Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New Delhi, Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam left for Chennai this morning to seek the welfare of Buddhist monks who were injured in the attack on the Maha Bodhi Centre in Chennai last night (24 Jan).

He will meet with the Chief Secretary and other key officials of Tamil Nadu to express serious concern of the Government of Sri Lanka over the incident and request security for all Sri Lankans on pilgrimage, visiting and transiting Chennai, the Centre and the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner’s Office in Chennai.

High Commissioner Kariyawasam stated that in the long years of its existence, the Maha Bodhi Centre in Chennai has stood without any harm.

The attack perpetrated by a group of about 10-15 people had injured two Sri Lankan Buddhist monks and a Nepali Buddhist monk, and caused extensive damage to property of the Maha Bodhi Centre. The injured Buddhist monks are Ven. Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thero, Chancellor of the Sabaragamuwa University who is visiting Chennai for medical treatment, Ven. Samitha Thero and Ven. Nepale Maithri Thero.