Sunday, May 26, 2013

BBS wants Gota to man Buddha Sasana Ministry

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today said the Buddha Sasana Ministry should be brought under the purview of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to protect Buddhism.

BBS General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara thero told a news conference that the Buddha Sasana Ministry was currently performing a poor service in protecting the Buddha Sasanaya and observed that the time had come to take a decision in this regard.

Gnanasara Thera said it could be recommended that the Defence Secretary should be given the responsibility of the Buddha Sasana since he was a person the BBS trusted.

Addressing a joint press conference organised by the BBS and Sihala Rawaya organisation regarding the self-immolation of Bowatte Indrarathana Thera, the BBS General Secretary further said Sinhala Buddhists should awake and be committed to fulfil the aspirations of the Buddhist monk who sacrificed his life for the nation. He further said within a period of one week, the BSS would take a decision regarding the Ministry of Buddha Sasana which is currently performing a poor service to Buddhists and the Buddha Sasanaya.

“We cannot expect an effective service from the Ministry of Buddha Sasana in protecting Buddhism. It has come to the status of a multi-religious Ministry that ignores the real issues of Sinhala Buddhists,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BBS called upon President Mahinda Rajapaksa to convene a discussion with all Ministers to discuss the issues relating to the Sinhala Buddhists. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

State Media Knew Of Monk’s Self-Immolation Plan In Advance And Filmed It – Secretary Media Ministry

May 26, 2013

The incident of the Buddhist monk Bohowatte Indararatna thero’s self-immolation has sparked a journalistic ethics issue Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath told the Sunday Times.

Charitha Herath

According to the Sunday Times, investigations by Media Ministry has revealed that the monk had, before setting himself on fire told the local correspondent of a State media institution of his plans to do so. The correspondent had videoed the entire event. The material had been aired both in State run and private television networks.

“We have to ask the media to draw the line when it comes to such issues. As a result of the correspondent in question keeping the incident a secret until he videoed it, the life of a monk is now in danger,” he told Sundya Times. Media Ministry Secretary said his Ministry was going into the ethical issues in this regard. “We don’t want to be restrictive but the media, both State run and private, must know their limits in cases like this,” he said.

Court orders Kelaniya PS Chairman’s arrest

SUNDAY, 26 MAY 2013

Mahara Magistrate Darshika Wimalasiri ordered the Kiribathgoda police to arrest the Chairman of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Prasanna Ranaweera and produce him in court, in connection with the alleged assault on the businessman of the area and a supporter of Minister Mervyn Silva.

Police investigating the complaint of Kaduruketiya, Kelaniya resident Christie Roy Perera, submitted a report to court.

Meanwhile the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman had made a complaint that Perera assaulted him. The magistrate who considered the police report ordered the arrest of Roy Perera as well.

Police told court that an altercation between the two parties, when Perera was erecting a cut-out at Roseville place in praise of a prominent minister’s wife, had resulted in the assault. (Ganidu Rochana Samaratunga)