Act with patience and restraint -Speaker | Sunday Observer

Act with patience and restraint -Speaker

19 May, 2019
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in conversation with victims of the attack in Minuwangoda
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in conversation with victims of the attack in Minuwangoda

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya called upon everyone to act with patience and restraint at times like this. “Hatred does not cease by hatred,” he said quoting the Buddha.

Addressing the nation as a ‘responsible elderly person’ who loves the country, and not as ‘a politician’, in Minuwangoda the Speaker said the people behaved in a more civilized, intelligent and patient manner following the Easter Sunday attacks.

He expressed his respect and gratitude to religious leaders for guiding their followers on how to respond to the coordinated suicide bombings that target three churches and three luxury hotels on Easter Sunday that left over 250 dead and about 500 injured.

Though Sri Lanka confronted several conflicts and unrest it has never faced a complete paralysis that continued for three weeks, he said explaining it is seen how different sectors have suffered from paralysis and inefficiency during the past three weeks.

He expressed that it is regrettable that incidents that cause hatred to spread is heard now when it is time to focus on overcoming challenges and start rebuilding.

“These incidents did not take place in the first horror of terrorist attacks, when people were hurting and grieving,” he said, “Instead the fact that they are taking place three weeks after the attacks.”

He showed that this confirm that there is an organised group fulfilling ‘narrow agendas’ by these incidents, and those aiding to spread the fires of religious and racial hatred are responsible for the destruction of the lives of children who owns tomorrow.

“My appeal to all citizens is that we do not allow the country to be plunged into darkness once more the way it was in 1983,” the speaker said.The 1983 Black July riots, which the Speaker has personally witnessed, has ‘devoured’ the country leaving Sri Lanka in a tragic state where it has lost its place in the world.Speaker Jayasuriya requested President Maitripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to speak in one voice with the public. And also, “Defence Secretary, IGP and armed forces chiefs should brief the people daily on the security situation. Only then will the people feel confident. Only then will the rumours that are spreading like wildfire be stopped in their tracks,” he stressed adding that these rumours have been proved to be untrue thus far. Explaining that this is a time to act intelligently he said several government bodies are working to resolve issues.

“Muslim Affairs Minister is striving to resolve these issues patiently, with the full blessings of the Muslim community. The Ministers of Justice, Education and Higher Education are involved in consultations with relevant sectors to draft new laws and regulations.

“Agreements have been reached on several controversial areas, including traditional Muslim women’s dress, madrasas and higher education institutes. I myself participated in some of these discussions. In the next few weeks, some of these issues that have given rise to debate and controversy will be resolved I believe. “

He said most Muslims do not wish to turn Sri Lanka into a ‘fundamentalist nation’.

“Let us not be cursed for our actions by future generations. I urge all Sri Lankans to awaken the collective strength of our peace-loving people against these acts of racial and religious hatred.,” he urged. 

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