Wijeyadasa denies giving refuge to BBS head

Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday rejected media reports accusing him of providing refuge to Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagodatte Gnanasara Thero.

The Minister, rejecting support of the BBS General Secretary, said: “There is no reason for me to give refuge but I have been accused by the media of harbouring him. I have been also accused of making use of my powers as Minister of Justice to provide him with safe refuge. This is false.

“Now, there is a pertinent question I could ask from those who invented this story. During 2010-2014 the BBS was at its height and that was the era the highest number of incidents of religious violence were reported. But even after serious attacks, including the Dharga Town incident, why was he set free from arrest? Was he provided safe refuge by the then Justice Minister Rauff Hakim so that the police could not arrest him?” the Minister asked while making a ministerial statement in Parliament. (AH)