BETRAYAL OF KING DON JUAN IN 1505 WAS COMPARATIVELY BETTER THAN THAT OF RANIL WICKREMESINGHE SAYS BHIKSHU PERAMUNA

By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles

President of the Jathika Bhikshu Peramuna and teacher at Sri Jayawardhanapura University , Kotte, Venerable Dambara Amila Thero told thousands of protesting Buddhist monks in front of the Bodhitree in Pettah , Colombo that the actions of puppet king Don Juan in 1505 in betraying the country to foreign invaders were comparatively better than the actions of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today who was planning to betray the country to the terrorists of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

On the birthday of Sri Lanka’s national hero, the late Anagarika Dharmapala who fearlessly rallied the Sinhalese against the British imperialists, addressing the September 17 Sathyagrahaya in Pettah, the Venerable Amila Thero said hundreds of such protests were being held all over the country against the plans of the Ranil Wickremesinghe government to divide the country and help form a separate state called Eelam.

Mahajana Eksath Peramuna leader Dinesh Gunawardena and other party officials and the Information Secretary and the parliamentary leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Wimal Weerawansa joined thousands of Buddhist monks and laymen who sat down in front of the Bodhi Tree in performing the protest Sathyagrahaya against the division of the country.

Addressing the protestors theVenerable Dambara Amila said with the help of the Ranil Wickremesinghe government the LTTE was involved in an effort to legitimize the division of the country. The Jathika Bhikshu Peramuna , the Venerable Amila said, had taken over the responsibility of rising up with the mammoth power of the masses against the traitorous act of the United Front government. He said through the so-called MOU the government of Ranil Wickremesinghe was attempting to establish the separate state called Eelam. He said the Buddhist monks would at the risk of sacrifice of their lives would rise up against the attempt and destroy all aiding foreign powers to protect the beloved motherland.

Reminding of the great Buddhist monks in the past who fought fearlessly to protect the independence of the country like Wariyapola Sumangala, Kudapola, Rabewa, Migettuwatte and S. Mahinda Theros, the Venerable Amila reminded the government that the Jathika Bhikshu Peramuna was an organization of fearless young monks who had the courage and bravery of facing thousands of bullets of the traitorous government. He said these monks would not give up the struggle until they made this beloved country a place suitable to live for all the Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims with equal rights and dignity. He said the Buddhist monks who were assembled there were giving the pledge to take the lead in a struggle to preserve the country as a unitary state.

Addressing the protestors of the Sathyagrahaya, MEP leader and former Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said the protest was held at the most decisive moment of the island nation’s history. He said it gave him a ray of hope when Buddhist monks were once again coming forward to save this nation at a momentous time.

Reminding the audience that the protest was being held on the birthday of great Anagarika Dharmapala, Dinesh Gunawardena said the Pettah area was used by the great hero to revitalize the nation at a time when the historic country was crushed under imperialistic boots of the white man. He said the same white man who left the country had returned with the help of the Brown Sahibs. Dinesh said at today’s Sathyagrahaya they pledged not only to fight the Brown Sahibs but also the returning white man. Dinesh said he wanted to severely warn the Prime Minister that his plan to hand over the North and the East to Prabhakaran and South to the white man would not be allowed at any cost. He said all pledged today that they would bring back the country to a position where it would be a proud place for all future generations to stand up with an erect head. He said all sectors of the nation should be united under the advise of the Sangha to defeat the division of the country.

JVP parliamentary leader Wimal Weerawansa said in 1505 a traitorous and puppet king of Sri Lanka called Don Juan betrayed the country to the Portugese. He said the government of Ranil Wickremesinghe in power today was similar in its puppet like activities to those of Don Juan. He said in the presence of such a disaster in the country’s history it was no time for the nation to be divided. Weerawansa said this was a momentous time that all parties should be united despite their individual political agendas and ideologies

To protect national independence and motherland and to stop the betrayal of the country to the foreigners and the division of the country in every small hamlet and town , the people should be united the JVP leader said.

Wimal Weerawansa further said, the time has come to understand the danger of the moment. He said one would commit the greatest sin of becoming a traitor if one would merely try to grab power and achieve high positions by not setting aside small differences and come forward in a united front. Weerawansa said a broad national front was being formed in the country automatically. No power could prevent that power. It was the utmost duty of all patriots to save the country accordingly , Weerawansa appealed.