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| Sunday, 8 August 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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'JHU will support the government' - Ven. Dr. Sobhitha Thera
Question:- You are known as an erudite scholar, what made you decide to enter the political arena which is normally considered as a dirty place? Answer:- I totally accept that the field of politics is not a right place for Buddhist monks as it has been corrupted by selfishness, fraud, bribery and corruption. However, the important decisions for the country are taken in Parliament, which consists of 225 politicians. The responsibilities of the Buddhist bhikku today is not the same as those of a bhikku a century ago. Can anyone say that the present bhikku can survive leaving all national, social, economic, cultural issues behind. I do not think so and we bhikkus are a part of society. At the same time, we also have an obligation to preserve Buddhism in this Dharmadveepa. These were the reasons why the Maha Sangha decided to enter active politics. Q:- Nine seats in a two month campaign is a considerable victory. Some say it was all due to the groundwork done by Most Ven. late Gangodawila Soma Thera. How do you assess the JHU's achievement? A:- According to Buddhism, a result can be brought by different reasons. Your effort will be fruitless, if you try to find out separate reasons for a final result. I accept that most Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera's tragic passing away was a decisive factor for the JHU's remarkable victory at the elections. Among other reasons the National Sangha Council's voice against some efforts to convert Buddhists to other religions was also significant. The third main reason is that people were fed up with the major political parties. Q:- At the General Election you used both print and electronic media as well as other means for your campaign. It is obvious that a small novice party cannot run such a campaign alone. Who were behind the scene donors of the JHU? A:- The freshness, timeliness and attraction of the JHU created a strong network to safeguard the party. We were helped by various people who had experienced the game played by all the political parties and politicians misleading the general public. We invited the public to be aware of the situation and those who realised the situation assisted us to run the show. Sri Lankans in foreign countries specially from the Middle East helped us. I would like to highlight that we had no invisible donors or organisations to raise our funds. As I told you earlier, it was the general public who brought us this victory. On the other hand, almost all the members of the Supreme Sangha Council had been recognised by the whole country and it attracted the public around us. However, I also accept that we have difficulties at present with the declining of the initial popularity we received. Q:- Though saffron robes are not completely new to Parliament, the JHU's entry into parliament is a new experience. Some, specially Buddhists complain that the saffron robes did not receive due respect in Parliament. What is your comment on MPs' behaviour in Parliament? A:- Cultural values have been lost in the struggle for political power. Politicians who think only about their own purse, will easily forget their own language, religion or the country. However, the ones who misbehaved in Parliament have realised the mistake they made. What we did was only bless them instead of harbouring revengeful feelings. Therefore, I don't take it as an opportunity which brought some negative aspects on Maha Sangha but, a good lesson to MPs to learn about themselves. On the other hand, the public got a chance to learn about their Parliament representatives, their true faces though dressed in immaculate white clothes. They were ashamed when they were exposed. Anyhow, we know that they have understood that the foundation of serving the public should also be Karuna and Maithree. Q:- Your pledge to the public was a Dharmarajya to the country, but when you supported the Opposition candidate when electing the Speaker, people questioned whether you had abandoned your ethics and principles? A:- We cannot enter Parliament, unless the JHU is a political party. But, we have significant differences with the prevailing political parties in the country. The JHU has pure targets and aims, which none of the other parties have. We are anyhow, not for power or portfolios. By some mistake, we too had some frail characters in our party. At the Speaker's election we did not want to vote for any. We did only neutralise two votes given by two of our MPs to one party. I reject all allegations that the JHU voted for the UNP or against the Alliance. Q:- Before the General Election you had vowed to establish a new structure or organisation completely detached from politics. Have you taken any step to keep your pledge to the public? A:- We still believe that any kind of front which everyone could work with a single purpose is the best basic foundation to uplift the Sri Lankan society and develop the country. This is a considerably lengthy process and I believe that we have already taken the first step. The first issue to be debated at the 13th Parliament is the Anti Conversion Bill brought by us. We have a number of issues like that to serve the public. For the time being, we are working on strengthening our network islandwide and we will be reaching our aims through a gradual process. We are an independent party to serve the public. We have informed the government that our stance is not to oppose anything by the ruling party and we would help them to continue as long as they are on the right track. We have also briefed the main Opposition party that the JHU will assist them only in correct objections. An Opposition's policy should not be opposing each and every proposal brought by the ruling party. Q:- How do you respond to the wide-spread belief among society that the JHU is being manipulated by its lay office-bearers? A:- No, I reject that allegation. Karunaratne and others offered their party and sponsored us to run the elections. The party leader is Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera and Parliamentary Group Leader is Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera. We don't have any struggle for leadership and all the decisions are made by the Supreme Sangha Council of the party. Q:- You mean there is no conflict between Thilak Karunaratne and the JHU? A:- Yes, That is what I say. However, some media had reported his words insinuating wrong definitions. He never warned us to vacate his building. He has officially informed that the place is commercially more valuable and it should be developed and we also have decided to shift the office to somewhere else within three months. Now, everything is ready to shift the JHU Head Office to the Isipathana Mawatha, Havelock Town. Q:- If the government decided to offer you the portfolio of Buddhist Affairs Minister and the Speaker's post, what would be your response? A:- We never asked for any portfolio from the government and even the government did not come to us with such offers. Our stance is clear that the JHU is not for portfolios but only to create an evil free society. Therefore, we don't go for posts but any request from the ruling party could be decided by the Supreme Sangha Council and Central Committee of the party. However, I should stress that we do not have any intention to bargain. Q:- Have you taken any decision about contesting in local government elections? A:- We have enough time to decide it. So far we have not made decision how the JHU will work it out. As a small party, we have a lot of things to get done before another election. At present we are busy with the Anti- Conversion Bill. On the other hand, we have to allocate most of our time to keep the party on its feet with hundreds of allegations brought by several against us. Q:- As a party which has a direct religious influence, how do you see the conflict between the Karuna faction and Prabha's faction? A:- JHU is not just based on religion. It has all aspects national, cultural, historical and economic. However, simply, I can answer you that the Prabha-Karuna conflict was not tactfully used by the politicians in South. Instead of going for some intelligent measures to sort out this burning problem, they went for petty political advantages. Q:- The Anti-conversion Bill, which is the JHU's first effort, has been challenged by some. How do you see its progress? A:- Twenty petitions have so far come against the Bill. However, it is up to the court and a judgment will be given by them. However, what I want to stress is the Bill is not against basic human rights. The petitioners had been directed by wrong assumption about the Bill and the court will decide. Q:- It has been reported that the JHU have confirmed your assistance in Parliament for the Government when necessary. Is that true and what was the reason for the change in attitude? A:- Yes, it was not a secret. We gave that assurance to the President earlier and to the Prime Minister and several other ministers recently. JHU is a fully independent party and we would assist the government to continue when necessary on any issue which brings benefits to the country. It would not allow any conspiracy against the government by power hungry politicians to succeed. Q:- Anything special you have to add? A:- Well, the JHU welcomes the Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister's suggestion to ban tuition on Sunday mornings. That is something very necessary. However, we urge the Minister not to allow it to become a mere speech to the gallery. |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
In this exclusive interview with Sunday Observer staffer Deepal
Warnakulasuriya Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Vice President Dr. Omalpe
Sobhitha Thera scoffs at rumours that the JHU is bargaining for portfolios
and other posts as a pre-condition to support the UPFA government, and
maintains that the JHU will support government programs to uplift society.
