(UTV|COLOMBO) – Buddhist clerics from the Northern Province have noted the significance and need of tending to the misconceptions in relation to the Wilpattu and initiate a programme to educate the true facts.
The remarks were made during a meeting between the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen and senior Buddhist clerics at the Sri Bodhi Dakshinaramaya in Vavuniya on Tuesday (26).
Amid the discussion, Minister Bathiudeen stated that “There is no connection amongst Wilpattu and Mannar District. The issue emerged when the Muslims who were forced-out from their native lands during the uprise in terrorism in 1990 returned to their homes in Musali following twenty-five-years.
“Malignance propaganda fuelled by handful of nationalist associations’ claimed that Muslims under my patronage are deforesting Wilpattu. These associations without concentrate the historical backdrop of this region are endeavouring to portray me and Muslims as corrupted among the Sinhalese Buddhist community, to gain cheap political mileage. [As] you are for the most part very much aware of this circumstance, I earnestly request you to clear this fabricated impression from the psyches of Sinhalese and disclose the true circumstances to the Venerable Mahanayake Theros of the Malwatta [and Asgiri Chapters].
“While the President Maithripala Sirisena was in Russia, a Gazette Notification was issued declaring and pronouncing these lands including all the adjacent forest areas of the Wilpattu National Park under the Wildlife Department. [Once again] refugees who settled in their homes were compelled to be force-out. Taken after by this, Minister Faizer Musthapha alongside me and joined by Muslim academics, erudite individuals met the President and informed him the predicament of native Muslim refugees in Musali. Appropriately, the President appointed a committee to investigate the Wilpattu issue in a thorough manner and submit a report [of findings and recommendations]. [Even though] it had been six-months since the committee submitted the said-report, it still is not available to access, despite our efforts and requests to do such and sort the Wilpattu issue for good.
“Furthermore, when the Ministers led by the Speaker of the Parliament Karu Jayasuriya called on the Venerable Mahanayake Theros of the Malwatta and Asgiri Chapters, Malwatta Mahanayake Thero inquired the Wilpattu issue, and I disclosed to the Venerable Thero the state of the issues as they actually exist and requested him to dispatch representatives to the acquire firsthand information and knowledge with respect to the Wilpattu issue,” Minister Bathiudeen added.
The Buddhist clerics from the Northern Province said, “You are the only Minister who comes to the aid of the Northern Province. In spite of the fact that you are a Muslim, you assisted us in numerous ways to reconstruct a number of Buddhist Temples in the North. Furthermore, you took the lead to construct much-need roads to the said-Temples.
“Amid war period when we were under the threat and risk of losing our lives, you set out to come forward and aided us. We have not overlooked it. We went to Wilpattu and evaluate and examine the true circumstance. We went by the settlements and came to know the allegation levelled against you and Muslims are fabricated to a great extent. The Buddhist clerics of the South, who charge you with these accusations claimed to utilise the satellite images without discussing true nature of the issues with us, Venerable Theros said, adding that “When we met the Malwatta Mahanayake Thero, we revealed the true circumstances pertaining to the Wilpattu issue. At that point, Venerable Thero said Minister Rishad Bathiudeen is rendering a great administration to Muslims. [Unfortunately], no Sinhalese Minister is attempting to assist our people.”
[alert color=”faebcc” icon=”fa-commenting”]Keeping up to date with breaking news while you are on the move is now simple with UTV Alerts [textmarker color=”8a6d3b”]Type REG UTV and send to 77000[/textmarker] on your Dialog or Hutch mobile connection[/alert]