COLOMBO: The Buddhist clergy group, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) known for its hardline stance on minorities in Sri Lanka and for propagating what it says are ‘anti-Jihad’ sentiments has claimed to have received the blessings of the Chief Buddhist prelates of the country to field a candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

Speaking at a media briefing, the BBS general secretary Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thero stated that it was likely the group would field a candidate who could promote ‘their agenda’ if did not not find a suitable person among the existing candidates.

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“We will try to direct the leaders already there on the correct path and if we fail to do so, we will come up with a new candidate who will be a national leader and support him,” Thero said adding that the BBS was going ahead with preparations to promote a candidate of its choice by the end of September.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014