The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) is deeply disturbed by events on 23 September 2019 in the north of the island of Sri Lanka whereby a Buddhist mob defied court orders by cremating the body of a deceased Buddhist monk on land deemed holy to Hindus. Further disturbing is that this took place under the protection of the police force.

 

The Mullaitivu district court had prohibited the cremation of deceased monk Colombo Medhalankarakiththi on land deemed holy by local Hindus and owned by local Hindu temple, Neeraviyadi Pillayar Hindu kovil. Police blocked local Tamils who protested the cremation thereby providing access to the Buddhist mob to undertake the cremation without hindrance. Witnesses recollection and footage suggest Buddhist monks reportedly attacked Tamil civilians and lawyers who were present to request enforcement of the court orders, while police officers watched on without taking any action. Sinhalese from the south of the island had been transported to the site. The incident was led by extremist Buddhist monk Galagodaaththe Gnanasara, who heads Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and has on a previous occasion been convicted for contempt of court only to receive a presidential pardon soon after. 

 

"Buddhist monks boldly defying a court order with police presence and inaction, and in effect under police protection, shows us that in Sri Lanka rule of law is secondary to Buddhist hegemony," said ATC Chairperson, Manokaran Manickavinayagam. "This incident is a perfect example of the blatant injustice faced by Tamils and the impunity perpetrators in the island enjoy."

 

25 September 2019