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Bodu Bala Sena (බොදු බල සේනා "Buddhist Power Force" in the Sinhala language) is a Buddhist organization based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is a non-political,action oriented civil group that promotes Buddhist philosophy,well-being and Sinhala culture.

History

The BBS was founded by monks Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi and Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara after they broke away from Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) claiming it was not active enough in protecting Buddhism. Gnanasara had been one of the JHU candidates in Colombo District at the 2004 parliamentary election. Ven. Wimalajothi and Ven. Gnanasara are leader and general secretary of BBS respectively. Its headquarters are located at Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Mandira in Colombo. Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Mandira is owned by the Buddhist Cultural Centre, an organisation also founded by Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi. The Buddhist Cultural Centre was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was the precursor to celebrating the Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi 2600 on a grand scale on 15 May 2011.

Activities

The organization has promoted concerts publicizing Buddhist hunger strikes against Indian artists, a petition against Indian Intervention on Sri Lanka, protest against the Canadian pongu Tamil (Tamil uprising for independence), protest against the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), and statements by Ven. Galagodatthe Gnanasara Thera, the head of Bodu Bala Sena.

Halal meat boycott

In February 2013, the group called for a boycott of halal meat, and demanded that shops be cleared of halal meat products by April. Buddhist monk Kirama Vimalajothi Thera asked the government to outlaw Islamic clerics issuing such certification, saying "More than 90 percent of the population are Buddhists, Hindus and Christian and therefore there is no justification to force them to eat halal products." Halal meat involves slitting the animal's throat. Bodu Bala Sena said that Sinhalese should not be made to pay more for Halal certified meat. The organization that issues such government certifications, the Sri Lanka Muslim clerics' organization All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), suspended issuing the certificates and held discussions with Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and other religious leaders.

A resolution to the issue was announced March 11, 2013 at a join press conference held by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU)—the group of Islamic clerics that certifies the meat—and a group of senior Buddhist monks. The Halal logo was to be withdrawn from food products sold locally, since such labels are not compulsory but only provided as a service, however the halal logo would still be used on products exported to countries in the Middle East and the Maldives where such labels are compulsory. This was not a objection against the sale of halal products, but against the imposition of halal certification on everything by ACJU which was considered to be excessive. For instance, ACJU went so far as to issue halal certificates for water bottles as well as paint brushes, igniting mass objections against the halal certification process.

Human rights in Saudi Arabia

In July 2012, Bodu Bala Sena took up the cause of religious freedom of Sri Lankan nationals working in Saudi Arabia. They stated that Premanath Pereralage Thungasiri, a Buddhist Sri Lankan working in Saudi Arabia, had been arrested for practicing Buddhism in his employers' home and faced possible beheading over the charges. The Sri Lankan Embassy rejected the reports. In the past, Sri Lankan officials have also dismissed claims of Human Rights Watch regarding the treatment of Sri Lankan nationals in Saudi Arabia. Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, Ven. Galagodatthe Gnanasara Thera has stated the arrest had nothing to do with idol worship, but was part of a wage dispute, but reiterated that Thungasiri does face execution in Saudi Arabia.

The group also alleged that the Saudis arrested a Sri Lankan woman for witchcraft for looking at a child and wearing a black cord on her wrist, that Sri Lankan female domestic workers were forced to embrace Islam, and wear Islamic attire, and that four Sri Lankan youths had been beheaded in Saudi Arabia.

Criticism

Maharagama rally

In late February 2013, thousands of supporters of Bodu Bala Sena held a rally in the Colombo suburb of Maharagama. The group's secretary-general, Ven. Galagodatthe Gnanasara Thera, told the crowd that Christian and Muslim extremists were threatening Buddhists, that hundreds of monks were ready to fight, and that "our country is a Sinhalese one and we are its unofficial police."

Sri Lanka opposition party leader Mujeebur Rahuman claimed that the government was not trying to stop the activities of the organization and predicted that rioting would break out between Buddhists and Muslims.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse has called on monks not to incite religious hatred and violence. Muslims and Christians deny promoting extremism in Sri Lanka. Bodu Bala Sena has denied associations with the recent attacks on Muslims and Christians.

Threats against the press

A BBC News crew was stopped by a mob of 20 young men and threatened with violence after filming a rally in the outskirts of Colombo. The news team was warned that if they returned to the mainly Buddhist suburb, it would "be the end" of them. The rally came at a time of mounting religious tension in the country, with recent attacks on mosques, Muslim-owned businesses, Christian churches, and clergy. During the February 2013 rally, Bodu Bala Sena's secretary-general, Ven. Galagodatthe Gnanasara Thera claimed that Christian and Muslim extremists were threatening Buddhists.

References

1. "Sri Lanka Buddhist organization to surround the Ministry unless action taken against alternate Buddhist center : South Asia : Buddhist News : Buddhistdoor". Enews.buddhistdoor.com. 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
2. ^ "Lankan mission slams false report on jailed maid". ArabNews. 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
3. ^ door bodubalasena (2008-11-06). "bodubalasena". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
4. "Sri Lankan Buddhist chauvinists provoke violence against Muslims". World Socialist Web Site. 9 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
5. "General Election 2004 Preferences" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
6. Edirisinghe, Dasun (28 January 2013). "Bodu Bala Sena regrets acts committed by others in its name". The Island (Sri Lanka).
7. "Bodu Bala Sena to accept guardianship of orphans". mirror.lk. 27 March 2013.
8. Rajasingham, K. T. (18 March 2013). "Bodu Bala Sena to tone down its stance on Muslims". Asian Tribune.
9. "Buddhist Cultural Centre opened; Havelock Rd. renamed 'Sambuddha Jayanthi Mawatha'". The Island (Sri Lanka). 15 May 2011.
10. Kumarasinghe, Uditha (15 May 2011). "Buddhist Cultural Centre: Grand opening today". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka).
11. "Budu Balu Sena Has Just Woken - Sri Lanka". Lankanewspapers.com. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
12. "Sri Lanka hardline group calls for halal boycott". BBCNews. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
13. "Sri Lankan monks launch halal meat boycott". Australia Network News. Feb 18, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
14. "Sri Lanka Muslim clerics' organization to decide on Halal certification Monday". ColomboPage. Mar 10, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
15. "Sri Lanka withdraws Halal logo from local products". NZWeek. 11/03/2013. Retrieved 2013-03-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
16. "All Brands". All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU). Retrieved 2013-03-30.
17. ^ "Ceylon Today | Arrested for idol worship". Ceylontoday.lk. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
18. "Saudi, Lankan Officials Dismiss HRW Report on Maid Abuse". ArabNews. 2007-11-15. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
19. "Sri Lanka SECURITY:: Framed in Saudi?". Lankanewspapers.com. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
20. ^ "Sri Lanka hardline group calls for halal boycott". BBCNews. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-23.

External links

• Bodu Bala Sena Official Website (Sinhala language)

• Buddhist organizations