Sri Lanka: Monks break up US-sponsored seminar for journalists

Sri Lanka: Monks break up US-sponsored seminar for journalists

Monk violence on the rise ( file photo)

Saturday, March 29, 2014

By Chris Kamalendran

A journalist training programme — funded by an international non-governmental organisation based in the United States – was abandoned on Friday after Buddhist monks disrupted it in the wake of the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka in Geneva. The two-day in-house programme for 30 journalists was being held in Polonnaruwa on the theme of ‘search for peace’ when it was disrupted by the monks four hours after it began. The journalists taking part were from all ethnic communities in the Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts.

“About 20 Buddhist monks entered the hotel where the workshop was taking place and said that any US-funded programmes will not be allowed to be held in the district and they wanted the organisers to call off the programme,” the spokesman for the INGO Search For Common Ground said.He said the monks told them that as the US had moved a resolution against Sri Lanka they would not allow US-funded projects in the district.

The spokesman said some journalists had argued that they should be allowed to go ahead with the programme as it would benefit them, but the monks warned them they could face repercussions if they continued. “We decided to call off the programme and told the journalists to go back home. However a few female journalists were allowed to stay overnight as they could not travel at night,” he said.

The INGO on its website says it is an international non-profit organisation operating in 30 countries and its mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict away from adversarial approaches toward cooperative solutions.

Ban on civic rights of Gen. Fonseka no longer a bar : exercises his franchise

(Lanka-e-News- 30.March.2014, 4.30PM) The ban on civic rights of Gen. Sarath Fonseka ended today. Hence he exercised his franchise at yesterday’s provincial council (PC) elections. He cast his vote at a polling center at Madapatha , Piliyandala. Based on the jail sentence meted out to him , his exercise of civic rights were barred for 8 years meaning that he cannot contest or vote until the expiry of this period under the laws of the country. Yet , Fonseka had registered as a voter in Pliyandala , and the polling cards were sent to him.

Accordingly Fonseka went to cast his vote and none obstructed him. If an individual whose civic rights have been withdrawn is eligible to cast his vote he also becomes eligible to contest elections.

General Fonseka who made a special statement to Lanka e news in this connection said , his ban on civic rights had ended with effect from today. No matter what efforts are made by the Rajapakses to launch attacks on him they have been proved unsuccessful; like how a rubber ball comes up in water irrespective of the force used to push it down , he too will rise up, he added.