Mar 19, Colombo: Hundreds of Buddhist monks and laymen in Sri Lanka held a protest march Tuesday from Colpetty to the Indian High Commission against the assaults on Buddhists monks and pilgrims in South India.

Buddhist monks carrying placards and shouting slogans protested the assaults on two monks who were in Chennai for education visits, and demanded the Indian government to take action on these attacks.

The protest march was organized by a group called Sinhala Rawaya.

Sinhala Rawaya officials also had a meeting with the Indian High Commissioner regarding the matter.

President of Sinhala Rawaya, Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thero said the Indian High Commissioner had stated that an investigation had been launched to arrest the individuals involved in the past assaults on the Buddhist monks.

Meanwhile, an ally of the governing party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) called on the government to ban travel to India until the issues faced by Sri Lankans visiting Tamil Nadu are resolved.

JHU Secretary and Minister Champika Ranawaka said the government must take the attacks more seriously.

He observed that people from Tamil Nadu should be banned from traveling to Sri Lanka and Lankans must also be advised against traveling to South India.