Police fire tear gas and water cannon at Buddhist protesters in Sri Lanka. <br /><br />Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), a hard-line Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist organisation, demonstrated Monday to demand the release of their general secretary, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero. <br /><br />Gnanasara is currently serving a six-year jail term, handed to him in August for contempt of court, just two months after receiving a six-month jail term for intimidation. It is highly unusual for Sri Lanka to convict Buddhist monks. <br /><br />Later on Monday Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena expressed regret and offered an apology to the group of protesters, according to local media. <br /><br />BBS has been accused of channelling the rhetoric of populist anti-Muslim movements around the globe, and Muslims have accused BBS of stirring up violence against Muslims and Christians.
