While condemning a report submitted to the UNHRC on alleged religious disharmony in the country by Minister Rauf Hakeem, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Organisation today charged that the contents of the report were false and the Minister should immediately rectify his actions.

“Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem has mentioned that there is no religious freedom in Sri Lanka in his report submitted to the UNHRC. Allegations in this report are baseless and traitorous. The way these allegations have been made is not ethical. The Minister should rectify his actions unless we too can complain to the UNHRC,” BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera told a news conference.

The Thera said the 50-page-long report had also accused the BBS of creating religious disharmony in the country and harassing minorities.

“We completely reject the allegation made against the BBS. We challenge the Minister to prove if we had harassed any minority. We raised our voice against Buddhists consuming Halaal-certified foods; we had nothing against Muslims or Muslims consuming Halaal-certified foods,’ he said.

The Thera also said Minister Hakeem had complained about a book written by Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka on Al Qaeda, using the freedom of expression against the country.

The Thera said Sri Lanka was one of the few courtiers that had religious harmony and said Minister Hakeem’s report would tarnish the image of Sri Lanka in the eyes of the world. (Lahiru Pothmulla)