Video: Sad to see religion being misused: Pillay

30 August 2013 10:33 am - 25 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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While expressing concern over the youth suicide rate in the country, the United Nation Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay said she was disturbed when religion was misused to mobilise young people of one community against another.

The visiting United Nation Human Rights Commissioner expressed these views when addressing the Sri Lanka Youth Parliament.

She said the authorities should take adequate action to end youth suicide, which was high in the country.

“I was so sad to learn that Sri Lanka has such a high rate of youth suicide, and I really urge the government to find ways to address this issue and change such despair into hope and I’m disturbed when religion is misused to mobilise young people of one community against another,” Ms. Pillay said.

She said she was happy to hear about young people from all the communities getting together to defend independent universities, to fight discrimination against women or people with different sexual identities or orientations and to say no to ethnic and religious violence. (LSP & SM)

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Comments - 25

Namal Perera Friday, 30 August 2013 02:03 PM

In this corrupt lawless Banana Republic not only Religion everything you can name, from Power to what ever, is misused. Law & order and any other service applies to citizens on the basis who they know, what political connections you have. You can commit murder and become a supporter of the corrupt Regime to escape punishment. Unless we rediscover our lost democratic Sri Lanka soon, we all will loose our mother Lanka.

SunethTRP Saturday, 31 August 2013 12:25 PM

So #Grace, you point being, because other countries too misuse religion for political gains, Sri Lanka too can do it, right? Brilliant!

southpaw Saturday, 31 August 2013 12:10 PM

Its not surprising that by creating Religious conflict this Government can take away people attention on its own shortcomings

rohana Saturday, 31 August 2013 10:08 AM

That's v true. good comment.

ramani Saturday, 31 August 2013 10:07 AM

What fate don't they do that in the whole wide world. Pillay talks as if she is born yesterday. She is deemed to have a learned person and its sad to see her uttering this type of rubbish. I hope she made it a point to meet the people who lost their kith and kin when the tamil terrorists used suicide bombers in Colombo.

faithful Saturday, 31 August 2013 12:00 AM

Religion is the opium of the POLITICIANS!

Grace Friday, 30 August 2013 06:15 PM

Not only in Sri Lanka but also there are other countries where religion is being misused for political gains.

Dharmapala Friday, 30 August 2013 04:13 PM

Dear Mr; Have you ever read about wellassa war against Britain?The truth after war never published why? More than 60000 killed in war.More than 12 Devalaya still down to earth and lands belong to Devalaya had been taken by the government.The British administration had been gazette what they will do for the people who suffered in war.Still in the dust bin . No mass media support on this matters.Thanks for listen.Dharmapala

MagodisThuma Friday, 30 August 2013 03:52 PM

Religion is the root of all the evil...God save me from your followers !

mercy Friday, 30 August 2013 03:08 PM

Madam its tottaly in your hand to picture the good as bad and vise versa . As a sincere human being be honest,objective and balanced in your report . If grave voilations have indeed occured rasie them up witout beig country biased . Sri lanka has produced exempalry international statesmen guiding international peace.

Ranjith Senanayake Friday, 30 August 2013 02:57 PM

Let us face.... It's the fact of life in Sri Lanka now... Thanks to BBS

Manel Friday, 30 August 2013 02:31 PM

In 1956 SLFP politicians used language discrimination and we paid for 30 years and now is the history going to repeat.

kudda Friday, 30 August 2013 02:16 PM

The youth should learn from past mistakes of the then leaders who ruined the future of their parents. The future is now in their own hands. If they are smart enough they will not be needing to cow down to Navi Pillays of the future. Follow the racists amongst us and you will be in the same boat 30 yrs from now. YOUR CHOICE puthune!

suresh Friday, 30 August 2013 10:37 AM

Hope she knows its not one sided

xlntgson Friday, 30 August 2013 01:41 PM

Is communal vote bank, stable?

saradiyal Friday, 30 August 2013 01:12 PM

Her visit may not be good for the regime, but what she has spoken so far is good for the people of this country. The sad story is that someone from outside had to come and tell the government to address problems in the country whereas it is the duty of the government to look after the well being of the people.

Kapila Friday, 30 August 2013 12:51 PM

Thanks Ashokan for your good judgement.

poorna Friday, 30 August 2013 12:21 PM

yep ashokan that;s the true..

unchikun Friday, 30 August 2013 12:20 PM

Unfortunately Sri Lankans are a very selfish people. This in addition poor short sighted politics leads to violence.

Ashokan Friday, 30 August 2013 11:34 AM

Madam, Sinhala youth are broad-minded and they do not cherry-pick when it comes to humanity. Only certain politicians are trying to misguide them.

FOX Friday, 30 August 2013 11:25 AM

MADAM! THIS IS A BIG FATE OF THIS COUNTRY

Suq Madique Friday, 30 August 2013 11:18 AM

And its sad to see Pillay being misused by the diaspora and other anti-Lanka elements.

Hk Friday, 30 August 2013 11:11 AM

Good move by youth !

Prof Hemantha Wickra Friday, 30 August 2013 11:01 AM

I am Buddhist, but what you say is true

Gon Haraka Friday, 30 August 2013 10:55 AM

her visit can't be good to SL - I see the Bad moon rising ( I mean ban ki moon)

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Video: Sad to see religion being misused: Pillay

Comments - 25

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