News

News

Mangala repairs rift with the JHU
By Harinda Vidanage & Santhush Fernando
The SLFP and the JHU have held talks on ending hostilities and reaching an understanding between them, SLFP sources said. They said the discussions held at the Isipathanaramaya in Thimbirigasyaya with Minister Mangala Samaraweera representing the SLFP and Ven Athureliye Rathana and Ven Omalpe Sobitha the JHU, were cordial and the two sides had shown willingness to soften their stances.

The sources said the JHU had agreed to extend conditional support to the government if the UPFA made a statement expressing regret over past events that had led to hostilities. The JHU leaders also demanded that the state media stop attacks aimed at tarnishing the JHU image and accused the JVP of orchestrating such attacks.

The sources said Mr. Samaraweera assured the monks that anti-JHU programmes and reports in the state media would be stopped forthwith and he would take steps to make peace between the JVP and the JHU. The Sunday Times learns that UPFA executive committee is to take up the JHU matter at a meeting tomorrow.

Minister Samaraweera at the cabinet briefing on Thursday made endearing references to the JHU and the same evening the Buddhist monks also responded in a similar vein. The JHU has also decided to convert its countrywide protest march into a vehicle procession with anti-UPFA slogans being changed into matters related to general topics.

The Sunday Times also learns that some UPFA are not happy with the Samaraweera peace moves because they believe the JHU is using this opportunity to settle its internal problems. Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera said the talks were not official, but admitted they were aimed at starting discussions on reaching an understanding between them.

JHU sources said the monks had told Mr. Samaraweera that they saw the JVP as the main obstacle to moves towards reaching any understanding between the JHU and the SLFP. The JHU sources also said the UPFA approach could be a ruse to influence the JHU to give up its "Pagamana" and "Sathyakriya" campaign starting tomorrow.

Top

Back to News