The Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai India had decided to place all Sri Lankan pilgrim groups in South India at Mahabodhi Centre to ensure their safety following Wednesday’s attack on 84 Sri Lankans by a set of goons who were believed to be pro LTTE elements.

One of the victims has informed his family members that several other groups of Sri Lankan pilgrims joined them in Mahabodhi yesterday.

Chandrika Kukulegama who is the wife of one of the victims told the Daily Mirror that the victims are due to arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport at 5am today.

The victims were removed from the hotel they were residing in earlier after attackers had warned the staff not to keep the Sri Lankans any longer.

The Sri Lankan pilgrims including her husband had come under attack when they were going shopping. Her husband had informed her that the attackers were staging a protest against Sri Lanka when they were passing by.

The protesters who have identified them to be Sri Lankans have then approached them and had assaulted them. They have also grabbed the bags which the victims had with them and had set them on fire.

Meanwhile sources from Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Vadivel Krishnamurthy had taken the issue up with the authorities in South India. Source said steps have been taken to ensure the safety of all Sri Lankans in Chennai. (By Yohan Perera)