The Buddhist monk group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and several other Sinhala-Buddhist organisations are engaging in social media campaigns promoting Minister Champika Ranawaka as the next President of Sri Lanka.
Ranawaka is a member of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), the monk-led Sinhala nationalist and influential political party.
According to Asian Mirror, BBS backed social media pages stated the need for a "Sinhalese President" to rescue Sri Lanka.
In his controversial speech before the anti-Muslim violence in Aluthgama, BBS General Secretary Gnanasara criticised the appointment of a Muslim to the post of Minister of Justice, further saying:
"In this country, everyone has leader, except us, the Sinhalese. The Marakkalayas ( a derogatory way of addressing Muslims) have leaders. Tamils have leaders. But we, the Sinhalese, do not have a leader."