Pro-LTTE elements attacked SL pilgrims - JHU

Ridma Dissanayake

A group of Sri Lankan pilgrims were assaulted in India last Wednesday and there is no doubt that the attack was conducted by pro-LTTE elements. This is not the first time they have assaulted a member of the Sangha when he went to India for medical treatment, said Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Parliament Group Leader Athuraliye Rathana Thera.

The LTTE has been wiped-out in Sri Lanka. But there are several members of the group who are still in foreign countries and they are trying to show their power again. They are trying to regroup and to be a threat to the world. Because of that all should stand against them, he said.

Sri Lankan pilgrims have to face so many threats and harassment of the LTTE members and the central government should take action to stop such attacks.

Over 300,000 Sri Lankan pilgrims visit India annually. Not only Sri Lankans, there are a large number of pilgrims around the world visiting India because of its religious places. LTTE has no right to threaten those pilgrims since all Buddhists have a right to visit the religious places in India, he added.

"There are a large number of Buddhists who live in India and we hope that they will represent us. We hope that they will take action against the incident which happened last week," Rathana Thera further said.