Dalai Lama Criticises Buddhists Including Monks For Violence Against Muslims in Sri Lanka and Burma

The Dalai Lama has implored Buddhist monks in Myanmar and Sri Lanka to put an end to a series of recent attacks on Muslims in their countries, the Associated Press reported today.

The Dalai Lama spoke to a crowd of about 15,000 students, faculty, and guests as part of the Anwar Sadat Lecture for Peace on May 7th, 2013 – pic by James Levin courtesy: Diamondback-University of Maryland

The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader spoke Tuesday night about religious violence when asked questions following a speech he delivered to 15,000 people at the University of Maryland. He condemned all killing being carried out in the name of religion and then turned to his own religion.

He said Buddhists, including monks, were responsible for recent violence against Muslims in Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Myanmar has been wracked by sectarian violence that has displaced tens of thousands over the past year, while Sri Lankan Buddhist groups have recently attacked Muslim businesses.