Monks from the Buddhist nationalist group Sihala Rawaya demonstrating outside the Iranian embassy in Colombo yesterday.
IANS/Colombo
Hundreds of Sri Lankan protesters marched to the Iranian embassy in Colombo yesterday, calling for a ban on Buddha statues in that country to be rolled back and for the Iranian government to respect religious rights.
The protest, which took place in the morning, was also participated by several Buddhist monks who headed the organisation Sihala Rawaya.
“This morning we staged a peaceful march to the Iran embassy. This is not a racist organisation but one that has been formed to protect the right of the Sinhalese community. During second and third century BC Iran was a prominent Buddhist country so it is very important to our history. Iran has now destroyed Buddhist ruins and now banned Buddha statues,” said Sihala Rawaya chairman Akmeemana Dayaratne Thero.
The organisation also called for the Iranian government to respect the religious rights of thousands of Sri Lankan migrant workers, most of whom are Buddhist residing in Iran. “We ask that the Iran government gives Buddhist Sri Lankans the chance to practice their religion and allow people to keep Buddhist statues. If they cannot do so then send those statues to
Sri Lanka,” he claimed.
Iranian embassy officials were seen filming the protest.
International media reported that an Iranian cultural official had rejected some media reports alleging that he has called for a ban on the imports and sales of Buddha statues in Iran, saying that his remarks have been “misquoted”.
Saeed Jaber Ansari, secretary at the headquarters for Supporting and Protecting Cultural Works, had dispelled the previous reports by telling Iran media that he had only meant the illegal import of cultural items, including but not limited to Buddha statutes.