on 25 Mar. 2014
Asela Kuruluwansa and Indika Polkotuwa
The Mahanaya Theras' of the four major Buddhist Chapters in the country are to issue a missive to the UN Human Rights Council urging the body to refrain from entertaining one-sided reports which aim to put the government into difficulty.
The Chief Prelates are to call the UNHRC to make a full and impartial review of the entire conflict spanning 30-years, without confining the council's attention to only the final phase.
The Mahanyakes' expressed their intentions on sending a missive after External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris briefed them in Kandy about the current happenings in Geneva including the moving of a resolution against Sri Lanka.
The External Affairs Minister had visited Kandy on an invitation extended by the Mahanayaka Thera's who requested the Minister to brief them on the current situation.
The Mahanyake's emphasized that reports which have forgotten the massacres and mayhem unleashed by the LTTE were absolutely one-sided.
The Prelates in their letter are to question the UNHRC about their intentions in pressurizing Sri Lanka at a time when the government is doing its utmost to bring about reconciliation and ethnic and religious unity.
They are also to question the suitability of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to lead an investigation on Sri Lanka.
Minister Peiris addressing the Maha Sangha on the occasion noted that a section of the diaspora were behind attempts against Sri Lanka. He said these members were influencing some powerful countries with the use of their money.
Minister Peiris said the aim of these forces were to bring about a change of government through undemocratic means as they knew this cannot be achieved through democratic means.
These forces he noted were using canards to tarnish the government's image with the aim of destabilising the country.
The Minister also said that some countries today were using human rights as a political tool to impose their will against some developing countries.
"As long as the people are with the government external forces cannot do as they like," he pointed out.
Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera, Mahanyake of the Asgiriya Chapter, Mahanayake of the Ramanna Nikaya Most Venerable Napana Premasiri Thera, Most Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter, Most. Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawasa Anunayake Thera of the Amarapura Chapter, other Buddhis monks and Diyawada Nilame of Dalada Maligawa Pradeep Nilanga Dela participated.
