August 15, 2013 Colombo, Sri Lanka Statement condemning the attack on the Masjid Deenul Islam at Grandpass,

Colombo We the undersigned strongly condemn the violent and unprovoked attack on the Masjid Deenul Islam in Grandpass area on Saturday, August 10, 2013 by an extremist mob injuring 12 people, in the wake of the Eid Festival. We are outraged over the spate of violent attacks against Christian and Muslim places of worship, and remain deeply concerned about the rise of extremist rhetoric around the island. While recognising and promoting the constitutionally guaranteed rights of free speech, religious worship, and assembly, we urge all communities to respect the religious beliefs and the associated rights of their fellow citizens, and to not be influenced by Statecondoned Buddhist extremists groups. At this time, we also wish to express our deep disappointment at the lack of concrete outcomes from inquiries into multiple other attacks against places of worship that have occurred in the recent past. We are extremely disheartened at the silence and the visible apathy displayed by the Government and the Mahanayake Theros of the Tri-Nikayas, at a time when the rights to religious worship and assembly of its citizens are being threatened by extremism. We also wish to highlight apparent State complicity, and the level of impunity repeatedly granted by the State to extremist elements in the country. We urge law enforcement authorities to ensure strict adherence to rule of law and prosecute those who are responsible for these heinous crimes, in the existence of abundant evidence put forward by both the public and the media. In addition, we are very disturbed to see continued Police inaction and delays in responding to incidents of racist mob violence, which is a clear indication of State complicity, and the lack of any interest by Defense Authorities to hold perpetrators accountable. We welcome and endorse the open letter of protest by Muslim members of the Government addressed to the President of Sri Lanka, and share their view that "the lukewarm and ineffective measures taken by the law enforcement agencies on previous occasions, when Muslim communities and their mosques were deliberately attacked, seem to have emboldened some extremist groups who seem determined to create chaos in the country that is still in search of national reconciliation after a prolonged war." Further, we call on the Government to investigate into and hold accountable those responsible for the brutal killing of three youth in Weliweriya earlier this month, when the State sent in the military to quell a civilian protest calling for clean water. In light of reports of media suppression and violence against media personnel reporting from the scene, we strongly urge law enforcement authorities and the protestors to respect the freedom of the press, and to take all measures to ensure their safety. We wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured in this attack, and commend the calm resilience demonstrated by many of those who were victimised.

Signatures; 1. A.H. Stephen - Deputy Secretary General, Liberal Party of Sri Lanka 2. A.M. Faaiz Attorney-at-Law 3. A.S. Mohamed Rayees 4. Ainslie Joseph - Convenor, Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA) 5. Aisha Ajmal Wahab - Student 6. Aisha Nazim 7. Ajmal Wahab Partner, Bullion Exchange Jewellers 8. Amal de Chickera 9. Amar Gunatilleke 10.Ameena Hussein 11.Anandi Devendrakumary 12.Anberiya Hanifa 13.Anitha Selvarajah 14.Ann Jabba 15.Anoma de Alwis 16.Anton Marcus Trade Unionist 17.Antonio A. Oposa Jr. - (Philippines) 18.Anukshi Jayasinha 19.Anushya Coomaraswamy 20.Athula Samarakoon - Open University of Sri Lanka 21.Ayeshea Perera 22.Azra Abdul Cader 23.B. Gowthaman 24.Balasingham Skanthakumar 25.Bannu Ifthikar 26.Bhathiya Waduge - Director/Structural Engineer, CSE Consultants (Pvt) Ltd. 27.Bhavani Fonseka 28.C. Gadiewasam Journalist

29.Cayathri. D. 30.Chamindry Saparamadu 31.Chandra Jayaratne - Former Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce 32.Chandraguptha Thenuwara 33.Chandralal Colombage 34.Cheran Rudhramoorthy 35.Chulani Kodikara 36.D.B.S. Jeyaraj Journalist 37.Damaris Wickremesekera

