2ND LEAD:

Parliamentarian monk withdraws fast unto death

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 June 2005, 06:21 GMT]
Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera, the parliamentarian monk from the Sinhala ultra nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), gave up his fast unto death on Saturday at 9.15 AM following the assurances given by the Chief Prelates of the Buddhist order in the country. Meanwhile, a media release issued from the Presidential Secretariat on Saturday quoted President Kumaratunga as saying to the Chief Prelates that "the proposed Post-Tsunami Operations Management Structure (P-TOMS) does not threaten Sri Lanka's national security or territorial integrity".

JHU Parliamentarian Monk, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera

The campaign, which completed seventh day against the implementation of the Joint Mechanism, was brought to an end at the request of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, according to sources in Kandy.

Mahanayaka Theras, earlier on Thursday, had issued a 24 hour long ultimatum demanding a reply from the President to abrogate the Joint Mechanism proposal.

The Mahanayake Theras were rushed to President's Residence on Friday evening in a special helicopter from Kandy for a meeting with the President.

Ven. Sri Sumangala Thera of Malwatte Chapter, Ven. Veweldeniye Medalankara Thera of Ramanna Chapter and Ven Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera of Amarapura Chapter attended the meeting with the President for more than an hour.

The Mahanayake Theras, on Saturday morning, met the fasting monk, Ven. Omalpe sobitha Thera, and requested him to withdraw from the fast unto death campaign, sources said.

Ven Buddharakhkhitha Thera of Asgiriya Chapter is scheduled to meet President Kumaratunga Saturday as he was unable to meet her on Friday, according to Presidential Secretariat.