BBC -- 17 February 2013
A new hardline Sinhalese Buddhist group in Sri Lanka has called for the abolition of the Muslim halal system of certifying foods and other goods.
The Bodu Bala Sena, or Buddhist Strength Force, also said foreign propagators of religions should leave the country within a month.
The calls come at a time of mounting religious tension in the country. There have been several attacks on both mosques and Muslim-owned businesses as well as on Christian churches and the clergy, the BBC's Charles Haviland reports from Colombo .. Thousands of men and women filled the grounds of the rally and the surrounding streets at Maharagama to hear nationalist speeches by the group's monks.
The leaders called for a boycott of halal meat and demanded shops clear their stocks by April, the AFP news agency reports
Youth activists at the rally wore T-shirts denouncing the Muslim halal method of slaughtering animals to eat.
President Mahinda Rajapakse has called on monks not to incite religious hatred and violence, but one opposition politician told the BBC that "the situation is very bad".
"Any moment, the ethnic riot will start between Sinhalese and Muslims," said Mujeebur Rahuman of the opposition United National Party
A new hardline Sinhalese Buddhist group in Sri Lanka has called for the abolition of the Muslim halal system of certifying foods and other goods.
The Bodu Bala Sena, or Buddhist Strength Force, also said foreign propagators of religions should leave the country within a month.
The calls come at a time of mounting religious tension in the country. There have been several attacks on both mosques and Muslim-owned businesses as well as on Christian churches and the clergy, the BBC's Charles Haviland reports from Colombo .. Thousands of men and women filled the grounds of the rally and the surrounding streets at Maharagama to hear nationalist speeches by the group's monks.
The leaders called for a boycott of halal meat and demanded shops clear their stocks by April, the AFP news agency reports
Youth activists at the rally wore T-shirts denouncing the Muslim halal method of slaughtering animals to eat.
President Mahinda Rajapakse has called on monks not to incite religious hatred and violence, but one opposition politician told the BBC that "the situation is very bad".
"Any moment, the ethnic riot will start between Sinhalese and Muslims," said Mujeebur Rahuman of the opposition United National Party
