Removal of JHU leader:

Unanimous decision of party

Suraj A. Bandara

The removal of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) leader Ven. Ellawala Medananda Thera is not a decision of certain group of the party. It was an unanimous decision of the party members at the annual party convention, said JHU General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka.

He was briefing media over the controversial decision of the sudden removal of leadership of the JHU at the Public Library and Documentation Auditorium yesterday.

He further said that the JHU has been appointing its frontliners through a consensus at the annual convention. Not even a single arbitrary appointment has made so far in the party. “We take decisions after consulting all the party members and having their majority consent the leader is appointed,” he said. It is true that there was an internal discussion over the party leadership in recent past. The leadership was changed from one to another as a democratic move. “JHU is based on Buddhist principles, therefore, we will never leave anybody to be frustrated and will never look down upon any one in public,” he said.

Responding to a query over the comments made by former leader Ven. Ellawala Medananda Thera to the media that he was removed from the leadership without being informed about it, he said the party had sent him a registered letter before one month. Unfortunately the letter had been misplaced due to certain careless post office employees, he said.

Newly elected leader Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said we have no personal dispute with the former leader of the party. At the party convention all members unanimously elected me to the post of leadership of the JHU. “I will take all possible actions to bring the party forward and surpass the challenges which we have to face in the future”.

When asked about the JHU position over the proposed constitutional reforms Western Provincial Council JHU member explained we have never opposed the executive Presidency. “Reforms should be made to make Executive President as a responsible one to the Parliament and Judiciary.

The terms of the President should be decided by the people of this country not by the constitution,” he further said.