The decision to invite Prince Charles to celebrate 50 years of Sri Lankan independence will ensure the festivities receive international coverage. Prince Charles is due to be in the second-largest city Kandy on the anniversary day, February 4, to attend a parade and hear a speech by President Kumaratunga.

Kandy, which held out against European rule for 300 years, is the cultural and spiritual centre of the majority Sinhalese community, who are Buddhist. The influential monk who was reported to be boycotting the visit is one of the two administrators of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, which houses a sacred relic.

The hardline Sinhalese groups opposing Prince Charles's visit cite a variety of reasons. Some have demanded the British apologise for suppressing popular rebellions in the 19th century. The Federation of Buddhist Organisations accuses the British rulers of exacerbating the ethnic problems by bringing in Indian Tamils to work in the tea plantations. The secretary of the organisation said they were hoping to persuade other Buddhist leaders to boycott the ceremony.