Extremist outfits dub Sri Lankan Muslims as ‘terrorists’, Rohingyas as ‘ISIS agents’

Buddhist extremist outfits in Sri Lanka such as the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and the Sinhala Ravaya have begun to portray Sri Lankan Muslims as “Islamic extremists” and the Rohingya people of Myanmar as “ISIS agents”.

The outfit’s Chief Executive Dilantha Withanage has denied the BBS’s involvement in the recent spate of attacks on mosques and business establishment of Muslims.

He has told the media that the Muslims were trying to grab land belonging to the Wilpattu forest in the North West in order to establish a Muslim colony where Shariah law will prevail and which could become a breeding ground for ISIS terrorists who will create mayhem in Lanka and also India.

Withanage has also said in the Eastern Province, Muslims are refusing to vacate lands belonging to Buddhist temples which have archaeological value.

Referring to the 32 Rohingyas who were arrested in Sri Lankan waters on May 1, Withanage said they were ISIS agents who had previously gone to India but feeling the heat there, tried to flee to Sri Lanka.

He doubted if they were really from Myanmar as they could not speak Myanmrese language but spoke Bengali. They were Bangladeshi Muslims, he said.

Among the 32 Bengali-speaking Rohingyas who were detained, there were 16 children and a 15-month old baby.

The BBS leader, Buddhist monk Ven Gnanasara Thero, who is behind the recent spate of attacks against Muslims,  is currently evading arrest in a contempt of court case.

The monk had misbehaved in the Homagama Magistrate’s Court on Jan 25,  and later filed a contempt of court case in the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal has ordered Gnanasara Thero to be appear before it on May 31.

Asked why the monk is not surrendering, Withanage said the BBS has information that there are  plans to assassinate Thero in the jail with the help of hardened criminals.

Meanwhile, Ven Sadhatisa Thero, leader of the Sinhala Ravaya, told the media that before arresting Gnanasara Thero, police should arrest Muslim ministers who are “terrorists”.

President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered stern action against those who instigated mob attacks on Muslim properties and places of worship.  Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said police will be held to account if there is any more such incident of arson or violence.

Police have set up a Special Unit to curb such activities and deployed five teams to arrest Gnanasara Thero.