JHU to withdraw support to Government if 13th amendment is fully implemented

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 June 2009, 09:50 GMT]
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), the Buddhist monks’ political party, Monday declared that it would withdraw its support to the government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse if it fully implements the 13th Amendment to the Constitution or attempts to bring any other solution for the ethnic conflict devolving more powers to provinces including land and police.

JHU is an ally of the government with nine parliamentarians in the current parliament.

“Some sections of the polity now advocate that the Government go for full implementation of the 13th Amendment”, said JHU parliamentarian and Environment and Natural Resources Minister Mr.Patali Champika Ranawake, announcing his party’s decision at a press conference held in Colombo Public Library Auditorium Monday.

“The 13th Amendment was something enforced on Sri Lanka by outsiders and the full implementation of it would grant the powers of controlling lands and police forces to the provincial councils, he said. If such powers are given to the provincial councils the sovereignty reinstated by the soldiers sacrificing life and limb would be of no avail,” he added.

He said the 13th Amendment had been approved by a parliament whose term had been extended by an illegitimate referendum and more so it was a document that was forcibly thrust upon Sri Lanka by the Indian Government 21 years ago.

The JHU does not oppose the provincial council system but granting further powers to them could not be allowed and if the government attempts to do so the party would resign from the Government and lead the public to defeat such efforts, he said.

He challenged those who promote and advocate the Government for a full implementation of the Amendment to an open debate with the JHU on the issue.

Ven. Athuraliya Ratana Thera, parliamentary group of the JHU said the JHU with the Maha Sanga would actively campaign during a General Election to block the implementation of the amendment.

The JHU was launched in February 2004 by the nationalistic movement Sinhala Urumaya.

Two founding members of the party Ven. Kolonnawa Sumangala and Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera left the party due to difference of opinion between the clergy and lay members.