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By Waruni Karunarathne

The US Embassy in Colombo rejected the claims by some government ministers who accused the US Embassy of being involved in social media training programmes for youth with political motives.

A US Embassy spokesperson told The Sunday Leader that the US Embassy regularly conducts voluntary technical training sessions for social media users and these sessions are completely non-political and are focused solely on educating users about technical features of social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

“These training sessions are part of our longstanding support for freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Sri Lanka,” she said. Government Minister and National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa recently accused US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele J. Sison of working together with the UNP to destabilise the country.

According to him, the US Embassy in Colombo, through some UNP members, have recruited 5000 youth to carry out a social media campaign against the Government. He further stated that that the youth who have been recruited by the Embassy for the task are being paid.

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/07/13/us-embassy-rejects-claims/

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Crucial Muslim support facilitated the process of Sri Lanka  gaining  independence from British in 1948 and help end almost four and half centuries of European colonial rule in the island. Many still remember the leading role played by Muslims leaders such as Dr T.B.Jayah, Sir Razik Fareed, Dr M.C.M.Kaleel and Dr Badiduddin Mahmud in the constitutional reforms of this country and their enthusiastic support for the demand of the Dominion Status and   independence. They never obstructed the political progress of the country.

For example when the demand for independence began gathering momentum World War 11 broke out in Europe. The British government urged all its colonies to support them assuring that they would be given independence after the war.

In the aftermath of the World War 11, agitation for political reforms and independence began to gather momentum. However the British government insisted that three quarters of the population should support the demand for independence to ensure the rights of minorities were protected. With the Sinhalese community as a whole constituting less than three quarters of the population this was an impossible demand to fulfill unless the minorities supported.

Tamil Congress leader G.G.Ponnambalam demanded equal representation, better known as fifty –fifty. However the Muslims stood fully behind the majority community and help to meet the British demand for the support of two third of the population despite past sufferings and disadvantages.

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As the only living former President/Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, I felt the responsibility to speak out in order to resolve the prevalent religious tensions in the country, Former President Chandrika Bandaranike Kumaratunga said today.

Speaking to the media during the event held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute to present the recommendations on ‘Promoting Religious Harmony’ by the ‘Forum for Inter Faith Dialogue’ (FOIFD), Ms. Kumaratunga said, “I have remained silent for a long time because I get hammered by the government-run media whenever I make a comment on a current issue in the country, claiming that I have no right to do so. But I believe I have every reason to voice my concerns as I am a premier citizen of this country. So when I took up this cause I realised that most moderate Buddhists are frightened to talk due to fear of intimidations and the killings that are going on. . .”

She stated therefore she realised that she did not wish to remain silent anymore and hence, worked in collaboration with the South Asia Policy and Research Institute (SAPRI) to establish the ‘Forum on Inter Faith Dialogue’ (FOIFD).

Ms. Kumaratunga also stressed on the importance for the people to be aware of a moderate point of view. “The moderates at the start were very scared to express their thoughts but they are now beginning to be convinced of the need for another voice to reach the people. The masses have been concerned of the rumours that circulated on Muslims taking over Sri Lanka, their population increase etc. Although most didn’t wish to believe these claims, they did not hear any other view either,” she added.

Anunayake thero of Maha Vihara Vanshika Shiyampali Maha Nikaya Malwatta Chapter of Sri Lanka – Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri thera, The Anunayake Thero of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya – Venerable Kotugoda Dhammavasa thera, Colombo Archbishop Reverend Oswald Gomis,  Moulavi M.R. Mahir and S. Kuhantha Sharma Swamy also spoke.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/42250-moderates-are-scared-to-express-their-thoughts-cbk.html#comments

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පූජාපිටිය ප්‍රාදේශීය සභා බල ප්‍රදේශයට අයත් අඹතැන්න මුල්ලේගම පිහිටි මුස්ලිම් දේවස්ථානයකට පහර දීමේ සිද්ධිය සම්බන්ධයෙන් සැක පිට අත්අඩංගුවට ගෙන අධිකරණයට ඉදිරිපත් කළ තරුණයන් පස් දෙනාට සමාව දීමටත් ඔවුන්ට එරෙහිව අධිකරණයේ ඇති නඩුව ඉවත් කර ගැනීමටත් ඉරිදා (19) මුල්ලේගම ශ්‍රී ප්‍රියදර්ශනාරාම බෞද්ධ මධ්‍යස්ථානයේ දී ප්‍රදේශයේ මහා සංඝරත්නය සහ මුස්ලිම් ආගමික නායකයන් අතර මාධ්‍ය ඉදිරියේ පැවැති සාකච්ඡාවක දී තීරණය විය.