38. Danesh Casie Chetty - Ambassador (Retd.)

39.Deanne Uyangoda 40.Devika Colombo 41.Dileepa Witharana -Open University of Sri Lanka 42.Dinesha Samararatne - University of Colombo 43.Dinidu de Alwis 44.Dinouk Colombage - Journalist 45.Dr. A.M. Ali Saja Doctor 46.Dr. Anita Nesiah - National Peace Council (NPC) 47.Dr. Danesh Karunanayake - Senior Lecturer, University of Peradeniya 48.Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka - Former Ambassador to the UN in Geneva 49.Dr. Leonie Solomons - Social Entrepreneur 50.Dr. Muhammed Muzzammil Cader - SAMADANA/M, Centre for Promoting NonViolence, Conflict Resolution & Peace Building 51.Dr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan - Development Economist & Principal Researcher, Point Pedro Institute of Development 52.Dr. Neavis Morais - Senior Lecturer, Open University of Sri Lanka 53.Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu 54.Dr. Ranil D. Guneratne - University of Colombo 55.Dr. Sepali Kottegoda 56.Dr. Shamala Kumar - University of Peradeniya

57.Dr. Sunil Wijesiriwardena 58.Dr. T. Jayasingam National Peace Council (NPC) 59.Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara - Senior Research Professional, Centre for Poverty Analysis 60.Dr. Vivimarie VanderPoorten Medawattegedera - Senior Lecturer, Open University of Sri Lanka 61.Dr. Zulfika Ismail 62.Emil van der Poorten 63.Faizun Zackariya 64.Freddy Gamage - Meepura Newspaper/Center for Peoples Dialogue

65. Furkhan Bee Ifthikar

66.Gamini Viyangoda 67.Gavin Britto - Co-Founder, RuCode International 68.Harean Hettiarachchi 69.Harini Amarsuriya - Open University of Sri Lanka 70.Harith de Mel Attorney-at-Law 71.Hashintha Jayasinghe - Graduate 72.Herman Kumara - National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) 73.Hilary Perera Wirasinha DoC 74.Hilmy Ahamed 75.Ifthikhar Aziz - President, Sri Lanka Pakistan Friendship Association 76.Isuru Perera - Social Research Supervisor 77.Jake Oorloff 78.Janaki Jayawardena - University of Colombo 79.Jansila Majeed 80.Jayantha Dhanapala 81.Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala - Women and Media Collective 82.Jayatilaka Kammallaweera 83.Jehan Perera National Peace Council (NPC) 84.Jehanki Anandha 85.Jeyachithra Selambaram

86.Joe William 87.Joel Fernando - Business Development Manager, Insu Trading International 88.Juwariya Mohideen - Muslim Women's Development Trust 89.K. Aingkaran - Attorney-at-Law 90.K.S. Ratnavale Attorney-at-Law 91.Kath Noble 92.Krishna Velupillai 93.Kumudini Perera 94.Kumudini Samuel 95.Kusal Perera Journalist 96.Lakshan Dias Attorney-at-Law 97.Leila Udayar 98.Liyanage Amarakeerthi 99.Lucia Nicholas 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. M. Rahman - Mannar M.A. Sumanthiran Member of Parliament & Attorney-at-Law Mahaluxumy Kurushanthan - Mannar Mahendran Thiruvarangan Mala Liyanage - Executive Director, Law and Society Trust Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema - Journalist/President, Sri Lanka Journalists' Trade Union (SLJTU) M. Mangaleswary - Attorney-at-Law Mano Ganesan Convener, Civil Monitoring Commission (CivilMC) Manouri Pieris - Attorney-at-Law Marianne David Mario Gomez Marisa de Silva Mathuri Thamilmaran - Attorney-at-Law Melani Manel Perera Melisha Yapa

115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. 144.

