By Niranjala Ariyawansha

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) whose advent into national politics also heralded the entree of Buddhist Monks to mainstream politics in the country, took a U-turn at the Party’s 13th Convention in Colombo yesterday with the Champika-Nishantha gang grabbing absolute control of the party.

The JHU Central Committee had taken steps to bring in some major changes at the 13th Convention held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium and unpredictably Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera who has led the party for the past 13 years relinquished leadership.

Adding to the dramatic turn in events the Convention witnessed Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera being stripped of the Party’s Chairmanship. He had been Party Chairman since its inception. His ouster brings the curtain down on the prolonged cold war between him and Minister Champika Ranawaka who was the Party’s General Secretary.

Ven. Rathana Thera had however boycotted the Convention. A Party stalwart told Ceylon Today that the Party had extended an invitation to the Ven. Thera despite his continuing violation of Party’s discipline.

Addressing the convention, outgoing leader Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said, politics and religion were interconnected, observing that “Mahatma Gandhi once said, if anyone argues that there is no connection or relationship between these two he is either unaware of religion or has no idea about the inherent nature of politics .”

Deputy Minister Karu Paranavithana and Ven.Hadigalle Wimalasara Thera were appointed Co-Chairmen of the JHU, while Minister Ranawaka and Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe were retained in office as the General Secretary and National Organiser respectively.

Significantly, a new party leader was not officially appointed at the convention. Asked for comments, the Ven. Rathana Thera said he does not want to talk about the Party Convention.

Of significance was the fact that the JHU Convention was attended by UNP heavyweights General Secretary Kabir Hashim, Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Malik Samarawickrama, Mahinda Amaraweera, Anura Yapa, Dilan Perera and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.

Courtesy: Ceylon Today