Sri Lanka Buddhist monk party to keep away from Myanmar issue

Colombo Page
Tuesday, October 2, 2007, 13:27 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Oct 02, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Sinhala Buddhist monk led Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a government coalition party, announced today that it would keep away from the problems between the Myanmar Buddhist monks and the military led government of Myanmar.

JHU leader Ellawala Medhananda Thero condemned the military regime�s repressive measures against the Buddhist monks but said the problem should be resolved amicably between the parties since it is an internal matter of Myanmar.

JHU parliamentary group leader Athuraliye Rathana Thero addressing a press conference today said that the Western media bloated the news on the issue but they should not interfere with the internal matters of the Myanmar state.

Sri Lanka government has also not issued a statement on the events continuing to torment Myanmar. However, a statement issued by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said Sri Lanka will continue to 'observe closely' the situation in Myanmar. The Editorial of the Daily Mirror today stated that the hesitation was probably prompted by the fear of being accused of interference in internal affairs of another country.