Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Wijeydasa Rajapakshe addressing a gathering in Badulla said the person who called for black flags to be hoisted during Vesak is a traitor and a mentally retarded person.

“At a time when our hearts should be filled with loving-kindness and compassion at the birth, demise and enlightenment of the Buddha, a person who calls for black flags to be hoisted is a unbeliever, traitor – and, moreover a mentally retarded person,” the Justice Minister said.

At the May Day rally organised by the Joint Opposition, National Freedom Front (NFF) Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa called for black flags to be hoisted in protest of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka for Vesak.