Daily NEWS Srilanka

Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe has emphasized that it is ludicrous to note that certain Western countries which express views on religious freedom in Sri Lanka are unaware of bars to religious freedom elsewhere.

The Minister was speaking at the launch of construction work on a new Hindu Kovil replacing the 60-year old dilapidated Pattini Hindu Kovil at the Payagala Estate in Kalutara. Project Minister Nirmala Kotalawala was present on the occasion. 4.5 million rupees will be spent on the construction of the Kovil. The contribution of South Indian architects will be solicited in building it.

Further expressing his views on the occasion, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said it is pathetic to note that countries which level human rights allegations against Sri Lanka have not taken cognizance of their own human rights violations.

The Minister recalled the allegation that was made by Navaneethan Pillay that a Buddhist Flag had been placed near the statue of the Late Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake. In Norway an adherent of the Protestant faith is barred from religious conversion. The Minister accused that she had failed to observe that when the British Parliament and the US Congress, a pastor performs religious observances. It is also the same in Norway. But it is not so in Sri Lanka. The Parliament does not commence proceedings after administering Pansil. This is because all religions have been assured freedom in the Constitution. But the Minister underscored that there is no such religious freedom in countries which make human rights allegations against Sri Lanka.