Buddhist monks protest in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2001, 19:47 GMT]
More than two thousand Buddhist monks demonstrated at the old Town Hall in Colombo Tuesday demanding that the government cancel the referendum. The monks are opposed to granting regional autonomy to the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Buddhist organisations say that referendum would pave the way for Tamil self rule and separation.

The National Sangha Council, National Joint Council and the Movement to Save the Motherland were the main organisers of the protest, sources said.

Buddhist monk scholars teaching in the Univeristies of Colombo, Kelaniya, Peradeniya and Sri Jayawardenapura also took part in the demonstration.

Photos: TamilNet