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Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Police arrest and release Sihala Ravaya monk
By Ruwan Laknath-February 19, 2014
Jayakody
A
Sihala Ravaya monk, Ven. Dhammananda Thera, was arrested on Tuesday
(18) afternoon, in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station, when a
tense situation arose on the third day of the organization's protest,
fast and satyagraha, calling for an immediate ban on cattle slaughter in
Sri Lanka.
He was subsequently released by the Fort Police.Member of the Sihala Ravaya, Ven. Puliyadde Suddhamma Thera, National Convener, Ven. Magalkande Sudhaththa Thera, and National Organizer, Ven. Yakkalamulle Pavara Thera, commenting on the incident, said: "The situation appeared to be volatile when our monks and supporters were engaging in the satyagraha. While the police were around, a person we suspect to be a police officer in civvies, had assaulted one of our monks.
We therefore formed a 'barricade' to obstruct the use of the road and we will continue with our protest against the slaughter of cattle, and at the same time, we demand the immediate release of Ven. Dhammananda Thera, who was very badly assaulted, and arrested by the police. Even though we had received a written response to our demand, we will not accept it as it contains no reference to cattle slaughter. We request that the government responds in a manner that is acceptable to our demands."
Meanwhile, the Police Media Unit, commenting on the situation said: "When the protestors saw us they tried to show that they were powerful. Traffic had also come to a complete standstill in the area."
When Ceylon Today contacted the Police Media Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana, about any impending arrests of Sihala Ravaya members who were inconveniencing the public, he said, "There has been unrest where the satyagraha is being staged but I cannot categorically say whether anyone had been arrested."
Continuing their third day of protest through a continued fast and satyagraha on Tuesday (18), the Sihala Ravaya said that, while their peaceful actions and the request to the government to ban cattle slaughter through the enactment of an Act had yielded no substantial response, they will consider acts of self-immolation to draw attention to the issue.
The President of the Sihala Ravaya, Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thera, said they had embarked on a taxing and gruelling march on Sunday (9) and had arrived in Colombo on Sunday (16). Now they were on the third day of an enormously strenuous and physically draining satyagraha in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station.
On Monday (17), they had handed over a letter of plea to a Sub Inspector who had visited the scene, requesting that the letter be handed over to the President. In an ominous foot note, the Sihala Ravaya had threatened that if their demands were not met by Tuesday (18), a monk would be ready to self-immolate, thereby making a human sacrifice.
Previously, a stretch of road in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station had also been temporarily barricaded.
By Ruwan Laknath-February 19, 2014
Jayakody
A
Sihala Ravaya monk, Ven. Dhammananda Thera, was arrested on Tuesday
(18) afternoon, in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station, when a
tense situation arose on the third day of the organization's protest,
fast and satyagraha, calling for an immediate ban on cattle slaughter in
Sri Lanka.He was subsequently released by the Fort Police.Member of the Sihala Ravaya, Ven. Puliyadde Suddhamma Thera, National Convener, Ven. Magalkande Sudhaththa Thera, and National Organizer, Ven. Yakkalamulle Pavara Thera, commenting on the incident, said: "The situation appeared to be volatile when our monks and supporters were engaging in the satyagraha. While the police were around, a person we suspect to be a police officer in civvies, had assaulted one of our monks.
We therefore formed a 'barricade' to obstruct the use of the road and we will continue with our protest against the slaughter of cattle, and at the same time, we demand the immediate release of Ven. Dhammananda Thera, who was very badly assaulted, and arrested by the police. Even though we had received a written response to our demand, we will not accept it as it contains no reference to cattle slaughter. We request that the government responds in a manner that is acceptable to our demands."
Meanwhile, the Police Media Unit, commenting on the situation said: "When the protestors saw us they tried to show that they were powerful. Traffic had also come to a complete standstill in the area."
When Ceylon Today contacted the Police Media Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana, about any impending arrests of Sihala Ravaya members who were inconveniencing the public, he said, "There has been unrest where the satyagraha is being staged but I cannot categorically say whether anyone had been arrested."
Continuing their third day of protest through a continued fast and satyagraha on Tuesday (18), the Sihala Ravaya said that, while their peaceful actions and the request to the government to ban cattle slaughter through the enactment of an Act had yielded no substantial response, they will consider acts of self-immolation to draw attention to the issue.
The President of the Sihala Ravaya, Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thera, said they had embarked on a taxing and gruelling march on Sunday (9) and had arrived in Colombo on Sunday (16). Now they were on the third day of an enormously strenuous and physically draining satyagraha in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station.
On Monday (17), they had handed over a letter of plea to a Sub Inspector who had visited the scene, requesting that the letter be handed over to the President. In an ominous foot note, the Sihala Ravaya had threatened that if their demands were not met by Tuesday (18), a monk would be ready to self-immolate, thereby making a human sacrifice.
Previously, a stretch of road in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station had also been temporarily barricaded.
