Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka have formed a new organisation to protect 'war heroes', after some military personnel were arrested over abductions and other crimes.
"The current government hates the word, patriotism," president of the organisation, Bengamuwe Nalaka said, adding that the head of state should not have made a recent statement in which he allegedly branded patriots as extremist.
He said the organisation was formed to protect 'war heroes' from 'local and international threats' and to look after their families and to ensure their welfare.
"There are no extremists in Colombo. We are not extremists but patriots. We love this country and we want to save our war heroes and protect the peace we won," the monk said.
"There are not only Sinhala but also Muslim and Tamil patriots who really love the country. They all will get up and save the war heroes in case there is a threat to them. At present the war heroes are being arrested in order to gain cheap political advantages."
