
The state-owned Independent Television Network has recently launched a series of attacks on UNP National List MP and Kotte Organiser Dr. Harsha De Silva, for resting his arm over the shoulder of a Buddhist monk during last Wednesday’s Enough is Enough protest in Colombo.
As obvious in the video sequence, De Silva and other MPs were tightly crammed on a flatbed truck, where UNP leaders were addressing the media. In the chaotic and congested situation, De Silva’s arm rests on the shoulder of a Buddhist monk who later turns to give the UNP MP a TV mic to pass on to another speaker, the stills of which have been skillfully manipulated to make the images look indecent.
ITN has repeatedly called on De Silva to apologise to the country’s Buddhists whose sensibilities have been hurt by the disrespect shown to the monk on camera. The campaign has resulted in a convoluted social media and web campaign also vilifying De Silva and casting disparaging comments on his behaviour. Similar images appeared online after UPFA Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa was captured arm in arm with JHU Leader Ellawela Medhananda. However, ITN never carried out such a campaign against Namal Rajpaksa despite the web campaign.
On Saturday, De Silva called ITN and explained the sequence of events. “It was never intended. No disrespect to my religion was meant and it was a genuine human mistake. I called ITN and told them what happened and more importantly provided an apology to any and all Buddhists that I may have offended by my inadvertent act, with the expectation they would carry the same in their evening news. But instead of carrying my apology they continued to attack me saying I should apologize. Such is media ethics of this country. Please find below my voice cut to ITN taped by them at my residence at 2.00 pm on Saturday 17 August 2013,” De Silva said on his official Facebook page.
See videos below:
The real scene;
Harsha’s apology;
C. Wijeyawickrema / August 19, 2013
No number of Namal R pictures with a monk can sanitize the ugly thing Harsha guy did.
See the mood of NamalR. It is very peaceful.
But the Harsha thing happened without his knowledge, It is an emotional embrace that can happen with extreme quantity of love and passion. Hope it is political love and nothing more. Harsha apology makes his case worse.
This is why it is called a picture is worth a thousand words.
From the picture it appears that the monk man has shaved his armpits. I am not sure if a real monk is expected to shave the armpits.
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Piranha / August 19, 2013
Hallucinating again, Wijewickrema?
Too much of the Rajapaksa potion can make you see things that are not actually there.
You are nothing but a shameless Rajapaksa asslicker.
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Eva / August 19, 2013
Well said. All are
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Aney Apochchi! / August 19, 2013
C. Wijeyawickrema:
What a bunch of unadulterated b.s. which will only be read and given any credibility in a Buddhist Jihadist country like SL!
P.S.
DO YOU SHAVE YOUR ARMPITS?
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Garusinghe / August 19, 2013
C Wijewickrama,
Dont show your insolvency and nakedness.
Find some other meaningful ways and means to attack someone.
What a low level Dhobis (laundy cleaners) this regime has.
Cheap is always cheap! Same as the Gonpakses.
Totally Bankrupt!!
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Leelage appa / August 19, 2013
You shit head s should keep your opinion and ITN can shut up. Harsha is a Buddhist he looked in the mirror and apologized to him self!!! Idiot get your fellows to apologise for the Balu Sean monks talking like thugs!!!
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gamini / August 19, 2013
To all these Pious Olcott Buddhists including C. Wijeyawickrema and that Radawaliyadde at ITN, tell me frankly what did you feel when Mervyn Silva squeezed the Testicles of a Buddhist monk in the Parliament and had to be hospitalized for a month? Where was your Piety then?
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Chandra / August 20, 2013
C Wijeya-
Why do you keep shooting yourself in the foot?
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Mr Retort / August 20, 2013
Wije, you are good feel AMUDA of Hudda and nothing more
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K.A Sumanasekera / August 19, 2013
Did that good looking Gun MP Jayasekra say Sexual Harassment was one of the reasons to jump ship?.
