JHU HAD LINKS WITH BBS SINCE 2004: GAMMANPILA
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya MP Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said that the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) continued to have links with the Bodu Bala Sena and its General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera even after 2004.
Addressing a news conference held at the PHU head office to counter Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka’s statement that JHU had no relationship with the BBS since 2004, the MP said the JHU was the only political party, which held a joint meeting with the BBS in 2013.
“On July 2, 2013, the BBS and the JHU held a joint rally in Maharagama to call for the abolishment of the Provincial Council system. Minister Ranawaka and Gnanasara Thera were the main speakers at the rally.
“The Minister was supposed to attend a Sangha Convention held on September 28, 2014 but at the last minute he didn’t attend. However, he met Burmese Monk Ven. Ashin Wiratu with Gnanasara Thera,” he said.
He also said the Minister held meetings with the BBS and other Buddhist organisations in October and November, 2014 prior to the presidential election over a Buddhist candidate and taking a common stance at the election.
Meanwhile, he said Ven. Hadigalle Wimalasara Thera, the incumbent JHU Co-president was an active member of the BBS at the time it was formed.
“In fact, it was Ven. Wimalasara Thera who organised the Buddhist Convention held in Aluthgama and invited
The Minister was supposed to attend a Sangha Convention held on September 28, 2014 but at the last minute he didn’t attend. However, he met Burmese Monk Ven. Ashin Wiratu with Gnanasara Thera
Ven. Gnanasara Thera to it,” MP Gammanpila said. Referring to the statement made by Minister Ranawaka that the same lawyer had appeared for both Gnanasara Thera and MP Gammanpila, the MP said the same lawyer once appeared for Minister Ranawaka and the JHU as well. “The minister also says my lawyer appeared for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, which is a lie. The Minister’s argument was since we share the same lawyer, we should all stay together. According to that argument, I, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake should also stay together because Presidents Counsel Romesh Silva had appeared for all three of us,” he said.
When asked about the allegations made by JHU member Anurudda Pradeep against the MP and his call for a debate over the matter, MP Gammanpila said he was ready for a debate with Minister Ranawaka instead.
“Anurudda Pradeep has no people’s mandate. On the other hand, Minister Ranawaka and I both contested from Colombo and got elected. The Minister is a Government member and I an Opposition member. I’m open for a debate with the Minister anywhere anytime but not with the people like Anurudda Pradeep,” he said.