Bodu Bala Sena regrets acts committed by others in its name by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation yesterday said that an organised group of extremists, with the intention of tarnishing its name, had carried out attacks on Muslims at several places in the country.

 

"We want to ensure the harmony of Sri Lanka’s traditional Muslim and Sinhala people, but an organised small group is trying to tarnish our image by committing provocative acts in the name of the Bodu Bala Sena," BBS leader Ven. Kirama Vimalajothi thera told a press conference in Colombo yesterday.

 

"We as Buddhists condemn these attacks and express our regret to the Muslims if those anti-Muslim activities, which caused inconvenience and a feeling of insecurity, had been committed by fellow men of our religion," he said.

 

Ven. Vimalajthi said that the BBS did not have anything against other religions in Sri Lanka and was never involved in any anti-Muslim acts in Maharagama or elsewhere.

 

BBS General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara thera said that they met President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday.

 

"We handed over five proposals endorsed by the Maha Sangha at a Convention in July at the BMICH," he said.

 

Gnanasara thera said that President, too, appreciated their proposals.

 

BBS Coordinator Dr. Dilanthe Withanage said some media personnel too worked to tarnish the image of the BBS.

 

Citing an example, he said, a Sinhala newspaper published one of their statements incorrectly as a lead story last week.

 

Dr. Withanage said that some people called the Bodu Bala Sena organisation a terrorist group.

 

"Terrorists fight while hiding, but we are always open to the public," he said.

source www.island.lk