Ravana Balaya, a Sinhala Buddhist organisation, announced that it will be supporting incumbent Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the forthcoming presidential elections, on Sunday.
ColomboPage reported that the announcement was made at the annual Ravana Balaya congress that was held in Colombo. The leader of the organisation, Buddhist monk Iththakande Saddhathissa, reportedly vowed to defeat opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena, stating that his candidacy was an attempt to cause division amongst Sinhala leaders.
The announcement follows another Sinhala Buddhist group, Boda Bala Sena, pledging their “unconditional support” to Mahinda Rajapaksa. See more here.
Also see more of Ravana Balaya's activities in the past year in our earlier posts:
Buddhist monks invade Bureau of Foreign Employment (16 October 2014)
Buddhist group launches 4 day anti-Christian campaign in Sri Lanka (17 July 2014)
Buddhist monks take over Religious Affairs Ministry (28 May 2014)
Monks protest outside UK High Commission (21 November 2013)
Buddhist monks police Colombo (16 June 2013)
Outrage over lack of reverence for Lanka (09 June 2013)
Buddhists oppose Indian plans for Sita temple in Sri Lanka (04 June 2013)
Buddhists charge cricketers with 'betraying country' (26 May 2013)
Sinhala group force Cyclone Mahasen name change (13 May 2013)
Buddhists threaten Sri Lankan cricketers (03 April 2013)
Sri Lankan group’s threat to Indian Tamils (22 March 2013)