http://www.lankadeepa.lk/index.php/articles/204242

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Certification Withdrawal Announcement !

http://www.halaal.acju.net/content/certification-withdrawal-announcement

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TUESDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2013 03:46

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said yesterday that the government had not taken a final decision on abolishing the Grade five scholarship examination.

Although the National Education Council had recommended the restructuring of the paper for the years 2014 and 2015, the Minister said the Education Ministry was yet to decide on that aspect as well.

“After the recent news that the scholarship examinations will be cancelled in 2016 there has been a fair amount of debate within the country regarding the examination itself. I am thankful to the media for triggering such a debate. The government however does not intend to curtail opportunities for children from the village. Instead we want the children from the village to be educated and further their academics,” he told a news conference.

Responding to a question regarding the proposal to scrap the scholarship exam, the Minister said the final decision on the matter would be taken in 2015.

“The National Education Council has said that it would announce a decision regarding the examination after studying it in the next two years. Therefore the decision on if the exam is to be completely scrapped or muted will be taken on that day” he said.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/40956-no-decision-on-scholarship-scrap.html

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"...How can I cover what Allah has blessed me with of silky soft hair and captivating beauty?..."

Get on the train of repentance my sister, before it passes by your station. Deeply consider my sister, what is happening today before tomorrow comes. Think, my sister - starting now.

All praise is due to Allah Ta'aala as is deserved by His Majesty and Great Power. I send prayers and ask for blessings upon His Noble Messenger who drew the path for us to the pleasure of Allah and His Jannah. This path is a straight one that is surrounded by virtue from all sides and attends to the best moral characteristics which are increased by the clothing of purity, concealment, and chastity. It is the path trod by the two halves of human society, namely the man and the woman, toward harmonious contentment and happiness in this life and the Hereafter.

This is precisely why the Protector, the blessed and above all imperfection, has made wearing hijaab an obligation upon the woman as a safeguard of her chastity and protection of her honor and sign of her faith (Eemaan). It is on account of this that societies (both Muslim and non-Muslim) that have distanced themselves from the way of Allah and deviated from His straight path, are ill societies in need of treatment that will lead them to recovery and happiness.

Among the pictures that point to the distance of society from that path and that make clear the level of its deviation and separation from it is the open spread of women not just uncovering their faces but enhancing and making a display of their beauty. We find that, regretfully, this is commonly manifested in Islamic (Muslim) society despite the fact Islamic clothing is also widespread (and available). So then, what are the reasons that have led to this digression?

We put this question to a varied group of women from whom we derived ten major excuses and upon examination and scrutiny, the frailty of the excuses became evident to us.

Stay with us dear Muslim sister in these few lines so that we can know through them the reasons for turning away from the hijaab and then discuss each:

Excuse One: I'm not yet convinced (of the necessity) of hijaab.

We then ask this sister two questions:

One: Is she truly convinced of the correctness of the religion of Islam?

The natural answer is: Yes, she is convinced, for she responds "Laa ilaaha illallah!" (There is no God but Allah), meaning she is convinced of the 'aqeedah, and then she says: "Muhammadun rasoolullah!" (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), meaning by that that she is convinced of its legislation or law (sharee'ah). Therefore, she is convinced of Islam as a belief system and a law by which one governs and rules her life.

Two: Is the hijaab then a part of Islamic Law (sharee'ah) and an obligation?

If this sister is honest and sincere in her intention and has looked into the issue as one who truly wants to know the truth her answer could only be: "Yes". For Allah ta'aala, Whose Divinity (Uloohiyyah) she believes in has commanded wearing hijaab in His Book (Al-Qur'aan); and the noble Prophet, ('alaihi salaat wa salaam) whose message she believes in, has commanded wearing the hijaab in his sunnah.

