Sri Lankan Extremist Applies For Visa To Visit Australia – Greens Call On Immigration Minister to Reject The Visa Application

Gnanasaara Thero who has been instrumental in organising hatred and violence against religious minorities, especially Muslims, has applied for a visa to visit Australia. Mr Thero is the General Secretary of Bodi Bala Sena Sect. According to The Economist, BBS “supports militancy against minorities to preserve the dominance of the Buddhist majority.” It particularly targets the Muslim minority.

On 15 June 2014 the BBS staged rallies in Aluthgama, Beruwala and Dharga Town in Kalutara District. Addressing a cheering crowd in Aluthgama, BBS leader Galagoda Aththe Gnanasaara threatened “In this country we still have a Sinhala police; we still have a Sinhala army. After today if a single Marakkalaya [Muslim, in context used derogatorily] or some other paraya [alien, outcast, also a derogatory term] touches a single Sinhalese…..it will be their end.”

The Sri Lankan government has so failed to bring Mr Theo and his group to justice of the violence and hatred that they have co-ordinated in the country. There are reports that the current Sri Lankan President Mr Rajaaksa’s brother, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has links to and close association with the Bodi Bala Sena scet and its leader, Gnanasara Thero.

Mr Thero has been denied entry into other countries, such as the United Kingdom, the United States and the Republic of France.

Australian Greens leader Senator Christine Milne, has called on the Immigration Minister and the Abbott government to reject his visa application. In a media release today Senator Milne stated ” Gnanasaara Thero must not be allowed to entre Australia. His racist and hate-filled rhetoric has no place in our free nation,”

The Senator has also has asked if Scot Morrison, the imigartion minister, has invited Mr Thero to visit Australia and if he had spoken to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa about issuinf MR Thero a visa.

Senator Milne has also written to the minister requesting him to reject Mr Thero’s visa application.