"As a result of the conduct of the present government," Wickremesinghe, "the international community is of the view that the Sinhala-Buddhist community of the country are savages." 

 

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Addressing a public meeting in Gampola, the Opposition Leader said the present government should be changed with immediate effect to restore the dignity of the Sinhala-Buddhists of Sri Lanka. 

 

"This government has achieved what Prabhakaran could not achieved. The Sinhala-Buddhists of the country are being demonized in the eyes of the international community," Wickremesinghe said. 

 

"When there are negative media reports about the government in the international media, the government uses all its propaganda  arms to counter such allegations. But when there are negative reports about the Sinhala-Buddhist community of the country, the government is turning a blind eye to that," he added. 

 

"It is clear that the majority of Sinhala-Buddhists do not endorse violent acts against Muslims. Only a handful of extremists should be held responsible for these heinous crimes. But the government has not taken measures to clear the air on this matter," Wickremesinghe said. 

 

He also said that Dalai Lama's statement condemning violence against Muslims was a major setback for Sri Lanka.