Sri Lanka thwarts pro and anti-Israeli protests

Sri Lanka today thwarted two simultaneous pro and anti-Israel protests that were planned here in the wake of the recent violence in Gaza.
"Following information that demonstrations are being planned, the Colombo Pettah police has obtained a court order against holding the demos," police spokesman and Superintendent Ajith Rohana said.
Rohana named the organisations as the Buddhist nationalist BBS or the Forces of Buddhist Power and Sihala Ravaya.
While the Thowheed Jamath, a Muslim organisation, had planned an anti-Israel protest.
BBS has earlier organised various campaigns against the country's minority Muslim which, according to them pose a threat to the country's Sinhalese-Buddhist identity.

The BBS was also blamed for mid-June's anti-Muslim riot in the southern coastal resort of Beruwala.

The BBS said they were planning for a counter demonstration against the action by Thowheed Jamath on the situation in Gaza.
The BBS said Sri Lanka must not forget the support it received from Israel during the military campaign against the LTTE.
The nearly three decade-long military campaign against the LTTE ended on May 18, 2009.