Sri Lanka’s Muslims have strongly condemned the destruction of Buddhist statues by Islamic extremists in the Maldives.

Mubharak Abdul Majeed, President of the Sri Lankan Muslim organization Ulema Kacchi, condemned the vandalism, saying “Muslims in Sri Lanka unequivocally condemn any acts of vandalism committed against other religions.”

A Buddha statue from the Maldives, on display in the Sri Lanka National Museum, Colombo 2011

Parliamentarian A.H.M. Azwer said ”This is an act of insanity committed by extremist elements. There is no place in Islam to harm any other religion. Islam teaches complete tolerance of other religious rights and customs.”

“The Muslim fraternity in Sri Lanka vehemently condemns the damage caused Buddhist statues in the Maldives by extremist gangs,” said Sri Lanka’s Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana today, “They [Sri Lanka's Muslims] voiced their anger over this dastardly act. The Muslim community in Sri Lanka always respects other religions.”

Sri Lanka’s national newspaper Daily News also reports that Governor Alavi Moulana said that Muslims are blessed with an opportunity of coexisting with other religions.