The Bodu Bala Sena says Pope Francis must apologize to Buddhists for atrocities allegedly committed by Christian colonial rulers of Sri Lanka when he visits next year.

GalagodaAtte Gnanasara Thera, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, has told Associated Press on Tuesday they "are waiting till the Pope comes to see what he is going to say about the crimes here."

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Portugal, Holland and Britain established colonies in Sri Lanka one after another from 1505 to 1948.

The Catholic church has confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Sri Lanka in the mid January.

Following his visit, the pope is to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and top level political representatives of both parties.

After the meeting, Pope Francis is set to travel to the Institute for Theological Studies in Asia, located in Negombo.

“From there, he will go to the basilica of Our Lady of Sri Lanka, where he will meet with all of the religious, priests and nuns of the whole island,” a spokesperson of the Catholic Church said.