Pointing out that the Bodu Bala Sena’s disruption of a press conference aimed at forging national harmony and the abuse of Ven. Vatareka Vijitha Thero were a clear breach of the country’s laws, the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) today sought the intervention of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in conducting a probe into the incident.

“We wish to bring to you kind attention the continued intimidation and hate mongering carried out by the Bodu Bala Sena led by Ven. Galaboda-Aththe Gnanasara Thero and a few other extremist groups against the minority communities and others who speak up against their hate campaigns,” it said in an open letter to the Defence Secretary.

The BBS organization on April 09 had disrupted a media conference organized by the Jathika Bala Senava General Secretary Ven. Vatareka Vijitha Thero.

“The Jathika Bala Sena is an interfaith group committed to fostering peaceful coexistence amongst the different ethnic communities in Sri Lanka. Members of the Muslim religious leadership too participated at this event on the invitation of the Jathika Bala Senava,” MCSL said.

Ven. Gnanasara Thero and other prominent members of the Bodu Bala Sena raided the media conference, intimidated and abused Jathika Bala Senava General Secretary Ven. Vatareka Vijitha Thero and the Muslim religious leaders, who were present to show their solidarity with the organizers’ effort towards ethnic reconciliation and co-existence, it said.

The Muslim Council said that the Bodu Bala Sena’s disruption of the press conference to forge national harmony and intimidation of those present are a clear breach of the country’s laws.

“Further, their total disregard for the police and the disruption of a media conference organized at a private venue is a clear breach of the law. Their ability to intimidate citizens of this country with impunity is of grave concern to all peace loving Sri Lankans,” it said in the letter.

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka therefore requested the Defence Secretary’s intervention in conducting an “immediate inquiry” in to the said incident and “ensure extremist groups do not take the law into their own hands and violate the rights of peaceful citizens of this country”.


The full text of the letter has been produced below:



Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa,
Secretary, Ministry of Defense,
Colombo 1.

Dear Sir,

We wish to bring to you kind attention the continued intimidation and hate mongering carried out by the Bodu Bala Sena led by Ven. Galaboda-Aththe Gnanasara Thero and a few other extremist groups against the minority communities and others who speak up against their hate campaigns.

The most recent incident was the disruption by the Bodu Bala Sena of a media conference on the 9th of April 2014, organized by the Jathika Bala Senava General Secretary Ven. Vatareka Vijitha Thero. The Jathika Bala Sena is an interfaith group committed to fostering peaceful coexistence amongst the different ethnic communities in Sri Lanka. Members of the Muslim religious leadership too participated at this event on the invitation of the Jathika Bala Senava.

Ven. Gnanasara Thero and other prominent members of the Bodu Bala Sena raided the media conference, intimidated and abused Jathika Bala Senava General Secretary Ven. Vatareka Vijitha Thero and the Muslim religious leaders, who were present to show their solidarity with the organizers’ effort towards ethnic reconciliation and co-existence.

Sir, you have always maintained that you will deal with anyone who violates the law. As you would have seen from media reports on the above, the Bodu Bala Sena’s disruption of this press conference to forge national harmony and intimidation of those present are a clear breach of the country’s laws. Further, their total disregard for the police and the disruption of a media conference organized at a private venue is a clear breach of the law. Their ability to intimidate citizens of this country with impunity is of grave concern to all peace loving Sri Lankans.

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka requests your kind intervention in conducting an immediate inquiry in to the said incident and ensure extremist groups do not take the law into their own hands and violate the rights of peaceful citizens of this country.

We thank you for your kind consideration and look forward to your decisive intervention.


Yours Sincerely

N.M. Ameen
President
Muslim Council of Sri Lanka