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I am no muslim / August 19, 2013
Harsha may have inadvertently mistaken the monk for Man-gala.
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Rooster / August 19, 2013
Q & A from Leela.
Sumana’ asks and Iam no’ answers.
Furzana’ ask and Hameed’ answers.
Sarojoni’ asks and Jimsofty’ answers.
John asks and Muliawaikkal answers.
Ajithkumara’ asks and Sivanandan’ answers.
‘kohn karega krorpathy – Gota karega Leela krorpathy’.
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Haramanis / August 19, 2013
Why do you keep bringing up sexual harassment. Have you been a victim of it as well? Have you been sodomised against your will in the past which makes you see sexual harassemnt where ever you look?
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Peace Lover / August 19, 2013
i think K A Sumansekera has certain feelings towards his own gender thats why he talks like that and he also seems to have a mighty crush on that old man Sambandan of TNA poor Sumansekera is like a schoolgirl on the throes of puberty dreamin go of his own gender! haahhahahahahaaha
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Leelage appa / August 19, 2013
He may have been correct. Sumenesekera dear, check his but on our behalf please, now that you have access?
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Taraki / August 19, 2013
Why is Harsha apologising? That was no monk, just a bald fool in a robe. A real monk does not take part in politics.
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Patriot / August 19, 2013
Where in Tripitaka says that monks cannot take part in politics.
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Jim softy / August 19, 2013
Patriot is a Christian Tamil.
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Senerath K / August 19, 2013
On the contrary you both are BBS Buddhists. Not pure Buddhists luckily.
If Dr Harsha wants what you suggest, he wouldnt do such things in public in front of tens of thousands of people.
You guys are stinking really. ITN must be dismantled.
Do practice Buddhism not ‘BuddhiCham’ (Champika’s buddhism).
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Nihal / August 19, 2013
Patriot
Having read only a small portion of the Tripitaka so far, I am certainly no expert on the subject, but even a glance at a Sutta taken at random will tell you that such an activity as politics is forbidden to Monks, who are expected to lead a contemplative, secluded life. According to the Kevatta (Kevaddha) Sutta in the Digha Nikaya, a virtuous monk will not engage in, inter alia, “talking about kings, robbers, ministers of state; armies, alarms, and battles…; vehicles; villages; towns, cities, the countryside….” “H]e abstains from talking about lowly topics such as these.” Politics is “the art or science of government” and it certainly involves talking about kings, ministers of state, towns, cities, etc. If just talking is prohibited, then how much more being actively engaged in politics!
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roy / August 19, 2013
goood!!!!!!!!!!
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JayGee / August 19, 2013
Gay priest Gay politician !!!
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nds / August 19, 2013
I fully agree with “Taraki”‘s comment…..Real Monks should not participate in Politics…… The monk on this picture is definitely a rogue….Could be a set up……
I know when my husband was a 16 year old, the monk in the temple near their house used to get my husband to go to the boutique to get cigarettes!!! It does not say in Tripitakaya not to do it…..But, its ugly….Simple as that…..
Both Namal Rajapakse and Harsha De Silva are wrong…..They should not behave like this…..Even if the monks involved here are fake, they should respect the ROBE of the religion!!!
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Marwan / August 19, 2013
I don’t understand why respect the ROBE of the religion, when the man wearing it could be a habitual drunkard, womanizer or a downright fraudster (No specific reference to in this case). Aren’t you just deceiving yourselves without questioning the virtues or piousness of the man being worshipped. If you want to worship the ROBE, why not tie it on a tree (which is free of sin) and worship it, instead of when adorned by a sinful man. This is what we call monk hegemony, created by monks, for the monks and with no one to question it. I fail to see the logic or the connection to worship something or someone, and the saffron ROBE. To me, worship is a holy act, and needs to be held in high esteem with noble values, to the most deserving, unadulterated and pure in virtue. In my humble opinion, men in ROBES don’t come anywhere close to it. Do they even truly practice celibacy, abstain from handling monetary transactions amongst many others which they are supposed to practice? I doubt it very much.
