Sri Lanka president's office confirms militant monk in Tokyo meeting

In an obvious bid to diffuse opposition to affiliation with a militant Buddhist monk, Sri Lanka president's office has confirmed that the two had met in Tokyo.

Rejecting suggestions "on the social media tools and websites" that Buddhist Brigade (BBS) supremo Galagodaaththe Gnanasara accompanied President Maithripala Sirisena on his five day state visit to Japan, the president media division has announced that the monk did indeed  attend a meeting with the president.

JDS earlier reported how Sri Lanka expats were shocked to see G Gnanasara in a meeting with the president and senior government ministers at the Tokyo Imperial Hotel.

"Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero has arrived in Japan on a personal visit before the commencement of the President’s tour to Japan, and the Thero participated in a meeting which was organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Japan to provide an opportunity to the Sri Lankan community in Japan to meet the President," said an announcement published by the president's media division.

Invitations for the meeting was sent out by Sri Lanka Ambassador in Japan Professor Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake on 24 February 2018.

"The Thero also accompanied the Chief Incumbents of Buddhists Temples in Japan for this meeting with the President," added the president's media division.

© JDS