Sri Lanka prohibits demonstrations by extremist Buddhists who planned to prevent Ashura commemoration

Sri Lanka’s court on Sunday banned two Buddhist extremist groups from demonstrating against the commemoration of Ashura, the first religious ceremony on the

Sri Lanka’s court on Sunday banned two Buddhist extremist groups from demonstrating against the commemoration of Ashura, the first religious ceremony on the island since the bloody Passover attacks.

Police spokesman Rawan Gunasekera said the Colombo court had issued restraining orders against the two groups, led by Buddhist monks, who planned to disrupt a rally in Colombo for Shias.

Nearly 25,000 followers of Ahl al-Bayt, from around the world, have gathered in Colombo since Saturday to commemorate Ashura for 10 days.

Gunasekira said police had information that two nationalist groups were planning to disrupt the event in the capital, where police and the military have stepped up security.

It was not immediately clear what the two groups had planned, but Buddhist nationalists often take tough positions on religious minorities in the predominantly Buddhist nation of 21 million.

Sri Lankan authorities have blocked parts of the main road near the main Shia Husseini mosque to accommodate large numbers of participants.