification
- President’s Committee Yet To Finalize Report
By Nirmala Kannangara
Despite last week’s statement by the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) that it was prepared to stop issuing halal certificates, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) claims it would continue to agitate against the issuing of halal certified items to the market.
Executive Committee Member BBS Organization Dilantha Withanage, claims they are not worried whether the Sri Lankan Government takes the responsibility of issuing Halal Certification or not as long as a majority of Buddhists have been educated about the controversy.
Speaking on the halal issue, Withanage said the organization would continue to educate the masses how to disregard the products that carry the halal certification and added that it is the sole responsibility of the government to look into the legality of the halal certification.
“If the mosque wants the Muslims to use products that carry only the halal certification, let them follow the mosque guidelines. But our question is why is this introduced to each and every item that is available in the country?” queried Withanage.
Withanage further observed that several business organizations had informed them that they too had to get the halal certification to increase their business as the ACJU had informed them that if the certification is not displayed on their products, Muslims would abstain from buying those products.
“After the BBS organization initiated the agitation against this halal certification last November, these business organizations have realized what the consequences would be if the majority Sinhalese refused to buy such products. We are now told by most of these organizations that they will take out this certification from their products, which will take some time. We know that they cannot take out this certification at once as they may have printed their packing with the halal logo. However, they will follow our requests in the near future,” Withanage said.
He accused ACJU of surreptitiously introducing the halal certification.
“Without introducing this certification secretly why couldn’t they inform the general public through the media? Just because they have a hidden agenda they did so and took money from other religions towards the ACJU organization. One chicken manufacturing company, which I do not want to highlight, told me that their company had to pay over Rs four lakhs for the annual halal certification. This differs from one organization to another. Halal certification is more expensive than the SLS standard certification,” alleged Withanage.
Meanwhile, President, Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, N. M. Ameen said the ACJU is waiting for the report by the committee appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to address this issue.
He noted that the response was likely to be very positive.
President Rajapaksa appointed a committee headed by former Prime Minister, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, and comprising many other party leaders two weeks ago to come up with suggestions that would not harm any party.
“This committee met the ACJU as well as the BBS and several businessmen. We are waiting for the outcome,” Ameen said.
According to Ameen, many business organizations have incurred heavy losses over the past two months of this year for not buying the halal certification due to the agitation of the BBS.
“One company said they lost Rs1.5 million in business during the first two months as they had been unable to send their products to Middle Eastern countries. Some said they have had to shut down their businesses owing to the same reason,” Ameen said.
Asked whether obtaining halal certification is very expensive, Ameen said that unless it is a large business, their certification cost only Rs.9, 000.
“For the SLS certification it cost around 1.5 million and for the ISO the same amount as the SLS. It is nothing for them to take the halal certification and get their sales increased incredibly. Anyway, we are waiting to see what the outcome of this committee would be,” Ameen said.
India, Thailand, Malaysia, UK, USA and many more Muslim and non-Muslim countries use ‘Halal’ certification to promote their business products. In Sri Lanka JHU which is a minor political party seeks to earn political mileage by making this issue as a scapegoat to bring national disharmony and hatred towards promoters of Halal.
In one of their street protests Bodu Bala Sena showed their foolishness by carrying a swine labelled as “Allah” (the God) worshipped by 1.8 billion Muslims all over the world. In Denmark when a cartoonist tried to make mockery of Islam, economic sanctions against that country were imposed throughout the Muslim world and violence erupted by attacking the embassies, causing loss of life .
A problem that should be nipped in the bud has been allowed to grow out of proportion by the authorities who are still in slumber.
When Mr. Ameen was asked: whether obtaining halal certification is very expensive, Ameen said that unless it is a large business, their certification cost only Rs.9, 000.
Looks like whether Mr. Ameen is in a different world or lying through his teeth.
I know of a Muslim Lady who has lost her husband and has two kids. She has no way of income, so she starts a small cottage business like making sweets, jujubes with the help of some people who assisted her. She goes to the Jamiathul Ulama explains her situation and requests for a halal certificate. The heartless Jamiathul Ulama had asked her to pay Rs.100,000/-. The lady nearly fainted. Today she is still carrying on her small business that provides her daily bread without this stupid halal certification.
Halal only guides people to refrain from eating rubbish. It does good and nothing bad. It is not religious and no one is forced to consume only halal certified food. What does the BBS hope to do to Buddhist ministers and other politicians going to temples etc. Even the President made a private visit to a temple in India
Idots , Still they havent realized the fundamental truth for the Hala certification. but they eat meat wihtout any one’s knowedge
ITs a good lession for Mulsim mawlavis/and regligions leaders, do things professionaly not from bussiness point of view
send these monks for Marketing lessons and so that they will learn how to increas the market share by understading values and belives of a target segments . This very cleary taught in Marketing theories….
It is a pity to say that the people who are against the halal food knows nothing about the meaning of “halal food”.
