Conspiracy to cancel Gnanasara Thero’s visa to Australia: BBS

Wednesday, 23 July 2014 00:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The hardline Bodu Bala Sena organisation has criticised efforts by certain groups to get its General Secretary Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thero’s Australian visa cancelled, calling it a ‘third class act’. “There are extremist groups and Muslim organisations behind the moves to get his visa cancelled,” BBS CEO Dilantha Withanage told a media conference yesterday.

A letter had been sent to Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, to be passed on to all Australian MPs both at federal and state level, asking him not to permit Gnanasara Thero entry into the country. The letter claims that Gnanasara Thero is suspected of being involved in criminal conduct and the Aluthgama violence against Muslims, the BBS CEO told journalists. “No court has convicted him. How can they call him a criminal? Is that democratic? Does it adhere to human rights and other values?” he charged. Withanage said that the letter noted that Gnanasara Thero’s organisation has links with Burma’s extremist monk, Wirathu. Withanage said he had no idea there were so many Muslims living in Australia, given the large number of Muslim groups operating in the country. “Nine of these organisations have written to the Australian Government, urging it not to grant Gnanasara Thero a visa. It is a surprising act,” he charged. The BBS CEO said Gnanasara Thero is being made famous among the Australian Government thanks to the Muslim groups. Withanage noted that Gnanasara Thero was scheduled to travel to Australia in October this year, in order to attend certain religious events in the country. Days after the riots in Aluthgama, the US Government moved to cancel the controversial BBS monk’s five-year multiple entry visa granted in 2011, informing him through its Embassy in Colombo that he would have to apply for a fresh visa if he wished to travel to the United States. (DB)