The leader of the Patriotic National Movement Venerable Elle Gunawansa said on Monday that the Dalai Lama has been mislead on how Sri Lanka’s Muslims were treated by Buddhists.
“It appears the Dalai Lama has been misled to issue this statement by stating that the Muslims in Sri Lanka are been cruelly treated by the Buddhists. Every Buddhist in Sri Lanka has continued to live according to the precepts of the ‘Dhamma’ extending loving kindness and compassion,” Gunawansa said in a statement, according to the Daily Mirror.
“There is a conspiracy against Sri Lanka. International efforts have also tried their best to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka in the past many decades and are becoming more aggressive. These sinister motives are to discredit and tarnish the image of Sri Lanka and if possible to destroy it,” he said.
“We wish to point out to the External Affairs Ministry and to the Government Diplomatic Service that there is a need to show more diligence and prudence when action is taken regarding such matters,” Gunawansa added.
The Dalai Lama urged Buddhists in Sri Lanka and Myanmar to end violence against Muslims, during a speech marking his 79th birthday.