Leading Buddhists thank Lord Naseby for putting the record straight
The Buddhasasana Karyasadhaka Mandalaya (BKM), an independent non-governmental national level organization comprising of 14 leading Buddhist monks and Presidents of 14 national level Buddhist organizations, has written to the Lord Naseby, House of Lords of the UK, thanking him for pointing out to the British Parliament that it is incorrect for the British government to prejudge Sri Lanka in terms of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The BKM letter to the Lord Naseby says: “This communication is to express the sincere thanks of the Buddhasasana Karyasadhaka Mandalaya, an independent non-governmental national level organization comprising 14 leading Buddhist monks and Presidents of 14 national level Buddhist organizations, for the relentless effort of Your Lordship to get at the truth regarding the actual figures of persons who died during the last stages of the war due to the actions of our soldiers who fought their way to save our country and our citizens, irrespective of race, creed or language, from the LTTE terrorists described as the most vicious and ruthless of all such groups.
It has never been the policy of the democratic government of Sri Lanka, reflecting the views of the majority of people of this country, to wipe away the Tamil people in this country. Even today a larger percentage of Tamil citizens live among the Sinhala people in the South although the Tamil politicians are vehemently obstructing the Sinhala and Muslim citizens who were displaced by the war to go back to where they were.
It is because of the magnanimity of our people that even at the height of terrorist activity the government never shirked its obligation of feeding the nation, and looking after the health and welfare of those living in North Sri Lanka without any discrimination. Never was there a policy of starving the Tamil people as a strategy for subjugation. Hence it is difficult, even to imagine, that towards the end of the war there were war crimes committed by our soldiers especially when the winning post was nigh.
We also wish to express our gratitude to Your Lordship for pointing out to the British Parliament that it is incorrect for the British government to prejudge Sri Lanka in terms of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Your Lordship is fully aware of circumstances where false propaganda and long term interests of certain countries have ruined the hopes and aspirations of people of some middle-eastern countries. Sri Lanka is also battling a somewhat similar situation and Your Lordship’s revelations in regard to the numbers who actually died based on confidential dispatches from the UK High Commission in Sri Lanka to the Foreign Office have given the peace-loving people of Sri Lanka a ray of hope; and our sincere wish is that Your Lordship will ensure that justice will prevail.
We are grateful to Your Lordship and we sincerely wish Your Lordship long life and happiness.”
The letter has been signed by;
Diviyagaha Yasassi Nayaka Thero – President,
Tirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thero, Jt. Secretary
Prof. Agalakada Sirisumana Thero, Jt. Secretary
Ittapane Dhammalankara Mahanayaka Thero, Chief Prelate of Kotte Kalyani Dharmamahasangha Sabha,
Dodampahala Chandrasiri Mahanayaka Thero, Chief Prelate of Amarapura Sri Kalyanivamsa Chapter,
Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thero, (Chancellor, University of Kelaniya),
Balangoda Sobitha Nayaka Thero, Head, Vidyodya Pirivena,
Akuretiya Nanda Nayaka Thero, Director of Vidyodaya Pirivena,
Matale Dhammakusala Anunayaka Thero, Deputy Head, Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya,
Snr. Professor Kandegoda Wimaladhamma Anunayaka Thero,
Seelagama Wimala Nayaka Thero,
Siri Vajiraramaye Nanasiha Thero,
Jagath Sumathipala, President, All Ceylon Buddhist Congress,
M.D.W. Ariyawansa, President, Dharmavijaya Foundation,
Suren Abeygunasekara, Past President, Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA),
Sumedha Amarasinghe, Past President, YMBA and Treasurer -B.K.M,
Kusumabandu Samarawickrama, Vice President, Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA),
S.P. Wirasekara, President, Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society,
Vasantha de Silva, Vice President, Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka,
Shantha Abeysekara (Mrs), Deputy President, All Ceylon Buddhist Women’s Congress,
Dr. Jayantha Vattavidane, Vice President, Sasana Sevaka Society,
M.K.B. Dissanayake, President, Government Services Buddhist Association,
Dr. Hema Gunathilaka, President, Bauddha Sahayogitha Kendraya,
Anula Wijesundara M.D. President, Success Colombo,
Professor Asanga Thilakarathna, President, Dhamrivi Foundation,
Charles Jayawardana, Vice President, Shanti Foundation,
Waruna Basnayake President’s Counsel, Kalutara Bodhi Trust,
Manohara de Silva President’s Counsel, Buddhist Law Society,
Prasantha Lal de Alwis President’s Counsel, Buddhist Law Society, and
Pani Wewala – Coordinator, BKM.
http://www.sinhalanet.net/leading-buddhists-thank-naseby-for-putting-the-record-straight
