Monks threaten people over ‘unethical practice’

A group of Sri Lankan monks attached to an organistion called “Sinhala Ravaya” (Sinhalese Voice) stormed a house in Nawala, a Colombo suburb, and threatened the inmates over allegations that they were conducting unethical religious dialogue.

The monks, who were backed by a mob when the house was stormed at Walauwatte in Nawala, went inside  the house to ‘investigate’ the accusation against the family.

The wife of the man was assaulted by the mob in front of their children which has been captured on video by a private television camera crew who were invited by the monks, saying they were raiding a house where illegal activities were taking place.

On an altar in the house, Buddha’s statue and images of other religions were found placed next to each other. The residents said that it was their attempt to show religious unity which the mob refused to accept, saying images of other religions should not be kept alongside Buddha’s statues or images.

The mob was instructed by the monks to remove Buddha’s statues from the house while another monk was seen throwing a Bible on the ground.

The residents’ repeated appeals to the monks for peaceful settlement of the issue went unheard until the Welkada police arrived at the scene and took the residents of the house and monks to the police station to record their statements.

The residents of the house complained that their mobile phones and money were stolen by the mob and denied claims that they were conducting unethical dialogue.

The latest incident has happened at a time when the issue of religious freedom in Sri Lanka was raised at the United Nations Human Rights Commision (UNHRC) in Geneva.

The ‘Sinhala Ravaya’ recently staged a protest against a Muslim clothes store in Maharagama as well.




 

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