DHAKA: Four of Sri Lanka’s most senior hardline Buddhist monks appeared in court on Monday accused of insulting the Koran, in the first such case following a spate of religious hate attacks.

Police accused the monks, from the nationalist Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or Buddhist Force, of making disparaging remarks against the Islamic holy book after bursting into a meeting of religious leaders last month.

At the meeting, the monks also intimidated a moderate colleague who was promoting religious tolerance on the Buddhist-majority island, police said, reports The Straits Times.

‘The four priests along with two laymen were summoned by court today and granted bail in the sum of 100,000 rupees each,’ police spokesman Ajith Rohana told media.

BDST: 1630 HRS, MAY 05, 2014