JHU protests 'malicious propaganda' by State media

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 May 2004, 17:41 GMT]
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Friday held a demonstration in Colombo against the State electronic and print media for conducting what it said was "malicious propaganda" against the party. A group of Buddhist monks including JHU parliamentarians went in procession from the Wijerama Mawatha to the State run Rupavahini (Television station) Corporation.

Demonstrators held placards condemning the State media for carrying "false propaganda" against the JHU and its leaders, media sources said.

Meanwhile the JHU has decided not to contest the six provincial councils, Southern, Western, Sabragamuwa, Uva, Central and North Central, for which elections are scheduled to be held during the first week of June, sources said.

In the meantime, Venerable Akmeemana Dayaratna Thera who is to succeed the dissident JHU monk, Venerable Kataluwe Ratnaseeha, who resigned Tuesday, is to step down to make way for another monk to enter parliament, JHU sources said.

Venerable Rajawatte Wappa Thera will be appointed to fill the vacancy, JHU sources said. Two dissident monk parliamentarians of the JHU, including Ven Kataluwe Ratnaseeha Thera, voted with the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the Speaker's election.

Ven Ratnaseeha Thera was said to have been abducted on the eve of Deputy Speaker's election Tuesday. However he appeared before the Speaker Wednesday and submitted his resignation. The Speaker accepted his resignation as a voluntary one without any pressure when Ven Ratnaseeha said he was not abducted by anyone, sources said.