We see certain nations where religious hatred is prevalent with ‘honor killings’. People are killed because they marry people of different faiths or if they themselves convert to a different religion. Because of their choices they are persecuted and killed. These honor killings take place in Middle Eastern countries and in parts of India. However in Sri Lanka, you do not see this often,” stated De Lanerolle.
De Lanerolle pointed out that as a religious leader he wants to make the public aware, not only for Christians but for people of other religious faiths as well, to be able to exercise their fundamental rights.
“People should be able to believe what they want to believe and practice it without persecution of hindrance. The Apostolic Diocese of Sri Lanka has 400 churches in Sri Lanka. As a Christian leader I want to make the public aware of this not only for Christian rights but across the board. Communities have to be educated not just about tolerance but about love, kindness and dialogue between religions,” he added.
The Daily News also spoke to the brother (Amirthlingam Kandasamy) and sister in law (Suppaya Lingaswary) of Janani Kandasamy 22, who was killed by her adopted mother Sinnathamby Manikkam.
When the murder took place, Janani’s brother Amirthalingam Kandasamy was in Colombo on a passport matter, as he was planning to go abroad. On the 31st at 7.30pm, he got into the bus from Colombo, and on the 1st at 4.30am got off at Kalmunei . He told his wife Suppaya Lingeswary that he would arrive at 4.30am, and wanted her to come on a motorcycle to the bus stand and pick him up.
Janani and her mother lived in a camp at Ampara, while Amirthalingam and Suppaya lived in another house within a short distance.
“When I was getting ready to leave, I saw Janani’s mother (Sinnathamby) and her sister in the vicinity, and they hailed me. She (Sinnathamby) told me that around 12 midnight she had an argument with Janani, and that Janani had run out of the house. I told them that I would drop them off at the church, thinking that Janani had taken refuge in the church. But they did not agree to that, so I went to pick up my husband. (Amirthlingam),” said Suppaya Lingeswary. When Suppaya and Amirthalingam came home at dawn, there were a crowd of five people near the house, as the news of Janani’s disappearance had spread through the village.
“I asked my mother where Janani was, and she maintained her story that there was an argument and Janani had fled. However at the back of the house I saw what appeared to be a newly dug up grave. Suspicion arose when my mother said that she had buried a dog there. But it was apparent that this could not be a dog. Also previously I had overheard a phone conversation, where my mother had made a sinister comment, that she would kill Janani,” said Amirthalingam
Amirthalingam and Supppaya believe this killing was religiously motivated, because Janani had taken to practicing Christianity. Even though she got married [another religion], she had practiced Christianity before and faced a lot of objection from the mother and husband when she intended to continue practicing.
“This prompted us to go to the cemetery, thinking that there was some sort of a spirit in Janani. My mother-in-law told us not to interfere and let things be. Even though my mother in law tried to deter us, at 9.00am on the 1st morning,we lodged an entry at the police station,” stated Suppaya.
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