{"id":122961,"date":"2014-04-09T12:58:24","date_gmt":"2014-04-09T07:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=122961"},"modified":"2014-04-24T12:37:10","modified_gmt":"2014-04-24T07:07:10","slug":"bbs-gnanasara-strikes-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/bbs-gnanasara-strikes-again\/","title":{"rendered":"BBS Gnanasara Strikes Again In Full View Of Police"},"content":{"rendered":"

The General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena<\/span><\/a> together with a mob inclusive of monks stormed a press conference organised by the rival Jathika Bala Sena Watareka Vijitha<\/span><\/a> Thero and abused the monk preventing him from speaking to the journalists present and in full view of the Police personnel present.<\/p>\n

\"BBS<\/a>

BBS monks threatening Jathika Bala Sena monks holding Press Conf. @ Nippon Hotel #lka pic.twitter.com\/ZxEiLi7BLI<\/p><\/div>\n

The incident took place this morning at the Hotel Nippon in Colombo.<\/span><\/p>\n

Watareka Vijitha Thero was a vocal critic of the conduct of Galagodaaththe Gnanasara<\/span><\/a> Thero and was assaulted and hospitalised last year<\/span><\/a> while travelling in a vehicle. The monk alleged that the BBS was behind the assault. No person was apprehended or arrested by the Law Enforcement authorities following the assault.<\/p>\n

The BBS General Secretary while verbally abusing the head of the Jathika Bala Sena coerced him into apologising for convening a press conference and ordered the disbanding of the organisation.<\/p>\n

Watareka Vijitha Thero who was surrounded by the mob inclusive of monks had agreed to apologise and disband the organisation.<\/p>\n

Sources however confirmed to the Colombo Telegraph that Vijitha Thero would make a Police complaint shortly at the Slave Island Police.<\/p>\n

Around 40 Police personnel who were present during the fracas had not attempted to prevent the abuse nor acted against the violation of the right to the freedom of expression.<\/p>\n