Sri Lanka’s police allowed an event by the Bodu Bala Sena to go ahead earlier today (Monday), reports The Island, whilst a protest by Muslims against the violence, also scheduled for today, was called off after police warned that this could further inflame religious tension.
Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said on Sunday that the BBS event would not be stopped as it was a "religious event", but that action would be taken if racism was incited.
When contacted by the Island, the Chief Executive Officer of the BBS, Dilanthe Vithanage, said on Sunday that they were planning to hold the religious event with the participation of 300 to 400 Buddhist monks from Mahiyanganaya, Colombo and Kandy.
The BBS, a group led by Buddhist monks, has previously held rallies with inflammatory speeches, recently leading to violence against Muslims in the Sinhala south, leaving at least 4 people dead.