No. 0339
Sri Lanka: Vesak Day observed without any incidents.
Date : 2005-05-24
Colombo, 24 May, (Asiantribune.com):Though uneasy calm prevailed throughout yesterday in Trincomalee, the port city located in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam accused that the Sinhalese extremist tried to establish another Lord Buddah statue near the Hindu crematorium in Ehamparam Street, but no incidents of any violence was reported while the majority Sinhala Buddhist spend the day in prayers, meritorious activities and celebrations of Vesak, a ceremony to mark the birth, attaining of the Buddhahood and the death of the Lord Buddha.
The LTTE alleged that a group of Sinhalese youths tried to plant a Buddha statue and the group settled in the Gate-way to Trincomalee town named that place ‘Vijithapura’.
It was reported that no explosions were heard in the town after a Hindu group on Sunday suspended their strike to allow the Buddhists to celebrate yesterday the birth, the enlightenment and the passing away of the Lord Buddha .
Trouble broke out last week when Hindu Tamils protested a Buddha statue erected by Sinhalese taxi drivers in the bus stand in Trincomalee. Tamils protested for five days demanding the removal of the statue illegally erected in the bus stand and this caused lot of tension in the port city where Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims resides in equal numbers.
The Hindu Tamil Peoples' Organization which led the protests in Trincomalee suspended their work stoppage on Sunday to allow Buddhists to observe their religious rites on the holy day - the Vesak on Monday.
According to police reports nearly 18 blasts were heard in Trincomalee since the beginning of the unrest and at least one man had been killed and seven wounded.
On Sunday President Chandrika Kumaratunga met with the military and police chiefs in a bid to defuse the tension, her office said in a statement.
The statement said that Defense Secretary, the three Service Commanders and the IGP called on President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Sunday afternoon. These five senior defense officials visited the Trincomalee district on Saturday at the request of the President. They briefed the President on the current civil unrest and the steps taken to bring back normalcy to the East port city.
The statement released by the President’s office said that President Kumaratunga suggested reviving "district committees" comprising prominent local residents, religious leaders and security personnel to ensure law and order was maintained in the volatile region.
On Monday, according to reports, Buddhists in the Island celeberated the Vesak Day, with extensive illuminations with an all day meritorious activities and an uneasy calm prevailed all over the country.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga said Monday that practicing the Buddhist philosophy would help the country to find solutions for its conflict.
Addressing a Vesak Day gathering, Kumaratunga said that peace and harmony could be well achieved if Buddhist principles are adhered to by all communities and people.
Kumaratunga said a solution to the ethnic problem in the country cannot be found through violence.
- Asian Tribune -
http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=499a8cb18f6db368&cat=f97ff7b11934dbb6
Sri Lanka: Vesak Day observed without any incidents.
Date : 2005-05-24
Colombo, 24 May, (Asiantribune.com):Though uneasy calm prevailed throughout yesterday in Trincomalee, the port city located in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam accused that the Sinhalese extremist tried to establish another Lord Buddah statue near the Hindu crematorium in Ehamparam Street, but no incidents of any violence was reported while the majority Sinhala Buddhist spend the day in prayers, meritorious activities and celebrations of Vesak, a ceremony to mark the birth, attaining of the Buddhahood and the death of the Lord Buddha.
The LTTE alleged that a group of Sinhalese youths tried to plant a Buddha statue and the group settled in the Gate-way to Trincomalee town named that place ‘Vijithapura’.
It was reported that no explosions were heard in the town after a Hindu group on Sunday suspended their strike to allow the Buddhists to celebrate yesterday the birth, the enlightenment and the passing away of the Lord Buddha .
Trouble broke out last week when Hindu Tamils protested a Buddha statue erected by Sinhalese taxi drivers in the bus stand in Trincomalee. Tamils protested for five days demanding the removal of the statue illegally erected in the bus stand and this caused lot of tension in the port city where Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims resides in equal numbers.
The Hindu Tamil Peoples' Organization which led the protests in Trincomalee suspended their work stoppage on Sunday to allow Buddhists to observe their religious rites on the holy day - the Vesak on Monday.
According to police reports nearly 18 blasts were heard in Trincomalee since the beginning of the unrest and at least one man had been killed and seven wounded.
On Sunday President Chandrika Kumaratunga met with the military and police chiefs in a bid to defuse the tension, her office said in a statement.
The statement said that Defense Secretary, the three Service Commanders and the IGP called on President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Sunday afternoon. These five senior defense officials visited the Trincomalee district on Saturday at the request of the President. They briefed the President on the current civil unrest and the steps taken to bring back normalcy to the East port city.
The statement released by the President’s office said that President Kumaratunga suggested reviving "district committees" comprising prominent local residents, religious leaders and security personnel to ensure law and order was maintained in the volatile region.
On Monday, according to reports, Buddhists in the Island celeberated the Vesak Day, with extensive illuminations with an all day meritorious activities and an uneasy calm prevailed all over the country.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga said Monday that practicing the Buddhist philosophy would help the country to find solutions for its conflict.
Addressing a Vesak Day gathering, Kumaratunga said that peace and harmony could be well achieved if Buddhist principles are adhered to by all communities and people.
Kumaratunga said a solution to the ethnic problem in the country cannot be found through violence.
- Asian Tribune -
http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=499a8cb18f6db368&cat=f97ff7b11934dbb6
posted by www.truyenthong.org at 12:06 CH
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