Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, has alleged that individuals once associated with efforts to turn Sri Lanka into an Islamic state are now part of the current government.
Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, the Thero stated:
“Those who joined the global Islamic terrorist network and trained individuals to make this country an Islamic state—especially since the 1990s—are still openly aligned with the present government. These are the same groups that inspired and contributed to the Easter Sunday attack.”
He accused a candidate from the National People’s Power (NPP), saying, “A man named Buhari Muhammad Pradas Naleem has come forward to contest from the Kathankudi constituency under the NPP banner to further that agenda.”
Drawing a pointed analogy, he added, “It’s like the saying goes, ‘you can identify the thief from the mother’s behavior.’ If the government has been infiltrated by such forces through the NPP since 2015, then the country must act urgently.”
The Thero also called for a ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami movement in Sri Lanka, stating, “If this group were banned, the Cardinal and the Catholic Church would welcome the move—it would help resolve many issues surrounding the Easter attack.”
He further claimed that the secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami, identified as a lawyer named Harris, is also working with the government.
“In such a situation, where will justice be found for the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks?” he asked.
