Bhikku Front launches campaign against IA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 August 2003, 17:12 GMT]
The National Bhikku Front (NBF) of Sri Lanka Tuesday commenced a propaganda campaign opposing the establishment of an Interim Administration (IA) for the northeast province by the United National Front government, and the general secretary of the NBF, Ven. Chandaloka Thera, said that the campaign will be held in Colombo and 50 other cities in the south through nearly 1500 Buddhist Vihares in the island.

The NBF’s general secretary and other leading members Tuesday distributed pamphlets that appealed to the masses to come forward to oppose the proposed interim administrative structure for the northeast province, saying it would lead the country's division.

In its pamphlet, the NBF outlined what it said were dangers in handing over the interim administrative structure to the hands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, sources said.

Meanwhile, the National Sangha Federation (NSF) of Sri Lanka at its press conference held Monday in Colombo said that, since the UNF government came to power, the LTTE has strengthened itself militarily and politically. “It is unwise to hand over the civil administration of the northeast to the LTTE, as it would become a threat to the sovereignty of the country,” the NSF said.

The NSF President, Ven. Ellawella Methananda Thera, said, "All patriotic citizens of the country should rally under one flag to oppose the UNF government's attempt to hand over civil administration of the northeast to the LTTE."

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