A Buddhist extremist nationalist group in Sri Lanka today threatened to contest the next Presidential polls if other parties failed to accede to its demand of recognising the majority community’s supremacy in the country.
Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), which has been accused of instigating hate attacks against Muslim minority in Sri Lanka, said that it is prepared to contest the Presidential elections if the other candidates fail to agree to BBS’ conditions to win their support.
“We will either support a candidate or contest the elections independently,” BBS chief Venerable Galagodatte Gnanasara told media here, adding that some of the parties have already approached them for support.
The Buddhist extremist group has been linked to a rise in attacks against the country’s minority Muslim and Christian population, although it denies any involvement.
It was accused of being involved in anti-Muslim riot in mid June which killed at least three people.
The opposition parties accuse the government of “silently encouraging” BBS’ anti-Muslim campaign.