The party, in a statement, is disputing a claim to the contrary by him at a media briefing.

The JHU says that the basis for his remark was unclear, but that it has hurt the feelings of Sinhala Buddhists.

We should never hesitate, even non-Buddhists and non-Sinhalese, to say Sri Lanka is a country of Sinhala Buddhists, it says. 

It is the Sinhala Buddhists who had created the civilization, culture and history of this country, which go back to not 2,500 years, but to 30,000 years, as clearly mentioned in our historical documents and archaeological evidence, says the JHU.

There is no point in arguing over that fact, and nothing else other than rejecting such remarks can be done, says the party.

It is a popular fashion to belittle Sinhala Buddhism, it says, urging Sinhala Buddhists to teach such persons a good lesson when they appear before them as people’s representatives.

If a learned person like Wijedasa Rajapakse refrains from making such remarks, that will be good for his political image, the JHU statement adds.