Preventing new ‘Avatars’
20 March 2017Timely action has been taken by the government to curb the inflow of religious fanatics into the country.
According to Immigration and Emigration Chief Nihal Ranasinghe, his office will coordinate closely with the Ministry of Defence to monitor religious fanatics who come under the guise of 'religious scholars' with ulterior motives.
The emergence of Islamic State (IS) terrorism remains a huge threat to human civilization in recent years. Islamic State terrorism uses the Islamic faith as a shield to continue with its ruthless and meaningless war to create adverse situations globally.
Islam being one of the foremost religions in the world, Prophet Mohamed's preaching in the Al-Quran on brotherhood and human civilization with divinity have been misinterpreted by the gun toting Islamic State to create chaotic situations.
Several countries have already taken precautionary measures to closely monitor the activities of Islamic State activists and to prevent any form of threat from them.
In recent years, India has strengthened its intelligence network to curb Islamic State terror activities in the country. Indian officials have even succeeded in apprehending Islamic State activists and thwarted successfully several of their attempts to ignite 'blood baths' in the country.
As Buddhism is followed by the majority of the people in Sri Lanka, all major religions in the world are being practised amicably in the Island without leaving room for religious extremism. There were earlier instances where religious fanatics were aroused by unscrupulous political elements in the Island. However, the manner in which secularism is safeguarded under the guidance of several scholarly, spiritual leaders in the Island is exemplary.
Whenever a disturbance occurred in the Island based on religious issues, the countrymen by and large combined their effort to ensure that the disturbance is not spread by ridiculing secularism.
Sri Lanka being a country crippled by three decades of terrorist war is now gradually limping back to stabilize itself erasing the scars of war and strengthening peace and reconciliation, in the Island.
During the war period it was important to note, the supportive role played by religious leaders to maintain peace and harmony in the country despite attacks carried out on several important places of worship in various parts of the country.
However, a week ago in Kathankudy in the Eastern Province ideological differences between two Islamic groups had led to violence creating a fear psychosis among innocent civilians.
As a significant number of Sri Lankan expatriate workers remain in the Middle East they could get attracted towards religious extremism, and religious fanatics under the guise of scholars and spiritual leaders could even attempt to step into the Island to achieve their ulterior motives.
Sri Lanka has already intensified precautionary measures to curb Islamic State terrorism by developing links with international security agencies.
However, the latest move to maintain extra vigilance to prevent the inflow of religious fanatics by introducing visa restrictions could be considered a timely action.
As religious values and philosophies of all major religions in the world are well preserved and followed with great veneration by the people of all faiths in a civilized manner, there is no need for new preachers or fresh religious ideologies to be allowed to destroy the healthy secularism existing in Sri Lanka.
With the end of the separatist war in 2009, Sri Lanka is now focused towards developing its economy destroyed by the unnecessary war.
Apart from the defence circles focusing on preventive measures such as visa restrictions to religious fanatics, the people in the country should also act wisely and not be carried away by these new 'avatars'.
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