PNM should not get involved in JVP split

By Isuri Kaviratne

Patriotic National Movement (PNM) Steering Committee member, Ven. Dambara Amila Thera, has called on the organsiation’s leadership to steer clear of the JVP’s internal conflict as it was interfering with the work of the PNM. Claiming that he had the backing of district organisers, the Thera had written to the organisation’s chairman Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera requesting an executive committee meeting.

The Thera alleges that Dr. Amarasekera was backing the JVP dissidents led by Wimal Weerawansa. The Thera alleges that on April 8 the Weerawansa group had headed to the PNM head office where they had been given a warm welcome by some PNM members.

Ven. Dambara Amila Thera

“It is obvious that the visit had been pre-planned although those involved now say all they did was to treat them in the Sinhala tradition of offering kewum and kiribath. He says although the JVP members say they went to the PNM office as they had nowhere else to go it was clear that it had all been organised by some members of the PNM.

He also charged that on the following day the venue for the JVP dissident group’s news conference, the Nippon Hotel, had been booked by two PNM members under the name “Lakmawa Diyaniyo”, a PNM affiliated group, without even informing its President or Secretary. The Thera further charges that the JVP dissident group was using the PNM head office and other facilities with the blessings of the PNM leadership.

Ven. Amila Thera also charged that Dr. Amarasekera was now attacking the JVP while praising the dissident group. “He wrote an article to a newspaper saying that it was a victory for the PNM to save Wimal Weerawansa from the JVP,” he said adding that it was the JVP that supported them wholeheartedly when the organisation was formed.

“When things appeared to be getting out of hand, I phoned Dr. Amarasekera and requested that an Executive Committee meeting be held,” he said adding that he believed whether Weerawansa remained with the PNM or not, the PNM would survive. However the Thera alleged that Dr. Amarasekera kept postponing the meeting saying it would be wise to watch the situation.

Commenting on PNM Chairman Dr. Amarasekera’s allegations that Ven. Dambara Amila Thera does not have any authority to request for an Executive Meeting and the statement that the Thera had voluntarily left the movement, the Thera said that he was still actively involved in the Movement’s activities.

However, the President of the PNM Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera in a news conference declared that the Thera had failed to carry out his responsibilities and was considered as having left the movement as he had not attended Executive Committee meetings in 2007 and 2008. Dr. Amarasekera also said the Thera’s charge that the movemnt’s leadership was backing the JVP dissidents was baseless.