by Melani Manel Perera

Monks accuse India of failing to protect the sacred complex, but Indian Embassy in Colombo refuses to see them. The Dalai Lama tries to cool things, blaming only a "few individuals" for an act that is not very serious.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - At least 700 monks from extremist Buddhist organisations marched in Sri Lanka to protest against the Indian government, "guilty" of failing to ensure security at Bodh Gaya. Yesterday, when it reached the Indian Embassy in Colombo to present a petition against the explosions that hit the complex sacred to Buddhism, it met with a refusal to hear their grievances.

The protesters belong to Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and Ravana Balaya, controversial Buddhist organisations whose mission is to protect Buddhists and Sinhalese. For this reason, members of these groups have repeatedly attacked Muslims and Christians in recent months.

In India, the authorities continue their investigation into the bombing. Messages of support have come after the incident, including from Catholics.

The Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka condemned the attack, expressing its "solidarity with our Buddhist brothers" who suffered the attack.

The Dalai Lama (Ocean of Wisdom) reacted with caution as he sought to avoid fuelling tensions.

For the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the explosions could be an act of "few individuals", not something too serious.

The explosions did not cause any particular damage to the Bodhi tree, located in the Bodh Gaya, where Siddhartha Gautama is believed to have achieved enlightenment.

Out of hundreds of monks in the complex, only two were injured.

 

• sri
• lanka
• india
• bodh
• gaya
• buddhist
• shrine
• explosions