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savio / August 19, 2013
people are with you harsha!!
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mela / August 19, 2013
why are you guys waisting your time discussing what itn reports . it government propaganda ,get on with life without waisting time ,
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kk / August 19, 2013
Harsha mistaken that monk as Ranil
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kk / August 19, 2013
Namal is helping to old monk to walk no issue with that , look at Harsha he is showing his sexual feeling openly
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roy / August 19, 2013
[Edited out]
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.
For more detail see our Comment policy
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gamini / August 19, 2013
This is the result of Banda bringing Buddhist Priests to Political Platforms, when Sir John vehemently opposed the move saying the Priests should be chased back to the Temples applying tar on their posterior. Many Olcott/Anagarika Buddhists took umbrage of Sir John, who was castigated then. Now we can see the full dividends of such Political Expediencies. I think I still have a photo where Wimal Modawansa with his hands resting on the shoulders of a Buddhist monk on a political platform. Mangala carrying a Buddha Statue from it’s head and so on. Now this Namal with Athuraliye Rathana. I cannot believe this man Harsha to have done the same and there is no excuse. He should have been mindful at all times. I presume this is what the Olcott Buddhists have driven Buddhism to today, where Buddhist Priests being baton charged are seen running with the robes tucked and the Police thrashing them is no better than the above photos.
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aljuhara / August 19, 2013
Patriot, monks are not allowed to engage in speech which inflames and incites people- they are not allowed to touch money-
they do not work, they live off the food provided by the lay people therefore there are certain things that are expected from them.
Ie that they develop themselves spiritually and guide people spiritually
if you want to take part in politics just do it, and get your voters to feed your campaigns – but dont sully the Buddhist robe which is a different thing altogether.
(and as for the shaved armpits, thank goodness, actually. We dont want to lose our breakfast everytime we switch on the news…)
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gonbella / August 19, 2013
Much ado about nothing. What can you expect from the Govenment sponsored ITN other than muck raking. Muck raking is needed to divert attention from the state sponsored killings at Weliveriya and BBS thuggery at Grandpass.
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Benadict / August 19, 2013
A real monk does not take part in politics.
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Taraki / August 19, 2013
“Bhikkhus, be my heirs in the Dhamma, not my heirs in material things.” – Majjhima Nikaya 3
“It isn’t right, monks, that sons of good families, on having gone forth out of faith from home to the homeless life, should talk on such a topic(the strengths of different leaders). When you have gathered you have two duties: either Dhamma-talk or noble silence.” – Udana 2 Raja Sutta
“Whereas some brahmans and contemplatives, living off food given in faith, are addicted to watching shows such as these — ….war-games, roll calls, battle arrays, and regimental reviews — he (the bhikkhu) abstains from watching shows such as these. This, too, is part of his virtue”. – Digha 2 Samannaphala Sutta
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michael / August 19, 2013
The most possible answer to Harsha’s matter is that this monk is a person who just put on a yellow robe [an imposter]for this event. That’s why Harsha suddenly forgot it when the protest reach it’s climax. Maybe this is another Mangala’s idea to show the majority Srilankans that even few monks with us[UNP] or show that we also have monks support.
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Lapatiya / August 19, 2013
I do not see anything wrong with Namal baby arm in arm with “Nidan Wasthu Chakrawarthi” Ellawala, because he has every right for that as Namal Baby’s Family has blood relation with Lord Buddha as revealed by Historian, Hon.Jackson Anthony.
Also, on the other hand Namal Baby, Jathiye Aadambarakara Putha, has a right do as in the picture as his Farther, “Aadambarakara Thaththa” is the sole Custodian of the Buddha Saasana as he is known as “Saddarmadveepa Chakrawarthi 3 Singhaladeeshwara”
These ITN guy’s are well aware of the connection between “Rajapaksha Family” and “Suddodhana Generation” and that is the reason why our Ranaviru Police Forces still could not find ITN Office to catch that wanted “Yakada Theif” Sudharman Parana Yakadagoda.