What do we call a person who says they believe in and are content with the correctness of Islam but who nonetheless does not do what Allah or His Messenger have ordered? Certainly they can in no way be described as those whom Allah speaks of in this aayah:

The only saying of the faithful believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say 'we hear and obey' and such are the successful. [Soorah An-Noor 24:51]

In summary: If this sister is convinced of Islam, how then can she not be convinced of its orders?

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The young and excited bride-and-groom-to-be; ecstatic about the upcoming wedding and marriage and the joy that it will bring. Three to six months later, reality has set in and both spouses realize that marriage is no easy task, but one that takes a great deal of effort and patience. The following are tips for both wives and husbands, to help make the task a little less daunting, and to increase the many rewards that are possible in such a marvelous and complex relationship.

Enter the Marriage with the Right Intention and Renew this Often

Both spouses should enter the marriage with the pure intention of pleasing Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, in order to receive His grace and blessings. The marriage itself then becomes an act of worship and one for which both spouses will be rewarded. Allah will be pleased with them and this will be the most critical element in ensuring peace, stability and happiness throughout the marital life. It is also important to realize that when an act of worship is continued over a long period of time, it becomes necessary to renew one's intention often to remain on the correct path and to obtain the most benefit.

Remember that Your Spouse is also Your Brother or Sister in Islam

Too often Muslims treat other people outside the home with kindness and sincerity, but then behave in a very different manner when it comes to their own spouses. Muslims should always remember that one's spouse is also another brother or sister in Islam and that the rights and duties that apply to the general brotherhood (sisterhood) of Islam, should also form the basis of the marital relationship. Obviously, a spouse has rights beyond these, but there should be a clear understanding of the rights of brotherhood (sisterhood) and adherence to these principles.

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October 22nd 2013

His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa,

President,

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,

Presidents’ House,

Colombo 1.

Your Excellency,

The Establishment of Gaming Resorts in Sri Lanka

It is with deep concern we wish to appeal to Your Excellency to reconsider the approval of Section 3(4) of the Strategic Development Projects Act, No. 14 of 2008 as amended which includes tax relief for Casino Hotel Projects.

The short term financial advantages envisaged for the country through this project does not justify the moral decay that is bound to set in Sri Lanka. The religious leaders of all the major religions in Sri Lanka have appealed to Your Excellency not to make Sri Lanka the Gambling capital of the region by providing concessions for the world’s gambling giants to set up gambling resorts in the heart of the Capital. Gambling is forbidden or strongly discouraged by all religions as it causes disastrous consequences in society. The vices associated with gambling are clearly evident with rampant prostitution, violence, gun culture, alcohol and drug abuse prevailing in our nation since it was legalized in 1980. A large number of foreign sex workers have entered the country, and Sri Lankan girls from villages too are lured to the city as sex workers. This not only poses a threat to our moral and cultural values, but also poses a danger to the health of the nation with the rapid increase in HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Your Excellency, your able leadership saw the end of the long war that plagued our Nation, and we are now on the path to Development which will make all Sri Lankans proud. Your determination and courage to steer our country in the face of many obstacles will be recorded in History as an example of contemporary governance.

We wish Your Excellency continued strength in your able and strong leadership, and earnestly request Your Excellency to reconsider the Government’s endeavor enabling the establishment of the Gaming and Leisure Industry in the country.

Thank you, Your Excellency, for your kind consideration and we look forward to your positive action.

Yours truly,

N M Ameen – President, MCSL

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07th September 2013

Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse

Secretary

Ministry of Defence and Urban Development

15/5 Baladaksha Mawatha

Colombo 3

Dear Mr. Secretary,

KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT DEFENSE SEMINAR 2013

We note with great dismay, media reports of the references to the Muslim Community in Sri Lanka and to Muslims elsewhere made by you in your address at the Defense Seminar held recently.

As you aware, we the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, which is the apex body of Muslim theologians in Sri Lanka, have made representations to you and to those placed at the highest levels in Government in regard to the hate campaign against the Muslim community carried on by certain extremist elements. Being patriotic Sri Lankans, in making such representations, we have acted responsibly and with great restraint, being conscious of the fact that there are forces still operating which are hostile to Sri Lanka and that these misguided actions of a few, could be unfairly utilized, to vilify Sri Lanka by such groups. We are grateful that you and the Government have taken action consequent to such representations.