Joint Mechanism: Ven. Rathana Thera hands over document to President

From Ranil Wijayapala and Asela Kuruluwansa in Kandy

The Parliamentary Group leader of the Jathika Hela Urumaya Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera at the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony of the Sri Lanka Development Forum yesterday handed over a document to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga expressing their opposition to the offering of a Joint Mechanism to the LTTE.

The monk who attended the Sri Lanka Development Forum - 2005 at Earls Regency Hotel, Kandy, representing Jathika Hela Urumaya rose to his feet at the end of President Kumaratunga's speech, to raise opposition to the Joint Mechanism. The Ven. Thera also urged the donor community to brand the LTTE as a terrorist organisation.

He also urged the international community to put pressure on the LTTE to destroy the airstrip in the Wanni and to put a stop to recruitment of child soldiers and political killings.

The Thera also said if Government is offering a Joint Mechanism to the LTTE, the Parliament should be informed of it prior to the move. The Thera handed over the same document to World Bank country Director Peter Harrold, prior to the commencement of the inauguration ceremony.