French urged to protect Lankan interests in Paris

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Paris has requested the French authorities to take effective measures to ensure the safety of the religious places and commercial establishments of the Sri Lankan community in France soon after the cowardly attack on the International Buddhist Centre at Le Bourget in Paris by an unidentified group on Sunday (May 10).

According to the Foreign Ministry sources, a group of seven had attacked the International Buddhist Centre in Paris on Sunday evening which is the main Buddhist temple of the Sri Lankan community in France.

The attackers have broken all the front window panes by causing an extensive damages to the temple.

This act has taken place after the Sri Lankan community in Paris completed their Dansala and other religious activities within this temple premises to celebrate the Vesak festival.

The Police has not yet arrested any culprits in this act against this place of religious worship. But the Buddhist monks and the Sri Lankan Community in Paris are in their unanimous opinion that this cowardly attack had been organized by the international network of the LTTE.

The Police has taken finger prints and a statement from the Chief Incumbent of the temple on this cowardly attack believed to be launched by the pro-LTTE elements in Paris, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The Foreign Ministry through its mission in Paris vehemently condemning this cowardly attack has requested the French Government to tighten the security of this key religious place and also ensure the security of other religious places and organizations established by the Sri Lankan community in France, he added.

In the recent weeks, there had been several attacks and acts of intimidation against the shops owned by the Sri Lankans of Sinhala origin while several Sinhalese had been victims of physical attacks.

It is believed that the attack on the temple is also a part of the LTTE campaign to instigate communal violence and hatred between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities living in France.