The JHU faces a split as two key MP monks clash over the role of some of its lay members. Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka thera and Ven. Athureliye Rathana are pulling in different directions with the former demanding that the monks should have absolute control over the party to prevent certain lay members from dictating terms to the all-monk parliamentary group.
The crisis appeared to have been triggered by what an insider said was a concerted effort by Sihala Urumaya elements to take over the party.
Ven. Dhammoloka was to publicly demand this last Wednesday. He also planned to level a series of allegations against some of his colleagues. Political sources said Ven. Dhammaloka reluctantly agreed to delay his action on the promise that an effort would be made to neutralise trouble makers. He had told his followers that he wanted to clear the party of all undesirable elements by November 4. Otherwise, the monk would make what the sources termed the delayed revelations on a certain section.
Ven. Dhammaloka thera while addressing the press at the Mahaweli Auditorium last Wednesday claimed that they have buried the hatchet. "This may be temporarily," the sources said, underscoring the fact that Ven. Dhammaloka thera intended to go on the offensive unless his demand was met.
Ven. Dhammaloka thera, a key member of the Supreme Council who himself was accused of misconduct by his opponents within the party, had raised several contentious issues with Ven. Ratana the day before the media briefing, the sources said. Among the issues was the financial integrity of a key lay member of the JHU, the sources said.
Ven. Ratana had made a desperate bid to convince his colleague to call off Wednesday’s briefing which was scheduled to begin at 10 am. But Ven. Dhammaloka thera had been adamant that he wanted to go ahead with as planned as he would not bow down to pressure from any quarter. They had met at Asapuwa where Ven. Dhammaloka thera resides.
According to sources, Ven. Ratana had warned his colleague that his actions would destroy what they build with great difficulty. He had also emphasised that it was not fair to get rid of Sihala Urumaya activists as they too laboured for their success. Ven. Ratana, the sources said, had pleaded with his colleague to re-consider his action as it would be detrimental to their efforts. But Ven. Dhammaloka thera had dismissed Ven. Ratana’s argument, stressing that whatever the outcome of his future course of action, he would not hesitate to go public unless the Sihala Urumaya activists fade away.
Contrary to speculation that Ven. Dhammaloka thera would resign his parliamentary seat in protest, the sources said that he would not do that. That was exactly what his adversaries want. Then they would be able to fill his vacancy with a monk who would be agreeable to the Sihala Urumaya strategy, the sources said.
Ven. Dhammaloka thera, the sources said, would not do what his colleague Ven. Sumangala did. Sumangala who vehemently opposed Sihala Urumaya’s hold on the party recently resigned his parliamentary seat and also quit the party.
Ven. Dhammaloka had told his followers that a section within the party conspired with the UNP against him. The thera expressed the belief that recent articles and reports derogatory of him were part of the campaign against him.
Political sources said that UPFA heavyweights were taking advantage of the crisis. The UPFA was making a concerted effort to strengthen the hands of Ven. Dhammaloka thera, the sources said. UPFA heavyweights, the sources said, were of the view that the JHU would be more flexible if the ven. Thera succeeded in getting rid of Sihala Urumaya elements.
The sources said that Ven. Dhammaloka thera had the backing of the majority of the parliamentary group.
