Ahead of the Pope's visit to Sri Lanka this month, Catholic leaders have warned that caution is needed in order to 'avoid' worsening the situation for religious minorities.
According to the Catholic Herald, cases of persecution against Christians and Muslims have recently spiked in the Buddhist majority nation.
Extreme Bhuddist monks have reportedly held rallies and attacked churches throughout 2014. In January last year, three Pentecostal churches were attacked and burned. Whilst in July, anti-Muslim riots resulted in the death of four, with 80 injured and tens of thousands fleeing their homes for safety.
Bodu Bala Sena, which when interpreted means "Buddhist Power Force", is a group that reportedly seeks to help the entire country to regain its Buddhist identity.
On January 13, Pope Francis will visit the South Asian country. On his agenda will be reducing tensions between the Buddhist extremists and non-Buddhists in order to restore 'unity and peace' among the nation.