JHU PICKET BEFORE KINGSWOOD

Kingswood back in the news — this time, a JHU monk finds fault.

Last Saturday (15th Mar) a politically significant JHU MP-monk and another regional political figure of the JHU crashbanged their way into the Kingswood College premises and dispersed an ongoing religious meeting at the College Main Hall.

The alleged MP-monk (who became famous for his alleged heart-attack on the day of the budget vote last December) was furious and his anger was articulated in his choice of words directed at the Principal of the school. Apparently, the school had let the college Hall for a prayer meeting that consisted, among others, members of the Christian ”Jehovah’s Witnesses” sect.

Indeed, the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” have their own religious belief and their faith is manifested in ways which might look irrational to more orthodox religions. But, this doesn’t give anyone the licence to treat this group with insolence or with a different measure. However, the claim the said JHU agents made was that the metting was housing Tamils who had the potential of also being “terrorists”. Now, this was a strong claim made — for, was this to be true, then Kingswood College and its administration becomes involved in hosting “terrorists” within its premises.

We are not sure as to how the college proposes to tackle this issue — legally and politically. But, it is alleged that the monk-MP had disperesed the meeting, taken down the names of all that were at the said meeting and had also shouted at the school Principal in abusive and revealing language.

The following Monday, the JHU had organized a picket in front of Kingswood, throwing the 12.30 traffic into a huge jam, that the Police had to re-direct the noon traffic through the New Road at the Heerassagala Junction. It is said that the school’s monk, Ven. Kinigama Somawansa (fondly known to the boys as Gal Thattaya) had also stepped out to join the protesters.  

The JHU has always been articulate in its anti-LTTE voice (pic c/o The Nation) 

Anyways, the College administration is reported to have been furious over this picket that throws the school’s reputation into the bargain. But, we’re not sure how they mean to react against this. The situation becomes even more volatile as the present government is known for its strong Sinhala-Buddhist ego. And this is not the first time Kingswood has its name drawn with that of controversy.

However, the point we stress on is the unashamed behaviour of the Buddhist fundamentalist group, the JHU. In a society where the Democratic codes are determined by numbers and heads, these hooligan MP-monks can barge into the meetings and assemblies of any other “minority” group and let all Hell lose. Even if their suspicion of a terrorist was credible, their course of action should have been otherwise. They could have informed the Police or the relevant authorities, than to take the law into their hands.