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| Tuesday, 13 January 2004 |
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by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya With the current issue of unethical religious conversions in the country the statistics compiled by major plantation trade unions reveal that the most alarming situation is noticeable in the plantation sector of the Central Province with particular emphasis on the Nuwara Eliya district. The city of Nuwara Eliya and its surroundings had three major Christian churches for generations with the British planters and others who were predominantly residing in the plantation sector. In all, there had been a few other churches of the same order around the entire district. Today there are 23 new Christian denominations in Nuwara Eliya alone spread over few hamlets. It is stated mostly the plantation Hindus being converted with economical offerings and gains in addition to internal disputes, rifts quarrels within their family circles who have been for generations the believers of the Hindu religion and its deities. The statistics reveal that most of the unemployed, educated plantation youth have been lured into such new sects. with promised economic gains, provision of motor cycles, handsome perks etc. The modus operandi of these young men and women who go round preaching is to get the young married Hindu women to do away with their sacred and holy 'Thali' which have been adorned by their husbands at the Hindu weddings. It is further stated that those who belong to the Catholic religion were asked to get rid of their statues and adorn their homes with Jesus photographs and fall in line with the new Christian religion which has newly come into existence around the plantation sector. A senior social worker and a Trade Unionist, D. Mahathavan says that it is pity although the Buddhist and Hindus patronise each others temples and believe in the same faith, the members of the Buddhist and Hindu clergies have failed to inculcate and promote each other's religion but with the banning of new Christianity in countries like India they have come in a big way into Sri Lanka. |
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