Yoshitha Perera Courtesy The Daily Mirror

No matter who administers the country, Islamic extremism cannot be eradicated until the government leaders ban extremism across the country, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary the Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thera told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on the Easter Sunday Attacks.

“Extremism in the country is like a cancer now,” he said.

When the Commissioners asked the monk about the situation in the country at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks, he said at that time the country was without a leader who could take the responsibility of handling the affairs of governance in an efficient manner.

“The Easter attacks resulted in showing up country’s leadership as a failure,” he said.

During the monk’s testimony, PCoI Chairman Supreme Court Judge Janak de Silva said the commission had received several complaints against the manner in which the BBS behaved on several occasions.

“I raised this matter up so as to provide a proper perspective to the testimony,” the Chairman said.

With reference to the riots at Aluthgama, the monk said former MP Rajitha Senaratne’s behaviour adversely affected the situation.