The Chairman of Islamic Solidarity Front (ISF) Reyyaz Salley

Recently, a group of Sinhalese and Muslims expressed extremism religious thoughts against each other defaming the other's religion had caused severe unrest and tense situation among the Sri Lankans. And I, as a Muslim of Sri Lanka on behalf of the whole community severely condemn the act of Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamath (SLTJ) for defaming Buddhism and its philosophies.
Currently, racism is being spread faster than contagious illnesses and if no action by the government is taken on time, it seems the hard-won peace of Sri Lanka will be put to test again. It is high time for the government to take stern action against people who are involved in the attempt of spreading racism on one another, regardless of their social statuses.
It is well disturbing, and disheartening in the meantime that people of Sri Lanka fight for their religions defaming each other to which an end should be put immediately. No religion for sure encourages being separated from the very society that lives within and to defame and disgrace the other to show one is superior. All communities and religions encourage to be united and portray 'unity is strength' unless the extremists in every religion.
Therefore, we would like to acknowledge the country and its people that almost 99.9 percent of us are aginst the group of people who try to follow and spread their extremist policies among us. Hence we demand the SLTJ to apologize for defaming Buddhism and ensure that no such event will reoccur.
The Minister for Industries and Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen in the parliament last week guaranteed that no Sri Lankan Muslim will Join the international fighters and pose a threat to the national security of the country.
However, we Muslims and Sinhalese have a long record of history where both the communities lived in peace and harmony with strong brotherhoods.  Lorna Srimathie Dewaraja in one of her books named 'The Muslims of Sri Lanka: One Thousand Years of Ethnic Harmony, 900-1915' notes that Muslims have one thousand years of peaceful history in Sri Lanka where they managed a very good relationship with Sinhalese throughout this long period of history. Lorna Dewaraja further contends that Muslim people and Sinhalese kings had an amicable relationship from the ancient time right through Kandyan epoch. The kings of Sri Lanka reckoned that Muslim traders were economically and politically an asset and for that reason Kings not only gave permission for Muslims to settled in Sri Lanka but also guaranteed their safety and security (Dewaraja. P.4)
The writer further notes that a Muslim lobby was under operation in the Sri Lankan court to advise the king on overseas trade policy from the Anuradhapura to Kandyan times. They also kept the king informed of development abroad. "The Muslim traders with their navigational skills and overseas contacts became the secret channel of communication between the court and the outside world” (Dewaraja.P.8).
“Having said that, as Muslims we guarantee peace and harmony will not be ruined in the country by our own community and, it is the responsibility of the government of Sri Lanka and its law practicing authorities to wipe out extremism to bring in peace and good governance as promised.”