Monk accused as LTTE supporter begins fast-unto-death campaign

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 March 2008, 13:16 GMT]
The chief priest of Batticaloa Mangalaramaya Vihara, Ampitya Sumanarathna Thero commenced a fast-unto-death campaign Monday morning from 7:00 a.m., demanding that Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parliamentarian Ellawela Thero withdraw the complaint lodged at Batticaloa police station accusing him as a supporter of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Ampitya Sumanarathna began his campaign on a specially constructed stage opposite the Vihara and demanded that Ellawela Thero publicly apologize for the false allegation.

Ampitya Thero, while stating that only a high official of police in the district has the right to decide whether or not he is a supporter of LTTE, has also demanded disclosure of the accounts of funds allocated for the restoration of the Vihara.

The Buddhist monk refused to end the fast even after police and religious dignitaries pleaded with him.