General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Galagoda Atte Gnanasara has threatened put an end to the political careers of politicians who condone their campaign.

Gnanasara

Gnanasara who is infamous for remarks that incite racial hatred and was in fact recently held directly responsible for making statements that led to anti-Muslim violence in Southern Sri Lanka, had made this warning at a press conference held at their headquarters located in Colombo 6, Sri Lanka.

He had issued the warning to both government Ministers as well as opposition MPs, demanding them to be wary in their criticisms towards the BBS while asserting that their failure to do so would lead to their end.

“So far we are patiently observing, keeping mum to the way we in which we are are being demeaned. But we will be compelled to take action if they do not heed our warning,” the radical monk had asserted.

Gnanasara had challenged the Police to take him into custody if any accusations against him can be proven. He had also heavily criticised the arrests made by the Police so far with links to the brutal violence that broke out in Aluthgama and Beruwala, describing it as an act that is carried out to mollify Muslims and the international community.

To listen the BBS Gnasara’s press conference click here

Issuing a statement on US visa issue last night the BBS said; “the organization has never used violent attacks on anyone during our short history of last two years”

We publish below the statement in full;

The Bodu Bala Sena(BBS) would like to inform all concerned parties that the news item published by http://www.theindependent.lk web site on July 1, 2014 under the caption “How Gnanasara lost his American visa” is completely wrong and a fabricated one. It is a part of a conspiracy planned by certain groups to discredit the BBS.  We in the BBS would like to reiterate that our organization has never used violent attacks on anyone during our short history of last two years.

The above news site carried a news item in Sinhala and English languages purporting that the BBS was planning to attack the US Embassy in Colombo and to stage a demonstration opposite that embassy. All these news items are fabricated by this web site as a part of its conspiracy against the BBS.

The news story in question further says that the BBS is very angry over the visa issue. Obviously BBS is not happy over the US embassy’s decision to cancel Visa granted to Ven Galagaoatte Gnanasara Thera, Secretary General of BBS at a very crucial time when all international media have been ganged up to attack the organization connecting it to the recent incidents at Aluthgama where clashes between Sinhala and Muslim groups erupted. However, as a Buddhist Organization that believes in tolerance and nonviolence, we are not angry over the decision of the Us Government. As a professional organization we have the maturity, courage and strength to look at this situation positively with the assistance of teachings guided by the Middle Path approach.

The BBS is of the opinion that the Aluthgama attacks were very unfortunate incidents and vehemently condemn terrorist activities. We urge government to take all necessary steps to punish who are responsible for these crimes. Some of the BBS members delivered emotional speeches emphasizing the need to protect Sinhala Buddhists who are actually a very small global minority although they could be described as a national majority, but nowhere its members had engaged in whipping up public anger by delivering hate speeches. All global forces and resources such as global funding, politics, trade, media and even global terrorism work not in the favor of this global minority.  We have made speeches against Muslim and all other forms of terrorism and extremism. We have nothing against the moderate Muslims but would not approve the prevailing of extremist Muslim groups.

It is so unfortunate that so called democratic forces of international community attempt to solve our problems overlooking some of the stakeholders of the problem. Similarly some sections of media both national and international with vested interests have described us as a terrorist group which we are not. It has to be mentioned that none of those media organizations who branded us as a group of terrorists have had contacted us for comment before fixing that label on us.

We reiterate to all concerned parties that the BBS has never involved in any form violence or terrorism. The stories fabricated associating the BBS with the recent violent incidents that took place at Alutgama anf Beruwala would serve only one purpose – they would help the real culprits behind those crimes getaway.