Security in secularism

Sectarianism and religious fanaticism are on the rise again, that is, if ever they were on the decline. Recent events in Batticaloa and Colombo, by religious extremists from all sects, highlight the urgent need for a more aggressive stance on protecting secularism and religious freedom. Given the new Constitution on the horizon, what better time than now is there to enforce secularism – that essential cornerstone for democracy?

Yesterday, the Daily FT reported on two alarming incidents that had taken place on opposite corners of the island. In the east, mobile phone recorded footage has exposed so-called Buddhist monk and Chief Incumbent of the Mangalaramaya temple in Batticaloa, Ampitye Sumangala Thero, as a vile racist. In a video which went viral, Sumangala is seen spewing hatred and racial epithets at a Tamil Grama Sevaka as a senior Police official looks on, doing little to defend the victim of the monk’s tirade. 

Another video, which circulated shortly after, shows the same monk barging into a police station and harassing officers, both physically and verbally. The restraint shown by officers in calming this monk is testament to the power and impunity at their command. Surely our Police, who are notorious for torture and excessive use of force, would have been far more heavy-handed had the agitator been any other member of the public.

More recently, on the west coast, so-called Muslim leader and Secretary of the Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamath (SLTJ), R. Abdul Razik, has been arrested by Police for allegedly insulting other religions while protesting calls to end provisions in the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act that legitimise child marriage.

If the charges against Razik are true, it is commendable for Police to have acted in such a swift manner. However, what is alarming is that the arrest follows threats made by notorious supremacist Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, the General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena. In yet another vitriolic speech, Gnanasara essentially threatened to carry out an act of terror in a Muslim majority neighbourhood, unless his demand of arresting SLTJ’s Razik was met.

These incidents are the few that are high-profile enough to have been picked up by the media. Across the island there is an alarming rise in extremist religious fervour, which in turn leads to tension that inevitably culminates in violence and bloodshed, as we have seen countless times.

One could argue that as long as the State entertains such fringe elements, their ideologies can and will trickle into the mainstream. A country which places importance on any one group over the other is destined to descend into chaos, therefore a Constitution which installs and defends secularism in Sri Lanka is the surest bet we have for levelling the playing field and containing religious extremism.

Faith holds a strong place in the hearts of many Sri Lankans. The religious bodies of this country have undoubtedly contributed to its wellbeing and prosperity. However, the use of religion to further political agendas has wrought nought but ruin. For a prosperous and peaceful Sri Lanka, secularism is the need of the hour.