Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 10:13 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Mar 12, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Buddhist nationalists today expressed their dissatisfaction over the compromise reached on the Halal certification yesterday calling the decision to remove only the Halal logo is a conspiracy. The Buddhist extremist group Bodu Bala Sena said today it suspects a conspiracy behind the sudden decision to remove the Halal logo when there is a cabinet subcommittee appointed by the President to probe the controversy.
The subcommittee, which had discussions with the Bodu Bala Sena, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) and the Muslim clerics' association to discuss the halal issue, is expected to conclude its sittings Wednesday and finalize its report.
Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Venerable Galagodaththe Gnanasaara thera in a release said today that removing only the Halal logo was insufficient and called for the complete removal of the process.
The thera said a former minister is involved in the conspiracy and the organization will reveal it at a press conference today.
The General Secretary of the nationalist party Jathika Hela Urumaya, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka also expressed the party's opposition to the measure taken by the ACJU and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce with a group of Buddhist monks led by Ven. Bellanwila Wimalasara Thero to remove just the Halal Logo.
He said the whole Halal certification process must be halted as the assurance given by the Chamber of Commerce that the Halal certification will not be used for local products is doubtful.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said ACJU came to the decision to waive the Halal certification after extensive discussions it had with the Chamber and the Buddhist clergy.
The issue of Halal certification created controversy and a rift between the Buddhist and Muslim communities as the Buddhist extremist group Bodu Bala Sena issued an ultimatum to the traders to remove the halal products by the end of this month.