Tamils and Muslims living in Toronto protested together on Monday against anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka. The demonstration against attacks on Muslims by Sinhala Buddhist mobs was held in Scarborough and organised jointly by Tamil and Muslim Tamil community organisations. Photograph ekuruvi.com
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.
The Secretary of the Buddhist monk group, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), denied that BBS was responsible for the recent anti-Muslim violence in Aluthgama, reports Colombo Page . In a press conference held on Saturday, Galadodaaththe Gnanasero, warned Sinhala Buddhist "not to be misled by rumours since the clashes only benefited the elements that are against the nation." Denying any association with the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Gnanasero reportedly said, "the BBS had not carried out anybody's contracts" and claimed that the controversial rally that preceded the violence was not organised by BBS, but the Sasanarakshaka Balamandala.
The UK "had no right to force its will upon Sri Lanka" said the Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammanpila, s lamming a statement made by the British High Commissioner John Rankin urging Sri Lanka to cooperate with the international inquiry. His comments were reproduced in an article published by the state newspaper DailyNews.lk, entitled - " Has H.C no respect? ". "The true war criminals are in the United Kingdom and not in Sri Lanka. That is why the British Government under pressure appointed the Commission to investigate into the war crimes committed by the British in Afghanistan...
The Sri Lankan President warned that "international forces are engaged in concerted efforts to destabilise the country” urging people “like we sing in our national anthem, let us join hands like the children of one mother”, reports the Sunday Times. “I respectfully request all brotherly citizens of this country to understand this grave situation and work towards building friendship and co-existence among communities,” he said in a pre-recorded address, which was broadcast following a meeting with Muslim ministers in Badulla regarding the anti-Muslim violence, on Saturday.
A Buddhist monk who was found tied up and beaten last week had ‘self-inflicted’ injuries, claimed the Sri Lankan police. Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told a media briefing that Watareka Vijitha Thera, who has found badly beaten with his hands and legs tied with saffron robes, had staged the attack. Rohana went on to add that the monk had inflicted the wounds on himself using keys and blades, and that the police would be taking legal action against him.
Marine Police in Tamil Nadu have filed an attempted murder case against the Sri Lankan Navy earlier this week, for the sinking of an Indian boat which forced five fishermen to jump into the sea. The police of the Coastal Security Group (CSG) filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the Sri Lankan Navy, charging them with damaging the fishermen’s property and with attempted murder.
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.
A Muslim-owned clothing store has been destroyed in a suspected arson attack on Saturday morning with reports of further attacks on mosques and Muslim businesses across the island.
A group of unidentified persons carried out an attack on a mosque in Jaffna in the early hours of Saturday morning, in a spate of attacks carried out on Muslims places of worship and businesses across the island.