The Colombo Archdiocese has categorically refuted recent statements by the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera regarding a discussion with the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith in 2014.
Addressing the media today, the head of the communication committee of the Colombo Archdiocese, Father Cyril Gamini Fernando acknowledged the meeting between Ven. Gnanasara Thera and the Archbishop in 2014.
Father Cyril Gamini Fernando said, however, that they rejected the statements made by Ven. Gnanasara Thera regarding details of the discussion, especially that he had warned of the mastermind of the 2019 Easter attacks, Zahran Hashim.
“Ven. Gnanasara Thera claims that during the meeting he had informed the Archbishop to be wary of Zahran Hashim who was terrorising the Kattankudy area. The monk further claimed that he had warned the Archbishop to be alert as he could carry out an attack targetting Catholics,” Father Cyril Gamini Fernando said.
Clarifying that, however, no statements as claimed by the monk had been made or conveyed to the Archbishop, Father Cyril Gamini Fernando said the Archbishop strongly refutes the claims and that they are false.
Father Cyril Gamini Fernando pointed out that such statements by Ven. Gnanasara Thera can cause issues within the general public and can also negatively impact the Archbishop of Colombo.
Giving details of the discussion, Father Cyril Gamini Fernando said during the meeting, Ven. Gnanasara Thera had only mentioned that there was extremism spreading among the Muslim community and had not mentioned anything regarding Zahran Hashim. (Newswire)
