Vasu wants BBS banned; says, 'It consists of terrorists who are disguised as Buddhists'

BBS: terrorists in disguise

Minister of National Languages and Social Integration, Vasudeva Nanayakara, is of the opinion that the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) should be proscribed by law, as it is disrupting religious harmony in the country.

Expressing his views to Ceylon Today, Minister Nanayakkara said there were several Buddhist as well as Islamic extremist religious groups, operating in the country, which should be banned.

"The BBS is in no way an organization that can be called Buddhist. It consists of terrorists who are disguised as Buddhists.

They have insulted and harassed minority religious groups in the country. I am of the view that such organizations consisting vagrant operatives should be banned immediately," Minister Nanayakkara said.

He said the dormant attitude adopted by the police, especially with regard to the BBS and its actions, was due to the political immunity that the organization enjoyed through the intervention of a high-ranking government official.

"I can clearly say that the BBS is enjoying support from a high-ranking State official. That is why its members are behaving in such a manner. Even the police are lenient towards them owing to this. There is someone impeding the police from carrying out investigations against the BBS," he said.

Minister Nanayakkara also told Ceylon Today that although he had not yet made a formal request to the government to proscribe the BBS, he would do so in the near future since a broad social dialogue should be initiated against such outfits.

By Niranjala Ariyawansha
Ceylon Today