This comment I found on a FB page, guys please take time to go through it, its written on a viewpoint of a Muslim so we have some stuff we cant agree, but for most of the part what he saying is true.
Dear Muslim Community- It is our duty to respect the Right of Our Brothers and Sisters of the Sinahelse and other Communities in Sri Lanka. We are a Minority they consititute a Majority in this Land. Further more they are a more Older community than the Muslims. This is History.
Although the Muslims may consider Halal Food as Much Better and Healthier or Whatever... The Muslims have no right to Impose it on others who dont want it. They have a right to choose. They have a right to Demand what they Want in the Manner they want and in the form they Want from the Local Sri Lankan Maufacturers - Customer is the King, this is the rule of the Market. And It is their Right as a Son and Daughter of the Country which we all call MotherLand.
If they Need Non Labeled Products for whatever their "Sentimental" or other Reasons May Be, from the Manufacturers in this Country - THIS IS THEIR RIGHT AS A SRI LANKAN. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE AWAY THAT RIGHT FROM A BORN AND BRED SRI LANKAN. THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY AND DEMOCRACY HAS TO PREVAIL.
All Parties have to logically Understand the Issue and try to resolve the issues Sensibly understanding each other.
Due to misunderstanding some parties have taken this issue to undue proportions. Most of the Allegations have been clarified, if there are any further clarifications all parties have a right for such clarifications and the sources of clarification are available.
There are Many Practical difficulties in Instituting a Seperate Labelled and Unlabelled product by a single Manufacturer. So the solution may be to have some Manufacturing the Non Halal Labeled Products and the Others Manufacturing Halal Labelled Products. Which we see as happening in the Market Now. This is just one suggestion. There can be other solutions ~ If we leave it to to the Market will see the Market catering to Demand and Needs...
In a free Market Demand and Supply takes care on itself there is no need to exert pressure to force our opinions.
Sanity should prevail. We as Sri Lankans are Honourable and Respectable People whatever our communites may be. Foreigners who come to our Country Love the country because of its people. This is one of our very best Assets. Many countries dont have this.
We should also Understand that the Halal Certification is a Need to Progress the Development of the Country. 32% of the Tourist comming into the Country are from Middle East (Refer Statement of Minister Basil Rajapakse), these tourists are Mostly Young Families with Children, they are High Spenders. They contribute to very much more than 50% of the revenue from the Tourist Industy which is one of the Primary Industries which the Government is Striving to Promote. This industry not only Provides the Foreign Exchange it also contributes to enhancing our countries Employment.
Tourism is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner to thie Country.Currently we live on the sweat of the expatriate labour force mostly in the Middle East which is the main income of the nation (first).
Sri Lanka tourism is gaining popularity among Arab tourists. According to the statistics by Sri Lanka Tourism Board, Arab tourists number increased by 58 per cent in 2010. This is much more today and their is great potential to expand on this Market.
According to a report of last year Arab tourists growth to Sri Lanka is healthier than the overall growth of Sri Lanka tourism which is 43.5 per cent for the first 10 months of 2010. The credit of the growth goes to Dubai based Sri Lanka tourism office.
According to another report ,We no longer should depend on the traditional western tourists......Western tourists have become liabilities to us. Most of them do not bring funds and parasites to us by living on our goodwill and polluting the culture and breeding of the younger generation (sic). This is mainly true, the Western tourist who come on a bed and breakfast package has a budget of what they paid to the Tour Operator in their own country prior to their departure. ~They usually live on the Very Heavy Breakfast and a snack at night.
Promoting the Middle Eastern tourists to fill up the Many Hotels being Put up is going to bring emense benefit to the Nation. Let us not Hamper this development .....
Let us all look at the issue in more practical frame of mind we are not uneducated Barbarians ...The Muslims have lived for Centuries in Sri lanka, there was no need for Certifications to Know that Kaun and Kokis was Halal nor was there a need to know that Bathui Malui and the Pan and Paripu are Halal. Nor was there a certificate needed to know that Banis and thee are Halal. Even now almost non of the Bakeries in Sri Lanka have Halal Certificates, the muslim buy the Bread. Most of the Muslim Restaurant dont have Certificates, they make their own Halal Board (which is the certifciate).
Ther certification serves mostly to cater to and attract the ME Foreigners. The Muslims in Sri Lanka has lived without certificates by avoiding doubtful food and they can yet do so without a certificate, many an organisation dont have the certificate and things go on.
Let us not make this an issue leading to communal disharmony.
Let us Live and Let Live.
If some of the Sri Lankans want to Have Products with No Halal Label they have a right to do so in an Ethical and Legal Manner without unneccesary disruptions to the Progress of the Country.
Many countries in the region has taken advantage to woe the ME Tourists...one such country is Thailand which is a Buddhist country - The Halal Certificate in Thailand is issued by a Government Agency.