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Senerath K / August 19, 2013
Lapatiya (& others),
I too have heard that this Jackaas anthony apperently linked the Rajapaksas with Loard Buddha. Is there any link or news avaibale regading this? If so please let me know.
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Lapatiya / August 19, 2013
Self appointed Historian Jackson Anthony revealed that Important connection at Nelum Pokuna Opening ceremony if my memory is right.
This is how this Hyena connected Rajapaksha’s, King Dutugamunu and Lord Budda’s Suddodana Paramparawa.
Giruwapattuwe Mahinda Rajapaksha is a great, great, great Grandson of King Dutugamunu and King Dutugamunu is from Suddodana Raja Paramparawa. Therefore Giruwapattuwe Mahinda Rajapaksha is related to Lord Buddha’s Suddodana Paramparawa. This is how this Coward connected the Thug Killer Rajapaksha, King Dutugamunu and Suddodana Paramparawa.
I don’t have any link to offer but may be someone will help you with the right link.
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Senerath K / August 20, 2013
Thanks mate.
I will check it out.
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Punchisingho / August 19, 2013
I voted this government.
But I don’t read Lake House lies.
I don’t listen to Hudson’s canards.
I don’t watch ITN’s concocted stories called ‘news’.
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Taraki / August 19, 2013
There is an inherent problem of trying to intermingle religion with politics. The basis of religion is morality, purity and faith, while that for politics is power. In the course of history, religion has often been used to give legitimacy to those in power and their exercise of that power. Religion was used to justify wars and conquests, persecutions, atrocities, rebellions, destruction of works of art and culture.
When religion is used to pander to political whims, it has to forego its high moral ideals and become debased by worldly political demands……Nevertheless, if a Buddhist wishes to be involved in politics, he should not misuse religion to gain political powers, nor is it advisable for those who have renounced the worldly life to lead a pure, religious life to be actively involved in politics. – K Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera
This just shows what imbeciles we have voted into power over the years.
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kk / August 20, 2013
This is the leading economist in the UNP talking baila and doing dirty dancing
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kk / August 20, 2013
Harsha is following Ranil and Mangala
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The Civilized World / August 21, 2013
WALK-IN DESCRIBES MUSLIM EXTREMIST ACTIVITIES IN SRI LANKA
READ THIS ARTICLE :
http://wikileaks.org/cable/2003/10/03COLOMBO1810.html
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mahela / August 21, 2013
This is an eye opener to UNP to find how Rajapakse “Uguduwa” Baffoon keep his eyes behind everything what’s going on in UNP 24 hours a day, every day.
The Uguduwa was smart enough to publish this minor incident in ITN when no other UNP meetings or events are ever broadcast or telecasted in his Family run ITN TV programmes.
This incident was shown in ITN purely to sling mud at UNP, while punishing the Buddhist Monk that participated it’s protest.
This monk was arrested also part of the Rajapakse “Set up” and an executed plan.
UNP and all other opposition parties have to take extra precautions from this Hambanthota Ke.ri Bal..a “Gan Kabaraya Uguduwa” who always keep an eye on what’s going inside other parties and who will plan his next Conspiracy against them. None of the other UNP events were ever shown in ITN other than this incident.
It is high time to go under the Bedroom of Gan Kabaraya to see what the double face showman joker doing inside the Araliya Gaha in the evenings.
UNP may get some help from Wicki Leaks to find more on the above issues. Good luck.
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kk / August 22, 2013
Gan Kabaraya
Hi Mahela feel sad,
UNP may get some help from Wicki Leaks to find more on the above issues. Good luck.
MR will get more from porn sites about Ranil , mangala, harsha and other UNP [Edited out]
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