BBS holds rally in Vavuniya against Wigneswaran

A rally to protest the hardline stance adopted by Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wignaswaran will be held today in Vavuniya by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).  

The rally aims to protect the rights of the Sinhala Buddhist minority living in the Northern and Eastern provinces, the BBS said. 

“The extremely racist statements made by the Northern Province chief minister have threatened the safety and wellbeing of Sinhala communities in the area, and we want to highlight the issue to ensure their safety,” said BBS leader Galagodaaththe Gnanasara thero said. 

He also claimed that Sinahala families living in the Sanhindiyawe Sathvirugama were threatened and ordered to evacuate by former LTTE hardliners yesterday. 

A number of Sinhala hardline organisations, including Ravana Balaya, Sihala Ravaya and Sinhale, along with a host of other groups will be participating in the rally, Gnanasara thero confirmed.

According to him, Sinhala communities in the Northern and Eastern provinces have been facing hardships and threats following statements made by the Northern Province chief minister. “Former members of the LTTE who are now living in these areas after rehabilitation and other LTTE factions have been threatening these Sinhalese people and we want to highlight this issue. Take a look at the Kokveliya village issue, there are only 17 families living there now, there used to be 570 families during the war and 170 went back after the war,” he claimed.