Let Sanity Prevail.
-
Mohammed Mumthaz Ansar
Dear Muslim Community- It is our duty to respect the Right of Our Brothers and Sisters of the Sinahelse and other Communities in Sri Lanka. We are a Minority they consititute a Majority in this Land. Further more they are a more Older community than the Muslims. This is History.
Although the Muslims may consider Halal Food as Much Better and Healthier or Whatever... The Muslims have no right to Impose it on others who dont want it. They have a right to choose. They have a right to Demand what they Want in the Manner they want and in the form they Want from the Local Sri Lankan Maufacturers - Customer is the King, this is the rule of the Market. And It is their Right as a Son and Daughter of the Country which we all call MotherLand.
If they Need Non Labeled Products for whatever their "Sentimental" or other Reasons May Be, from the Manufacturers in this Country - THIS IS THEIR RIGHT AS A SRI LANKAN. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE AWAY THAT RIGHT FROM A BORN AND BRED SRI LANKAN. THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY AND DEMOCRACY HAS TO PREVAIL.
All Parties have to logically Understand the Issue and try to resolve the issues Sensibly understanding each other.
Due to misunderstanding some parties have taken this issue to undue proportions. Most of the Allegations have been clarified, if there are any further clarifications all parties have a right for such clarifications and the sources of clarification are available.
There are Many Practical difficulties in Instituting a Seperate Labelled and Unlabelled product by a single Manufacturer. So the solution may be to have some Manufacturing the Non Halal Labeled Products and the Others Manufacturing Halal Labelled Products. Which we see as happening in the Market Now. This is just one suggestion. There can be other solutions ~ If we leave it to to the Market will see the Market catering to Demand and Needs...
In a free Market Demand and Supply takes care on itself there is no need to exert pressure to force our opinions.
Sanity should prevail. We as Sri Lankans are Honourable and Respectable People whatever our communites may be. Foreigners who come to our Country Love the country because of its people. This is one of our very best Assets. Many countries dont have this.
We should also Understand that the Halal Certification is a Need to Progress the Development of the Country. 32% of the Tourist comming into the Country are from Middle East (Refer Statement of Minister Basil Rajapakse), these tourists are Mostly Young Families with Children, they are High Spenders. They contribute to very much more than 50% of the revenue from the Tourist Industy which is one of the Primary Industries which the Government is Striving to Promote. This industry not only Provides the Foreign Exchange it also contributes to enhancing our countries Employment.
Tourism is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner to thie Country.Currently we live on the sweat of the expatriate labour force mostly in the Middle East which is the main income of the nation (first).
Sri Lanka tourism is gaining popularity among Arab tourists. According to the statistics by Sri Lanka Tourism Board, Arab tourists number increased by 58 per cent in 2010. This is much more today and their is great potential to expand on this Market.
According to a report of last year Arab tourists growth to Sri Lanka is healthier than the overall growth of Sri Lanka tourism which is 43.5 per cent for the first 10 months of 2010. The credit of the growth goes to Dubai based Sri Lanka tourism office.
According to another report ,We no longer should depend on the traditional western tourists......Western tourists have become liabilities to us. Most of them do not bring funds and parasites to us by living on our goodwill and polluting the culture and breeding of the younger generation (sic). This is mainly true, the Western tourist who come on a bed and breakfast package has a budget of what they paid to the Tour Operator in their own country prior to their departure. ~They usually live on the Very Heavy Breakfast and a snack at night.
Promoting the Middle Eastern tourists to fill up the Many Hotels being Put up is going to bring emense benefit to the Nation. Let us not Hamper this development .....
Let us all look at the issue in more practical frame of mind we are not uneducated Barbarians ...The Muslims have lived for Centuries in Sri lanka, there was no need for Certifications to Know that Kaun and Kokis was Halal nor was there a need to know that Bathui Malui and the Pan and Paripu are Halal. Nor was there a certificate needed to know that Banis and thee are Halal. Even now almost non of the Bakeries in Sri Lanka have Halal Certificates, the muslim buy the Bread. Most of the Muslim Restaurant dont have Certificates, they make their own Halal Board (which is the certifciate).
Ther certification serves mostly to cater to and attract the ME Foreigners. The Muslims in Sri Lanka has lived without certificates by avoiding doubtful food and they can yet do so without a certificate, many an organisation dont have the certificate and things go on.
Let us not make this an issue leading to communal disharmony.
Let us Live and Let Live.
If some of the Sri Lankans want to Have Products with No Halal Label they have a right to do so in an Ethical and Legal Manner without unneccesary disruptions to the Progress of the Country.
Many countries in the region has taken advantage to woe the ME Tourists...one such country is Thailand which is a Buddhist country - The Halal Certificate in Thailand is issued by a Government Agency.
Let Sanity Prevail.
-
Mohammed Mumthaz Ansar
Last edited:
