A local municipal council here has adopted a resolution against extremist religious groups and in support of a move to crackdown on such groups. The Kalmunai Municipal Council (MC) in Eastern Province, where all three major ethnic communities – Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslims- live, had adopted a resolution Thursday against hardline and nationalist groups including the Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).
The resolution also calls to support a measure by the Minister of National Language and Social Integration Vasudeva Nanayakkara to bring a cabinet paper seeking a ban on extremist groups that are creating rifts between the ethnic and religious communities in the island.
Several Council members including the Kalmunai Mayor Dr. Shiraz Mirashib had spoken against the hate campaigns carried out by the BBS targeting the Muslims and their businesses in the country.
According to Minister Nanayakkara, the Cabinet paper will seek to bring new laws to crack down on hardline groups, including the Bodu Bala Sena, Ravana Balaya and Sinhala Ravaya which spread hatred and disharmony among communities.
Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has vowed to take stern legal action against those who attempt to create unrest in the country using racism and religion and requested the public to inform such incidents to him.
