COLOMBO Feb 24 Kyodo sum of two u...

COLOMBO Feb 24 Kyodo

sum of two units of Sri Lanka's most influential Buddhist monk have uttered disapproval over the decision through a group of militant priests to call in question the April 2 parliamentary elections.

''This is the beginning of a grave calamity to the Buddha Sasana (the Buddhist order),'' a joint statement by way of chief priests of the Siam Maha Nikaya (Siam sect) said.

Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi and Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha also said the instigate caused alarm and astonishment among pious, earnest Buddhists of both the ministers and the laity.

An extremist majority party has fielded 260 Buddhist monk -- all of its candidates -- for the election as an entity called the National Heritage Party.

The party, formerly called Sinhala Heritage, had no representation in the 225-member parliament dissolved Feb 7 according to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, still it had one member in the previous parliament.

''We wish to point gone out that the Maha Sangha (Buddhist clergy) should fulfill its responsibility and discharge its toll with circumspect and correct perspective,'' the chief priests said.

The party possibility of goods to be a significant influence factor in national politics, saying one as well as the other major mainstream parties, led by way of Kumaratunga and by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, have obstacle down the majority Sinhalese Buddhists.

Buddhists from the Sinhalese community, comprising 69% of the country's 186 million populace are the dominant religious assemblage in Sri Lanka. The 155% Hindus, mainly Tamils, are the main religious minority. Muslims and Christians in approximately equal proportions make up the balance.

At the last general election, common Buddhist monk was for the first time culled to parliament. He contested from a socialist party allied to Kumaratunga's People's Alliance.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Kyodo novels International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group