ACJU seeks meeting with Asgiriya Chief Prelate- On the conduct of BBS towards Muslims

The All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama (ACJU), the apex religious body of Islamic Theologians in Sri Lanka states that it hopes to secure an audience with President Mahinda Rajapaksa as well as with the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera.

Chief of the ACJU's Media Unit and Moulavi, Aslam Zubair, said this decision had been reached to bring to notice the suppression of Sri Lanka's Muslim community by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).

"Muslims have been deeply hurt by the latest stunt of the BBS. The BBS has made horrendous remarks against the Holy Quran by misinterpreting its commands and has spitefully commented on its versus out of context. Along with abarrage of other false allegations, which could be negated in no time, the BBS charges that there is a concept in Islam called 'Thaqiya' as facilitated by the Holy Quran, which permits Muslims to defraud people of other faiths. The BBS also states that this concept permits Muslims to acquire properties and wealth of non-Muslims by cheating them.

This allegation has deeply disturbed local Muslims and might even lead to the agitation of the global Muslim community, which will not profit Sri Lanka in anyway, especially when the entire world is scrutinising us. So the ACJU is hopeful of securing an audience with the President as well as with the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter in order to debunk these allegations," he added.

Speaking further to Ceylon Today, the Chief of the ACJU's Media Unit said that following these meetings the ACJU remains hopeful that steps would be taken to put an end to such atrocities committed by the BBS, which according to him have clearly surpassed all limits.

However, when contacted by Ceylon Today, Chief Executive Officer of the BBS, Dr. Dilantha Vithanage, said the ACJU's decision to meet the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter would in no manner affect the BBS.

He also said if the ACJU had any complaint against the BBS or its conduct, such matters should be directly taken up with the BBS instead of with the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter.

"It is good that the ACJU is going to meet the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter. They can even worship at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic on their way back. We are not affected by this decision. If they want to raise any concerns regarding the BBS, they have to talk to us directly," Vithanage added.

Meanwhile, commenting on the recent challenge issued to the Leader of the BBS, Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara by Former Deputy Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Azath Salley, Vithanage said the BBS had no intention of hosting debates with menial individuals.