Menaha Kandasamy Michael O'Leary - Freelance Writer Michelle Pinto Minna Thaheer Mirak Raheem Mohammed Ajiwadeen - Research Officer/Parliament of Sri Lanka Mohamed Ajwaad Mohamed Fazal - National Peace Council (NPC) Mohammed Mahuruf - Secretariat for Muslims Nadeesh Jayasinghe Nalliah Kumaraguruparan Ashokbharan - Law Student Nigel Nugawela Nilshan Fonseka Nimalka Fernando - Women's Political Academy (Sri Lanka) Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri Nirmanusan Balasundaram Nishelli Perera - Senior Strategy Analyst P.A.R. Anuruddha P.N. Singham Padmika Dissanaike Padmini Weerasooriya - Mothers and Daughters of Lanka Philip Setunga Prabu Deepan Priti Sudra Priya Thangarajah Prof. Kumar David Prof. M. Sitralega Prof. Navaratna Bandara Prof. Priyan Dias - University of Moratuwa Prof. Sumanasiri Liyanage Principal (Retd.), Marx School Prof. Qadri Ismail

145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162. 163. 164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. 170. 171. 172.

Pushpalatha Paramasivam R.M.B. Senanayake - National Peace Council (NPC) Raashid Riza Raghu Balachandran Rajaluxmi Visvasam Rajani Chandrasekaran - Jaffna Rajiva Wijesinha Member of Parliament Ramla Ajmal Wahab - International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) Remo Shihan Renton de Alwis - Former Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Rev. Dr. Jayasiri Peiris Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos Rev. Fr. S.V.B.Mangalarajah - Chairman, Justice & Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Jaffna Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga Rev. Fr. Reid Shelton Fernando Rev. Fr. S. M. Praveen (OMI) Rev. Fr. Sebamalai Rev. Fr. Sherard Jayawardane Rev. Fr. Terrence Fernando Rev. Fr. V. Yogeswaran - Centre for the Promotion & Protection of Human Rights (CPPHR), Trincomalee Rev. Jason J. Selvaraja - Assembly of God, Chavakachcheri Rev. Sr. Deepa Fernando (HF) Rev. Sr. Helen Fernando Rev. Sr. Immaculate de Alwis Riza Yehiya Rohana Ratnayake - Senior Lecturer in Law, Open University of Sri Roshni Alles Ruki Fernando Lanka

173. 174. 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181. 182. 183. 184. 185. 186. 187. 188. 189. 190. 191. 192. 193. 194. 195. 196. 197. 198. 199. 200. 201.

Rushdi Jaleel Khan Ruvan Weerasinghe - University of Colombo Ruzaina Mahuruf S.A.M. Jabir S.C.A. Obeyesekere Safana Gul Begum Sahan Mendis Saliya Pieris - Attorney-at-Law Sampath Samarakoon Sanja Jayatilleka Sanjana Hattotuwa Sanjaya Senanayake Selyna Peiris Attorney-at-Law Shanthini Kanapathy Shariz Faleel Manager - Finance & Administration, Secretariat for Muslims (Guarantee) Ltd Sharni Jayawardena Shiromalee Perera Shreen Saroor - Women's Action Network Shri Shankar Subramaniam Shyamala Gomez Shyara Jaleel Khan Siritunga Jayasuriya - General Secretary, United Socialist Party Sivamohan Sumathy Srinath Perera - Attorney-at-Law Subashini Ramesh Sulakshani Perera Sunanda Deshapriya Journalist Sunil Jayasekera Supipi Jayawardena - Researcher & Lecturer

202. 203. 204. 205. 206. 207. 208. 209. 210. 211. 212. 213. 214. 215. 216. 217. 218.

Swarnalatha Subramaniam Tehani Ariyaratne Thahir Kubais Thajun Mohamed Nishan - One Text Initiative Thanuka Nandasiri Attorney-at-Law Thiruni Kelegama Tony Senewiratne Chairman, National Peace Council (NPC) U.L. Jaufer Upali Pannilage - Senior Lecturer, University of Ruhuna Upeksha Thabrew Upul Wickramasinghe V. Jokeswaran - Teacher V.S. Ganesalingam Attorney-at-Law Vanni Simon - Affected Women's Forum, Ampara Venuri Perera Visaka Dharmadasa - Association of War Affected Women Wasaam Ismail