Sri Lankan ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe has raised with the FBI an increased threat of robberies to Buddhist temples in Washington DC.
These temples are run by monks from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Samarasinghe has written to the FBI asking that their safety be ensured and also to have further discussions on the matter.
CCTV footage of the incidents have been handed over to law enforcement authorities, with the blame going to an organized group of illegal immigrants from Eastern European countries.
The incidents include Mahamewna Asapuwa being robbed of cash, suspicious persons seeking entry to Washington Vihara and a similar incident at Dhammanadaya Vihara at Virginia.