Bhikkhu Front calls for probe into Thera's killing

COLOMBO: The National Bhikkhu Front (NBF) yesterday requested the Government to immediately conduct an investigation into the assassination of the Viharadhipathi of Tabbataramaya at Morawewa in Mahadiulwewa, Ven. Hadungamuwe Nandarathana Thera by two unknown gunmen on Sunday. They called the Government to prevent attempts made by the LTTE to distance itself from this assassination.

"As a Buddhist monk, Ven. Nandarathana Thera has been actively involved in preventing the communalism created among the Tamil people in the North and East by the LTTE. It was revealed that terrorists were attempting to prevent these activities of the Thera. The Tigers have followed the same policy to assassinate Nandarathana Thera who did not surrender to their power," the NBF said in a media release.

The release said certain NGOs who favour the LTTE may attempt to whitewash the LTTE with regard to this killing. As the first stage, the LTTE through the Tamil Net has attempted to indicate that they were not behind this killing. Therefore the Government should prevent the attempts made by certain NGOs through their network to stress this LTTE's statement.

During their history, the LTTE has killed even their own Tamil political leaders and politicians who attempted to create ethnic harmony among nationalities.