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Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa attended a Buddhist religious ceremony to invoke blessings upon Sri Lanka’s armed forces this week, reported the Ministry of Defence.
His visit comes amid increased tension across the island, following attacks on Muslims by Sinhala Buddhist mobs. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is also the brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been closely linked to the Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena, an influential group accused of masterminding much of the violence.
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Just hours after the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary’s appearance at the ceremony, a flagship Muslim store was torched by petrol bombs, and there were reports of attacks on Muslims businesses and mosques across the island.
The ceremony on Friday was a “ceremonial religious blessing to protect the nation, its people and the armed forces”, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The MoD added “the entire ceremony had been co-ordinated and organized by the armed forces, police and the civil defence force in collaboration with the Avant-Garde Security Service Company”.