Friday, September 24, 2004
Mahanayaka Thera asked to stay clear of LTTE
By Damitha Hemachandra
The Australian based World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka (WAPS) and Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR) yesterday called upon the Malwatte Mahanayaka Thera to 'resist efforts made to involve him in dialogue with LTTE terrorists' by LTTE sympathisers.
"The most Ven. Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera will do well to stay away from this scheming LTTE sympathisers, who keep their eyes shut to the atrocities committed by the LTTE during the ceasefire period," a web based message issued by the organisations said.
Meanwhile the organisations called upon the Mahanayaka Thera to consider visiting number of Buddhist temples in the North and the East, which were allegedly under LTTE threat and lacked basic requirements.
There are more than 200 Buddhist archaeological sites in the North and East and many other temples, which are in the verge of destruction due to lack of support and funds, the message stated.
The Australian based World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka (WAPS) and Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR) yesterday called upon the Malwatte Mahanayaka Thera to 'resist efforts made to involve him in dialogue with LTTE terrorists' by LTTE sympathisers.
"The most Ven. Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera will do well to stay away from this scheming LTTE sympathisers, who keep their eyes shut to the atrocities committed by the LTTE during the ceasefire period," a web based message issued by the organisations said.
Meanwhile the organisations called upon the Mahanayaka Thera to consider visiting number of Buddhist temples in the North and the East, which were allegedly under LTTE threat and lacked basic requirements.
There are more than 200 Buddhist archaeological sites in the North and East and many other temples, which are in the verge of destruction due to lack of support and funds, the message stated.
Canada Pongu Thamil show draws NMAT, JSS ire
By Damitha Hemachandra
The National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) and the Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya yesterday staged a protest opposite the Canadian High Commission calling for the suspension of the Pongu-Thamil festival to be held in Toronto tomorrow.
Sangha Sammelanaya spokesman the Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera threatened to hold a fast unto death campaign opposite the Canadian embassy if the Canadian government failed to reconsider the permission granted for the Pongu-Thamil festival in Canada.
NMAT Chairman Senaka De Silva and Jathika Hela Urumaya parliamentarian the Ven. Uduwatte Nanda Thera handed over a letter of protest to Canadian High Commissioner and addressed to Canadian Premier.
They said the LTTE was engaged in ethnic cleansing of Sinhalese and Muslims in the North and East and were violating the ceasefire agreement.
"The LTTE had been avoiding coming for talks during the last 18 months demanding Interim Self governance within a unitary Sri Lanka and preparing themselves for war", the JHU MP said.
NMAT alleged that funds obtained through festivals like Pongu-Thamil was being used to kill Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people in Sri Lanka and to recruit child soldiers.
It queried as to what the Canadian stand was on the LTTE in particular and terrorism in general and called for the immediate ban of the LTTE in Canada.
NMAT spokesman, Nishantha Warnasinghe said the Canadian government while condemning terrorist attacks in the USA and Russia were giving a free hand to the LTTE to hold fund raising programmes like the Pongu-Tamil within Canada.
" If the Canadian government has this kind of a policy towards the LTTE we cannot help but consider Canada as anti-Sri Lankan, which is seeking to promote terrorism to separate this country", he said.
Meanwhile the Canadian High Commissioner had guaranteed to take up the matter with the Canadian government regarding the protest by the NMAT and Sangha Sammelanaya.
The National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) and the Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya yesterday staged a protest opposite the Canadian High Commission calling for the suspension of the Pongu-Thamil festival to be held in Toronto tomorrow.
Sangha Sammelanaya spokesman the Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera threatened to hold a fast unto death campaign opposite the Canadian embassy if the Canadian government failed to reconsider the permission granted for the Pongu-Thamil festival in Canada.
NMAT Chairman Senaka De Silva and Jathika Hela Urumaya parliamentarian the Ven. Uduwatte Nanda Thera handed over a letter of protest to Canadian High Commissioner and addressed to Canadian Premier.
They said the LTTE was engaged in ethnic cleansing of Sinhalese and Muslims in the North and East and were violating the ceasefire agreement.
"The LTTE had been avoiding coming for talks during the last 18 months demanding Interim Self governance within a unitary Sri Lanka and preparing themselves for war", the JHU MP said.
NMAT alleged that funds obtained through festivals like Pongu-Thamil was being used to kill Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people in Sri Lanka and to recruit child soldiers.
It queried as to what the Canadian stand was on the LTTE in particular and terrorism in general and called for the immediate ban of the LTTE in Canada.
NMAT spokesman, Nishantha Warnasinghe said the Canadian government while condemning terrorist attacks in the USA and Russia were giving a free hand to the LTTE to hold fund raising programmes like the Pongu-Tamil within Canada.
" If the Canadian government has this kind of a policy towards the LTTE we cannot help but consider Canada as anti-Sri Lankan, which is seeking to promote terrorism to separate this country", he said.
Meanwhile the Canadian High Commissioner had guaranteed to take up the matter with the Canadian government regarding the protest by the NMAT and Sangha Sammelanaya.
