Thursday, 14 August 2014 01:16
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The Police yesterday dispersed a group of extremist Buddhist monks led by Bodu Bala Sena secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero who arrived in Muslim-dominated Maligawatte area to clash with a Muslim organisation protesting against Israel.
The BBS monks argued with the police not to allow the Muslims to hold protest demonstration from Maligawatte to Colombo Fort.
Police had obtained an injunction against demonstrations in the Colombo Fort and Pettah areas and did not allow the demonstrators to enter the prohibited area.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court issued restraining orders on the Thowheed Jamath, Bodu Bala Sena and Sihala Ravaya organisations preventing them from holding demonstrations and protests in the Colombo and the Colombo Fort areas. The Buddhist monks had a heated argument with the police who then removed the monks amidst heightened tensions.
The Muslims belonging to the Thowheed Jamath organisation who were demonstrating against Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip blocked the road and held a rally against Israel. Leaders of the Muslim organisation attacked BBS as pro-Israelis, while the BBS countered by saying that the Thowheed Jamath is a dangerous organisation that has links to jihadists in Tamil Nadu.
