BBS leaders to visit US

Executive committee member of Sri Lanka’s extremist Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation Dilantha Vithanage announced that a group of BBS delegates will soon visit the United States.

The visitors include BBS Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero and National Organiser Witharandeniye Nanda Thero.

Vithanage told the media that the purpose of the visit was to construct a worldwide BBS network.

The BBS is a hard-line anti-US and anti-western Sinhala Buddhist organisation that recently launched a wave of hate campaigns against Muslims.

The organisation’s vehement campaign succeeded in withdrawing the official Halal certification from food items and has vowed to fight to ban traditional head scarves worn by Muslim women.

The militant-like organisation recently harassed a BBC journalist and illegally held a Muslim journalist who was covering one of their rallies held in Maharagama.

The Bodu Bala Sena’s hardline attitude towards other religions has drawn concern from moderate Sri Lankans who fear that a Taliban-like group is likely to be formed if the government and civil society fail to take action against the group. (Colombo Page)