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Security tightened in Batticaloa to prevent communal clashes
View(s):Security in and around Batticaloa town was tightened last night with the deployment of additional police and Special Task forces personnel to prevent a possible clash between two communities.
Earlier in the day, a tense situation arose when police stopped a group led Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagoda-atte Gnanasara Thera from proceeding to Batticaloa town.
The group from Colombo was stopped at Riditenna in Welikanda but later allowed to proceed to Punani, 60 kms from Batticaloa town. The group decided to spend the night there.
A BBS spokesman said they were going to Batticaloa to take part in religious activities and look into the welfare of Buddhists in the area.
But others said the BBS group was to join a march organised by the controversial monk, the Ven Ampitiye Sumanaratna Thera of Mangalaramaya, Batticaloa, to place a Buddha statue in a private land.
Last evening, several people, including two Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarians, gathered near Batticaloa town to demand that the police take action to disperse a crowd led by Ven Sumanaratna Thera. They said if this was not done, it could lead to a clash between the two groups.
Senior Deputy Inspector General Sumith Edirisinghe, who is in charge of the Batticaloa division, said the Police had taken necessary measures to prevent any violence.
“The situation is under control, but we are on alert,” he said.