President Maithripala Sirisena

The General- Secretsry of the Ethno -Religious Fascist organization known as the “Bodu Bala Sena” (Buddhist Power Force) Ven Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero is to be arrested and charged for instigating and conducting a systematic campaign of attacks against Islamic places of worship and Muslim owned business establishments in Sri Lanka.

Ven Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero

The decision to take immediate action against the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Secretary- General was taken at the first meeting of the newly constituted cabinet headed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held in the morning of May 23rd 2017.

President Sirisena gave an explicit directive to Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake to instruct the Police to take immediate action against the BBS leader Gnanasara Thero. President Sirisena’s directive was endorsed by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and also Sanctioned unanimously be the cabinet.

It is learnt reliably that a special team of Police personnel along with units of Police Special Task Force(STF) will be deployed to take Gnanasara Thero into custody. Steps will also be taken simultaneously to prevent Bodu Bala Sena activists from engaging in violence against persons of the Islamic faith if and when Gnanasara Thero is arrested.

The BBS Secretary – Geneal is on record threatening a bloodbath against Muslims if he was arrested and warning that the Muslims would be taught an unforgettable lesson. Some of Gnanasara’s sidekicks declared that they would pour petrol and kerosene and set themselves on fire if the BBS thero was arrested.

Apparently these threats of self-immolation and retaliatory violence against Muslims has been a deterrent in swift action being taken against Gnanasara Thero. For instance there was an ugly incident in the Kurunegala district a few days ago where Gnanasara Thero led a contingent of BBS thugs to attack the Mosque at Thorayaya near Ibbagamuwa. However a team of Law – enforcement officers led by a Supdt of Police stopped them on the Kurunegala-Dambula road and prevented them from proceeding further. In the altercaton that ensued Gnanasara Thero abused the Police in raw filth while his followers challenged the cops to arrest the BBS leader saying “we will self -immolate ourselves”. When the SP telephoned IGP Pujith Jayasundara in Colombo for further instructions he was ordered not to arrest Gnanasara Thero.

“Secret”Support For Gnanasara Thero

Another reason for Police reluctance in taking action against Gnanasara Thero was the projected false impression that the BBS secy-gen had the support of President Sirisena. A few offcials from the Presidental secretariat as well as two Cabinet ministers were closet supporters of the BBS. Gnanasara Thero himself had been bad mouthing Premier Wickremesinghe as a cunning Fox but pointedly refrained from criticising the President.

However all such doubts and misgivings about Suspected “Secret” support for Gnanasara Thero were effectively dispelled at the cabinet meeting where the President gave clear-cut instructions that the BBS Bhikku was to be arrested. Moreover the decisio n had the endorsement of the premier and the unanimous approval of all cabinet ministers

The rare show of cabinet unity was preceded by passionate and intense discussiona about Gnanasara Thero and his anti-Muslim antics. It was Mano Ganesan in his capacity as minister of national co-existence who raised the issue of Gnanasara Thero first. Ganesan related how Gnanasara Thero stormed into his office and “lectured”to him about ethnic reconciliation. The minister gave a short account of the venomous anti- Muslim views expressed by Gnanasara Thero and stated that peaceful co-existence among the different ethnicities and religious communities would be made impossible by Gnanasara Thero and organizations such as his Bodu Bala Sena. Ganesan also drew attention to the latest attack on two Muslm shops in Kahawatte and said these type of incidents would go on unless and until action was taken against the BBS.

Mano Ganesan was followed by a number of ministers who aired their views openly and boldly. Among the ministers who spoke at length were Rishad Badiutheen, Rauff Hakeem. Kabir Hashim, Duminda Dissanayake and Sagala Ratnayake.

Freedom Of Religious Worship

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also emphasised that the issue should not be treated as a “Muslim problem” and that it should be seen as one where the Freedom of Religious Worship was under attack. He said that no Mosques, Temples, Churches or Viharas should be attacked by anyone in any part of the Country. Ranil also said that the Police officers of the area should be held accountable for attacks that occur in their areas of duty.

With the overall consensus in cabinet being that of taking immediate action against Gnanasara Thero, President Sirisena also supported the decision openly. He directed Law and Order minister Sagala Ratnayake to take immediate acton against the Bodu Bala Sena and Galagda Aththe Gnanasara Thero. The President also instructed that precautionary steps be taken to prevent any attempt to attack Muslims in the aftermath of the arrest or arrests. He observed cryptically that it was not the BBS but some defeated politicians who will try to exploit the issue and erupt in violence under the pretext of the Bodu Bala Sena. President Sirisena told Minister Ratnayake to take stern action against anyone responsibe for violence without fear or favour.

The past weeks have seen several attacks againtst Islamic places of worship and Muslim owned businesses. There is evidence available that Gnanasara Thero himself had instigated some of the attacks. Moreover Gnanasara Thero has also implicated himself as being responsible for fomenting the anti- Muslim attacks in a conversation with the Malwatte Mahanayake.

Poson Poya in June

It is acknowledged that the Bodu Bala Sena is trying to build up an Anti Muslim mood in the Country by conducting these attacks. It is suspected that Gnanasara Thero is conspiring to set the stage for a massive campaign of Anti-Muslim attacks on Poson Poya in June to coincide with the third anniversary of BBS inspired Violence against Muslims in Aluthgama and Beruwela.

Meanwhile unconfirmed reports said that the “Venerable” Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero has gone into hiding after hearing the news about President Sirisena’s order. However he is scheduled to appear in the Court of Appeal on May 24th 2017 in connection with his Contempt of court case