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According to Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives and co-convener of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence, the existence of BBS is intrinsically linked to the Rajapaksa government and in particular to ex-Defense Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former president's brother."They were sponsored by the former defense minister. They were generating an internal conflict to provoke clashes between religious groups, which would mobilize Buddhists around the government," Saravanamuttu explained to Efe.via:http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/agencia-efe/150204/radical-buddhists-the-violent-face-peaceful-religion