GRANDPASS MOSQUE ISSUE SETTLED
Mosque to be relocated to its original place Police curfew re-imposed
In the aftermath of the incident involving a mosque in the Grandpass area of Colombo, political leaders and religious digni-
Muslims in the area would be able to engage in the religious observances in the mosque at its original location
taries including the Buddhist and Muslim communities worked together to resolve the dispute ami- cably at a meeting held at the Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry.
The incident in question occurred on Saturday evening, and the police clamped curfew to defuse tension soon after. A police curfew was also imposed last night to prevent any untoward incident from taking place. The meeting held at the ministry yesterday was to find a solution to the problem.
Science and Technology Research Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who attended the meeting, told journalists that Muslims in the area would be able to engage in the religious observances in the mosque at its original location. He said all the relevant parties had agreed to help in the development of the mosque. He requested the people not to be misled by rumours since the matter had been settled in an amicable manner.
The matter was resolved after a lengthy discussion among the Buddhist monks, Muslim clerics, government ministers and opposition politicians. In addition to Minister Ranawaka, Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardene, Justice Minister and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem, Government MP A. H. M. Fowzie, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen, Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana and United National Party (UNP) MP for the Colombo District Ravi Karunanayake were also present at the meeting that had lasted for nearly 4 hours.
The matter was resolved after a lengthy discussion among the Buddhist monks, Muslim clerics, government ministers and opposition politicians
After the meeting, Minister Dinesh Gunawardene said the government, the opposition and the clergy had created a precedent by working together to save the country from a racial riot. "We have showed that any issue could be resolved through peaceful dialogue," the Minister added.
MP Ravi Karunanayake said this was an instance where it had been displayed that there was a responsible opposition in the country. "We could have aggravated communal tension in the area. But, we, as a responsible opposition, decided to cooperate in resolving the problem, in a peaceful manner," he said.
The trouble began after a newly built building was converted into a prayer centre on Swarna Jayanthi Mawatha in Grandpass. It was adjacent to the mosque. The Urban Development Authority (UDA) had noticed the mosque to be relocated. Till such relocation was found Muslims were permitted to offer their regular prayers at the new place till the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Violence flared on Saturday night when a group stoned the mosque while calling for its closure.