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State position on JM: Mahanayaka urges Govt.
By Shane Seneviratne
The Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwatte Chapter yesterday called the government and the SLFP to make a clear declaration of their position on the proposed Joint Mechanism.

Ven. Tibbatuwave Sumangala Thera told a delegation of the Jathika Hela Urumaya that he was making the call in the wake of different interpretations on the proposals and also on reports that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse himself was not aware of the proposals.

The JHU delegation including Parliamentarians, Ven. Ellawala Medhanada Thera, Ven. Udawatte Nanda Thera and Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera, JHU National Organiser Champika Ranawaka and H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya called on the Mahanayaka Thera to discuss issues related to unethical conversions, the crisis over the Buddhist statue in Trincomalee and the Joint Mechanism.

The Mahanayaka Thera said he had taken part at a discussion on the JM held at the BMICH, but had not made any statement supportive of it. "During that discussion Presidential Advisor Mano Tittawella and head of the Government Peace Secretariat Jayantha Dhanapala spoke. But I did not make any comment or agree to it", he told the delegation.

Commenting on the Anti-conversion Bill, the Mahanayaka Thera said although he was at first not in favour of Parliament bringing the legislation, he now realised the need for it. He pledged to take necessary steps to make the Buddhist MPs aware of the need for an anti-conversion act.

On the tenure of the Diyawadana Nilame, he proposed that the current 10-year period should be reduced to five. Ven. Tibbatuwave Sumangala Thera also said legislation should be amended to debar a single person from holding the Diyawadana Nilame post more than once and thus reduce any untoward crises.

Foreign Missions invite JHU
Several diplomatic missions in Colombo have invited the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) to present its stance on the proposed Joint Mechanism. After the unscheduled speech by JHU Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera condemning the Joint Mechanism and the LTTE at the inaugural session of the Sri Lanka Development Forum on May 16, several diplomatic missions had requested the party to explain its case against the Post-tsunami Operational Management Structure proposed by the government.

The United States and China embassies contacted the party making prior arrangements for meetings, while the Indian High Commission has given a Wednesday appointment for the controversial nationalist party.

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