Hindi Vail Parade held in Colombo
It was wonderful to see last afternoon the Hindu temple (KOVIL) in Havelock road/galle raod wellawattha having their Vail parade (annual chariot festival). There were hundreds and probably thousands of Hindu (Tamil) devotees marching along the main road of Havelock road/Galle road etc to the sounds of the religious chants during broad daylight (Around 15.00 hours).
Now how can one create a perception that the government or the Sinhalese people are racist or do not allow equal rights in Sri Lanka for religious believes other than Buddhism? After all, this is equivalent to a Buddhist perahara which is held in many parts of the country. Yes, with less people, nevertheless, one must not forget that there are 80 % Sinhalese live in Sri Lanka compared to the 12% of Tamils, and probably thanks to the LTTE this figure keeps diminishing, rapidly!
Back to my point of freedom of religious believes and the corporation given to the Tamil festivals to be held during the day was fascinating. And of-course this is not the 1st time this happened, it happens each time on a regular basis every years in and around Colombo/country. The corporation/coordination which was renders by the same police-force we discredit on a day-to-day basis was praiseworthy. For once they were directing traffic away and doing a good job one must say. On my way back after dinner, around 23.45, I see the same amount of people on the road, heading back to their homes after the festival parade/pooja with the same amount of corporation from the public/officials and with grinding smiles all over their blissful faces. Smiles which paints a picture of happiness/love/peace!
I hope such event will get the required publicity so one can see that the people in Sri Lanka, or we could called them Sinhalese like many who would like to purposely create religious complications in the country would do, are not a bunch of racist or do not discriminate people based on race, background, religion or cast. Yet again, I doubt that any local media groups will give the required publicity for this event since they betray the motherland based on political believes/agendas. As a matter of fact, I believe that if the main leadership of the LTTE is dismantled, the Tamil people will live peacefully in this great nation along with all other Religions and races. Guess eradicating terrorism from the country is the key, which means disarming or capturing the leaders of the terrorist outfit is a must!
By Saman Fernando
Now how can one create a perception that the government or the Sinhalese people are racist or do not allow equal rights in Sri Lanka for religious believes other than Buddhism? After all, this is equivalent to a Buddhist perahara which is held in many parts of the country. Yes, with less people, nevertheless, one must not forget that there are 80 % Sinhalese live in Sri Lanka compared to the 12% of Tamils, and probably thanks to the LTTE this figure keeps diminishing, rapidly!
Back to my point of freedom of religious believes and the corporation given to the Tamil festivals to be held during the day was fascinating. And of-course this is not the 1st time this happened, it happens each time on a regular basis every years in and around Colombo/country. The corporation/coordination which was renders by the same police-force we discredit on a day-to-day basis was praiseworthy. For once they were directing traffic away and doing a good job one must say. On my way back after dinner, around 23.45, I see the same amount of people on the road, heading back to their homes after the festival parade/pooja with the same amount of corporation from the public/officials and with grinding smiles all over their blissful faces. Smiles which paints a picture of happiness/love/peace!
I hope such event will get the required publicity so one can see that the people in Sri Lanka, or we could called them Sinhalese like many who would like to purposely create religious complications in the country would do, are not a bunch of racist or do not discriminate people based on race, background, religion or cast. Yet again, I doubt that any local media groups will give the required publicity for this event since they betray the motherland based on political believes/agendas. As a matter of fact, I believe that if the main leadership of the LTTE is dismantled, the Tamil people will live peacefully in this great nation along with all other Religions and races. Guess eradicating terrorism from the country is the key, which means disarming or capturing the leaders of the terrorist outfit is a must!
By Saman Fernando
posted by Alex at 8/11/2008 08:29:00 AM
2 Comments:
It's a known fact that the general population can live with each other regardless of religious believes. However, its the politicians and the LTTE that creates these dramas or one could say racism!
good news
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