Buddhist monks protest for NPC election

Thousands of Buddhist monks led by the United National Party backed Eksath Jathika Bhikkhu Peramuna was to stage a protest in the North urging the government to hold the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) election in order to ensure civil administration in the area.

Vice President of the Eksath Jathika Bikkhu Peramuna Venerable Marapana Hemananda Thera told a news conference that the Bhikkhus would be compelled to join the Northern people in their struggle to win their civil rights.

The Venerable Thera said the government should not force the Northern people to do certain things as they were a group of people who suffered for 30 years because of LTTE leader Prabhakaran. “They had to listen to Prabhakran those days and now they have to listen to the government,” the Thera said.

The Eksath Jathika Bhikkhu Peramuna National Organiser Venerable Abanwala Gnanaloka Thera said it was time the government thought of the general public without focusing on their political ambitions.

Referring to a recent statement made by Venerable Elle Gunawansa Thera that he had filed petitions containing the corrupt deals which the ministers of the present regime had been engaged in, but did not have the means to file action against them, Ven. Gnanaloka Thera said they were willing to assist Ven. Gunawansa Thera in this matter.

“We are willing to support Venerable Gunawansa Thera to file action against the Ministers and let’s do it for the sake of the country,” he said.

The Bhikkhus would be compelled to join the Northern people in their struggle to win their civil rights