In a statement Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is urging the Sri Lankan government to protect against the threat posed by Sinhala Buddhist nationalists and safeguard Sri Lanka’s religious pluralism.
CSW says they have submitted a document this week to Sri Lanka’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling for equal rights & religious freedom.
CSW’s South Asia Team Leader David Griffiths said in the statement, “Sri Lanka is still reeling from the effects of the long-running civil war which had deep and profound implications for the social and political fabric of nation. Against this background, it is vital that the government do everything in its power to safeguard the rights of all its citizens through the rule of law, and foster a sense of citizenship that transcends ethnic and religious identities. Although on a much smaller scale, the incident in Dambulla is somewhat reminiscent of the 1992 storming of the Babri Masjid mosque in Ayodhya, India, which provided an enduring rallying point for Hindu extremist hatred and violence against Muslims. The Sri Lankan government must resolve the Dambulla matter in a fair and equitable manner, and ensure that all religions and their adherents are accorded equal respect. This is particularly important to safeguard against the threat posed by hard-line Sinhala Buddhist nationalists against all religious minority communities.”
