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Kalmunai satyagraha called off after assurances
View(s):A five-day sit-in Satyagraha protest led by a Buddhist monk, demanding the authorities to upgrade the Kalmunai North sub Divisional Secretariat (DS) was called off yesterday after assurances that the matter would be resolved shortly.
Bodu Bala Sena monks and members addressing state officials in Kalmunai
Among those who gave assurances was Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary, the Ven Galagoda-Aththe Gnanasara Thera. He assured the protesters that he would take up the matter with the Minister to provide relief soon. Earlier parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera also visited the protesters.
Led by Subathramaya Vihara’s chief monk, the Ven Ranmuthugala Sangaratna Thera, the group that included a Hindu priest and local politicians, began the satyagraha on Monday in front of the sub DS office.
The protesters claimed that the request to upgrade the office that represents an area with a majority of Tamils living in the Ampara district was put in the back burner due to communal politics in the region, despite many promises given by political leaders.
Two days after the protest began, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Vajira Abeywardana informed Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians that a separate accountant for the disputed local body had been appointed and the upgrading of the sub DS could be completed in three months.
When Ministers Daya Gamage and Mano Ganesan along with TNA spokesperson M. A. Sumanthrian visited the protest site on Friday to convey the minister’s assurance, they were booed by the protesters who demanded immediate intervention by the authorities and a gazette notification upgrading the office.
Meanwhile, a counter sathyagraha campaign was launched by another group consisting of Muslims who said the office was formed illegally to serve the interests of one particular community.