Sri Lanka has declared two days of holidays for nation-wide celebrations of Vesak, or the commemoration of the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. Many Buddhist leaders had urged Sirisena to grant a special amnesty to monk Gnanasara on Vesak day. The monk has denied involvement in anti-Muslim riots in 2014 that left four people dead. His Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or Buddhist Force, was not linked to the recent anti-Muslim riots that came after the April 21 suicide bombings blamed on Islamic extremists. Wirathu visited Sri Lanka as a guest of Gnanasara shortly after the 2014 anti-Muslim riots at Sri Lanka coastal town of Aluthgama, and the duo vowed to fight what they called the threat to Buddhism from Islamic jihadists.

Source: The Nation Bangkok May 18, 2019 07:07 UTC