“Halal food” mean the food which is the most suitable food for human consumption.
There are unscrupulous traders who are not worried about public health and their safety but more worried about their happiness , luxurious life , well being of their kith and kin and make the business more profitable whatever way at the cost of the peoples life.
If they are against animal killing , why are the so called protesters are silent when parliament permitted to serve pork in their canteen.Why silent????????????? Isn’t animal killing ????????
This shows that this protest was promoted and financed by the same unscrupulous traders who are producing unhealthy food at low cost to make more profit.The public who are more intelligent should not fall into their trap.
Sri Lanka does not need to have halal products when the majority of the population are Buddhist. The solution to this issue is either the goverment collect the money for halal certificates and donate the money to the poor.
not so long ago Australia stopped the sale of cattle to Indonesia because they were cruel to these animals,in SL there should be strict laws as how animals are slaughtered.From a Jewish point of view Kosher products are available in super markets and are on a shelf labeled kosher, in SL muslims should do the same with their products, instead of forcing the rest of the population to consume halal products.
this bodu bala another terrorist , they r trying to create another 83, beware people.
Free country, Let their be halal logo and those who want to avoid buying products with halal logo , let them do so. It is all about choice no one is forcing no body.
I don’t see any thing to fuss about. It is true you can not export any products to middle east without halal logo and without halal logo not many Muslims will be willing to buy a product in many countries including non Muslim countries.
this is a new trend.
Ignorance has blinded the BBS and their supporters. This so called anti halal movement has resulted in Sri Lankan businesses belonging to all Sri Lankans, of all religions, being hit and resulting in a loss. The Muslim countries who buy our goods will naturally stop importing our goods. The entire country will suffer as a result. What a bunch of fools.
BBS BLOODY LIAR , CIA AGENT THEY GET MONEY , CHECK THIS OUT , FOR ONE HALAAS CERT IT IS RS.9000 FOR ONE SLS IT IS 1.5 MILLION , WHERE THAT IDIOT RACIST WITHANAGE SAY RS.4 LAKH IS MORE THAN SLS CERT.
We do not want halal certified items in this land. Muslims are trying to change this country as of Talibans.
ACJU’s greediness has put all the Muslims into disrepute. If they want to promote halal products, they should finance the licensing process from their own money or a collection from the Muslims. Why should the non-Muslims pay for that certificate? In fact, the ACJU should had arranged incentives to the companies that opt for halal certification and reduce the price.
Ameen says it is only a small amount the ACJU had charged for the certificate. Don’t they feel ashamed to charge the small amount? Why can’t they publicize the accounts and show to the public how much they have earned since the beginning of issuing these certificates?
This fatty monk will spoil sri lanka soon,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
if you nuts of racsits monks think that muslims are making money out of it halal certificates then ask the government or BBS take response of it and make money.
the muslims told the government of sri lanka to take over the halal certificate but they refused because, they are not making much money so the government dont wanted to take. or ranaka to take over this and do the business as usual.
these are not issues PURELY DISCRIMINATING AND RASCISM against the minorities in sri lanka there are other issues like brothels,drugs,bars,night clubs,massage parlours,etc.
why no action for these things by the BBS are they getting commissions out of these illegal business that is why they dont make any issue for this.
BBs will pay the lost
Middle Eastern Countries.
Are you aware the goods coming from Sri Lanka are Haram goods.
The govt has profhibited Halal Goods..
Please do not buy or consume anything from Sri Lanka without a Halal Cerificate.
Please be aware that the minority Muslims are being persecutted by the saffron clad govt. sponsored terrirst in Sri Lanka simply because Muslims use Halal products
Wht is halal n haram ? Near future muslims will have human flesh so called halal too .
The claim by the BBS can not be justified as they don’t think about the hygiene of their consumption, their target only communal crisis between Muslim and Sinhalese, let BBS clarify the fact of halal better than disturbing the public..
the jamiatul ulema must be given a chance to speak to the nation on this issue to explain the entire process- as this s not only with religion but also healthwise it is better to follow the halal method.
then the people will be educated.
just because these monks are making an uproar why should the govt become a sissy.. theac these monks the way to eat good food. most of the srilankans are eating human flesh and swines shit as these are used in the ingredients for many items. the jamis is identifying this and alternative methods are used and recomended to make it healthlily edible. now the monks say n0- we want to eat human hair and swines blood. shiiiiiiit
Could Ameen publish the list of companies relying on the Halal certificate to export products to the ME, what they have been charged, and what the annual turnover of these companies are from these exports to the ME?
These figures would speak a lot more to clarify the Bala Senas stand than all the excuses that have been trotted out by both parties in this conflict.
Mr Dilantha Withanage,
To quote the Lord Buddha..
“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.”
“Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.”
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”
You and your band of merry(monks)men could learn something from these quotes by a great man!
May the blessings of the triple gem protect motherlanka!
Jayawewa!!!