by

Shamindra Ferdinando

Two organisations of Buddhist monks, affiliated to the UNP, yesterday pledged their support for Maithripala Sirisena as the common presidential candidate, though both seemed confused about his post-presidential election role.

The Eksath Bhikku Peramuna and the Eksath Jathika Bhikku Peramuna vowed to bring an end to what they called the authoritarian Rajapaksa regime by installing Sirisena as president. Responding to a query, Ven. Thalpotha Dhammajothi Thera said that contrary to media reports, Sirisena, would continue as President with the executive presidency stripped of the current draconian features.

However, Ven. Bopitiye Dhammissara Thera said that Maithripala Sirisena would remain only a titular president.

The monks briefed the media after meeting MP Maithripala Sirisena yesterday in Colombo.

UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said at an Opposition rally at Muttiah grounds in Gangaramaya on Nov. 12 that the executive presidency would be abolished.

Ven. Dhammajothi Thera said that the UNP, Maithripala Sirisena faction of the SLFP, JVP, JHU as well as civil society organisations would work closely to ensure the Opposition’s victory at the Jan. 8 poll.

Asked why they had now pledged support for Sirisena after having demanded the nomination of Karu Jayasuriya as the UNP presidential candidate, the monks said that the Working Committee of the UNP had unanimously decided to back Sirisena’s candidature as the common candidate and they respected that decision. They said that the common candidate project had the blessings of Karu Jayasuriya as well.

Asked why Wickremesinghe, who was not considered fit to be the UNP presidential candidate, had been promised the post of the executive Prime Minister, the monks insisted that the UNP National Leader had always been their choice for the premier.

The monks said the JVP would support the ongoing project to pave the way for Wickremesinghe to be the premier. When it was pointed out that the JVP hadn’t publicly said anything to that effect, the monks said that there was consensus among all Opposition political parties including the JVP that the President should be defeated.

Responding to another query, the monks said that many SLFPers, too, would support their campaign.

Ven. Girambe Ananda Anunayake Thera said that the Maha Sangha had been left with no alternative but to launch a political movement to defeat President Rajapaksa as he had repeatedly ignored the advice given even by Maha Nayaka Theras. The monk said that the movement launched by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera had gathered momentum and the people were rallying round the Opposition alliance.

Ven. Meetiyagoda Gunaratne Thera declared that longstanding SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena’s defection to lead the Opposition’s struggle was a huge victory for them. The thera urged the Maha Sangha to throw their weight behind Maithripala Sirisena to ensure the restoration of democracy.

Ven. Bopitiye Dhammissara Thera said that the President had called a presidential election two years before the scheduled date and therefore the Opposition should take advantage of the situation to ensure his defeat. The monk claimed that as many as 70 per cent of the voting public were now with the Opposition.

The monks declared that they wouldn’t be intimidated by the Rajapaksas. They said people had risen against the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s dictatorial regime in spite of threats and intimidation.

Ven. Dhammissara Thera dared President Rajapaksa to explain his failure to take action against the members of his government who were on the wrong side of the law. The monk stressed the responsibility on the part of the President to punish wrongdoers without shielding them. He was responding to a recent statement attributed to President Rajapaksa that the latter had files containing information as regards corrupt deals government parliamentarians were responsible for.

Commenting on the government’s claim that it had the support of a vast majority of the Maha Sangha, the Bhikku organisations affiliated to the UNP alleged that monks attended various events organised by the UPFA under duress. They claimed that the police had been used to ensure the participation of large groups of monks at various events. The recent function at Anuradhapura, where President Rajapaksa deposited sacred relics in the Sandahiru Seya, had been no exception, the UNP monks said.

Courtesy:The Island