Feb 13, Colombo: Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force), a controversial Buddhist activist group in Sri Lanka, reportedly plans to take legal action against the Muslim clerics' organization , All Ceylon Jamiyaathul Ulama (ACJU) over issuing halal certificates.

A local media report said the General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena, Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thero has alleged that local businesses are being forced to pay for the halal certificate.

He has complianed that there was no knowledge on how or who had given the mandate to the ACJU to issue halal certificates at a price and that an investigation needed to be held into the matter.

According to Ven. Gnanasara Thero, a meeting had recently been convened by the Defence Ministry to discuss the tense situation that arose in the country following protests over the issuing of halal certificates.

Both the government and the ACJU stressed that obtaining the Halal Certificate needed to certify that certain foods are prepared according to Islamic law is purely voluntary.

Products that are exported to most Middle Eastern countries and South East Asian Countries require Halal certification.