Shut down call by Sinhala association fizzles in Trinco

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 March 2005, 18:18 GMT]
The call made by the North East Sinhala Association (NESA) for a shut down of business establishments in Trincomalee town in support of a Buddhist priest and his five disciples who is performing a satyagraha campaign since March 12 Thursday fizzled out as majority of Sinhalese in the town did not respond favourably. Venerable Mahamaduluwewe Nandaretna, Viharathipathi of Mahadiulwewa Sri Pabatharama Vihare began his satyagraha with his disciples demanding that the government should expedite providing relief to tsunami victims, five hundred thousand cash for all people who lost their houses in the natural disaster, sources said.


Buddhist monk continues his satyagraha in front of Trinco clock tower junction

Deserted Trincomalee bus stand after dynamite explosion

The Satyagraha campaign is continuing at a special dais erected in front of the Clock Tower junction, close to the bus stand

Two dynamites were thrown at the Trincomalee bus stand and a state bus and two private sector buses that are owned by Sinhalese were stoned the morning of Thursday when they disobeyed the call by the North East Sinhala Association. Few shops of Sinhalese traders were seen closed and most of the business establishments were opened as usual.

Two sheets of the roof of the bus terminal were damaged due to dynamite explosion. Large contingent of police and army soldiers rushed to the site on receipt of the explosion.

Mr.H.N.B.Ambanwela, Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr.Kapila Jayasekara, Police Superintendent and army officials visited the site, sources said.

Police officials told local journalists gathered at the scene said that only a handful of persons brought from Anuradhapura and other districts were creating this tense situation in Trincomalee. They said majority of Sinhalese and Buddhist monks in the Trincomalee town had told them that they were not in support of this agitation.

Police said they would maintain law and order at any cost.

Organizers of the NESA said they were expecting a government minister to meet the Buddhist priest and to call off his Satyagraha.