Azwer urges to protect Muslim places of worship

‘TNA did not protest when Muslims were massacred’:

I challenge the TNA in this House, when Muslims were driven away and when they were massacred at Kattankudy in Eravur, Alingipathana and Palliyagodella in Polonnaruwa, not a word of sympathy or a word of protest was said by them at that time.

I challenge them to declare this in the House, said A H M Azwer MP in Parliament recently.

“I hope houses will be built soon and will be given to the Muslims because they were sent away. “I also call to protect the Muslim archeological sites, be remodeled and restructured,” he said.

“According to the Constitution, every religion is given the freedom of thought and conscience. In Sri Lanka, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians have their places of worship.

The places should not be dented or harmed by anybody in any way. If they try to do that they will be violating the Constitution. These are certain areas which the government should give serious thought to because for the first time – as it has not happened before – there are certain disturbances in the country. These should be nipped in the bud and buried without allowing it to prosper,” he said.

He added that Muslims have lived in harmony with the majority Sinhalese in the Sinhalese areas and the majority Tamils in the Tamil areas. “We have therefore, built a culture of our own. We are expected to practice our religion at our will.

“But, there are certain incidents taking place which disturbs us all,” he said.

The government must take serious note of this because after a long period of suffering, we have won a war, he said adding, “in Geneva, Muslim countries voted for us.”

“When we visited Qatar recently with our President, the abundance of goodwill, honour, dignity and respect they showed to him is remarkable.

“We have to protect that status quo in this country,” he emphasised.

He pointed out that during the times of the Portuguese, Dutch and English, architectural sites of the Muslims were destroyed in certain areas in Galle, Hambantota, Beruwala and the rest of the island.

The Grand Mosque in Colombo is an archaeological site. Certain great Saints who came from India, Indonesia and Malaysia were buried there, Azwer pointed out.

Adjoining that there is a mosque at the Peer Sahibo Street where some Saints were buried.

The attention of the government should be drawn to protect this place, he said.

He said the first mosque built in this country is the Masjidul Abrar in Beruwala.

There were steps taken earlier to declare this place as a national heritage and a proposal to issue a stamp.

“Former Speaker M A Bakeer Markar rebuilt it,” Azwer added.

“There are places of archeological value in Jaffna as well. Mankumban islet where a Saint is buried is one.

“Moor Street is also an archeological site, he said. Jaffna is a famous place for great learned men such as Senator A M A Azeez,” he added.