COLOMBO: A newly released United States Government report claims a linkage between the extremist Buddhist clergy group, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), and the Sri Lankan government, an allegation both the BBS and the Mahinda Rajapakse administration have categorically denied.

The International Religious Freedom Report for 2013 noted in its executive summary that the BBS continued to promote its anti-Muslim campaign, which was linked to violent activities last year.

The report released at the State Department by US Secretary of State John Kerry noted that according to numerous reports, the BBS was also behind a growing wave of anti-Muslim activities carried out by other violent Buddhist nationalist groups.

“Nationalist groups were allegedly involved in a series of attacks on mosques, protests over animal slaughter, and a sustained attempt to further marginalise Muslims by outlawing the halal system of meat certification,” the executive summary of the report said.

The report stated that although the government officially endorsed religious freedom, in practice there were problems in specific areas pointing to reports of societal abuses and discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. It stated that societal discrimination and violence against religious minorities increased markedly.

“Although members of different religious groups were generally tolerant of each other’s religious beliefs, there was evidence of growing distrust and fear, particularly on the part of religious minorities. Attacks on churches and mosques increased,” it said.

Meanwhile, President Rajapakse said in a message on Eidul Fitr that the Muslims of Sri Lanka had made “valuable contributions for the progress of Sri Lanka in a culture of unity and understanding”.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014