Ranil calls for full investigation into Mahabodhi explosions

Wednesday, 10 July 2013 00:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says he has been questioned by the CID for writing books about Buddhism in SL

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent Two days after some multiple blasts that ripped through the Mahabodhi temple in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya, that left five people injured, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe brought to the notice of the House how he had been questioned recently by the Criminal Investigation Department for writing a two books on Buddhism.

“I have written two books – how Siddhartha Gauthama became the Buddha under the same Bo tree in Bihar and how King Dharmashoka became a Buddhist having abandoned conquering. The Police questioned me for writing these books, which I bring to the notice of the Speaker of the Parliament. According to Article 9 of our constitution we are to protect Buddhism. But when I write about Buddhism I get questioned. If this has happened to me, I cannot speak for the fate of others who write about Buddhism,” Wickremesinghe charged. The Opposition Leader called on the Indian Government and the Bihar Provincial Government to tighten security at the sacred Buddhist site and conduct a full scale investigation to the incident. In response Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had already spoken to the Chief Minister of the Bihar Provincial Government and that the Central Government of India is conducting an investigation. “According to the current findings, this incident has no connection to Sri Lanka. I don’t think the Government of Sri Lanka is responsible for this in anyway,” Minister Peiris said.