Bhikku Front protests against IA for Northeast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 September 2003, 17:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s National Bhikku Front (NBF), an organization of Sinhalese Buddhist monks, Wednesday held a Satyagraha (non-violent demonstration) campaign in thirty major towns, protesting against the establishment of an interim administrative structure for the northeast province, which the NBF said would pave way for the division of the country, sources said.

In Colombo, hundreds of Buddhist monks participated in the demonstration held Wednesday evening for about an hour opposite the Pettah Bodhirajarama Maha Vihare, led by the NBF's President, Ven. Kalawelgala Chandraloka Thera.

The Marxist and Sinhala Nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna parliamentarian, Mr.Wimal Weerawanse, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna parliamentarian Mr.Dinesh Gunawardene and members of other Sinhala nationalist organizations also participated in the Satyagraha campaign, sources said.

Buddhist monks carried white flags and lotus flowers and sat down opposite the Bodhi tree for about an hour from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., sources said.



A Buddhist monk carrying a white lotus attending the demonstration




Majana Eksath Peramuna Leader and parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardwana (extreme right), JVP Propaganda secretary and its parliament group leader Wimal Weerawansa (2nd from right) participating in the demonstration with monks.




Buddhist monks in the demonstration.


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