Ven. Dhambara Amila Thero, Senior lecturer and eminent archeologist is a Member of the National Executive Committee of the Patriotic National Movement (PNM), its Publishing Secretary and Member of the Committee of Pioneers of Manel Mal Movement (MMM). This is a translation of an interview Ven. Dhambara Amila Thero had with ‘Lanka Irida Sangrahaya.’

Question: Media has received a letter written by you to Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, President of Patriotic National Movement (PNM) asking him to stop the attempt by certain quarters to bring discredit to the organization. Why was it necessary to write such a letter?

Answer: A connection of the PNM could be seen in the statement made by Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa in the Parliament on the 8^th April and certain activities that occurred and statements that were made subsequently. Also, certain individuals including Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, using the name of PNM, its resources, properties and designations, could be seen interfering in internal affairs of certain political parties. As such, there was talk among the public that the national movement is being manipulated on a course that would lose its independence, biased to certain political parties and undertaking moves that are un-called for from such an organization. News and revelations regarding this were published in the media as well. As a result a situation arose where people lost the high regard they had for PNM and PNM was losing its credibility among the masses. This is why I proposed that the National Executive Committee of the PNM should be called to take remedial measures to correct the situation.

Question: You say that the statement of the Parliamentarian of the JVP and what happened subsequently was an un-called for interference by the PNM. What were these interferences?

Answer: It was to the office of the PNM that a group of Parliamentarians said to be with Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa was taken to after the statement. A table suitable for a wedding reception had been laid to them at the office. Dr. Wasanthe Bandara and Senaratne Silva addressed the Parliamentarians. Senaratne told the Parliamentarians that henceforth their political party would be Patriotic National Movement and their party head office would be the main office of the PNM. He also told the Parliamentarians that they had acted “very revolutionarily.” Stating that it was a historical moment he invited the Parliamentarians to go on a new path with him. Next this group of Parliamentarians was taken to a media meeting at Hotel Nippon. The hotel for this media meeting had been reserved using the name of ‘Lakmawa Diyaniyo’ an affiliated organization of PNM. However, National Organizer, the secretary or any other official of ‘Lakmawa Diyaniyo’ were not aware of this reservation of the hotel for the media meeting which had been done the day before. The hall for the media meeting had been reserved through two individuals working in PNM office. It has been revealed that Senaratne Silva was at Hotel Nippon while the media meeting was being held manipulating the Parliamentarians.

We know that the JVP was the prime force within the PNM. It is no secret that it was the JVP that gave strength to the PNM and its forcefulness. As such, it was not proper for the PNM to interfere in an issue of such a political movement and be partial to the party that has created the issue instead of giving an opportunity to get that issue resolved internally. It is evident that there is a conspiracy behind issuing statements on behalf of the dissidents, allowing the main office of the PNM for their activities and making a statement that the political party of the dissident Parliamentarians is “Patriotic National Movement.’ The objective behind this exercise is to weaken and dissolve the Patriotic National Movement by creating a conflict with the JVP that gives strength to it. How could they use the physical resources of the PNM for such a conspiratorial act?

Now Dr. Amarasekera says that I had left the national movement. Though the voice was his the idea behind that voice cannot be his. When the moon is pointed to us, we are not concerned about the shape of the finger or who points it out or what his caste is. What is important is what is pointed out. I have continuously functioned as a member of the Executive Committee of the PNM that was elected unanimously in September, 2007 and the Publishing Secretary of the PNM. I attended the October sessions of the Executive Committee. Another session was scheduled for April this year. I was informed that it was postponed. I also received a letter asking me to participate at the sessions of the Executive Committee of Manel Mal Movement (MMM) as one of its members. Later I was informed by a telephone call that this was put off. Meanwhile, funds collected by our patriots in Qatar for ‘Ranaviru Neth Pahan’ programme were handed over through me. Dr. Amarasekera has said that there was no problem regarding the funds I collected in Qatar. All this shows that an individual who manipulates Dr. Amarasekera by providing him with fabricated stories is responsible for this situation.

Question: Do you have evidence to make such accusations against Dr. Amarasekera, who as a pioneer in forming the PNM who  contributed his knowledge for its success?

Answer: It is evident that Dr. Amarasekera, knowingly or unknowingly, is acting on behalf of the interest of some group.  Dr. Gunadasa Amaraseskera is a distinguished intellect. There is no doubt about it. He has contributed immensely for the ideology for the national movement. He has held a clear view regarding the country. There is no doubt that the strength of the ideology he develops against communalism is needed for the future of the country. We too have made some mediation at the faculty meeting of Sri Jayawardenepura University to get him ‘Sahithya Soori’ honours. However, he has been cornered by some force in this incident. I will reveal another matter. I don’t reveal this to bring discredit to Dr. Amarasekera who gives leadership to PNM but to give some indication of the forces that manipulate him.

A certain group of the PNM convened a meeting of several members of the Executive Committee of the PNM at a certain professor’s residence. I came to know this. I went to this place and when I reached there the meeting had ended. I asked the professor whether the Executive Committee was convened. Then he answered that it had and asked me why I didn’t attend. Then I met Dr. Amarasekera and asked him why I was not called for the meeting of the Executive Committee.  Then he said it was not the Executive Committee that was convened but a discussion of some benefactors. He would have had a reason for not revealing to me the reason for the meeting. As such, I decided that there was a conspiracy being hatched within the PNM. It was clear that Dr. Amarasekera was involved in an exercise that was not in keeping with his reputation. From the statements he is making it is clear that he is being controlled by some force.

Question: You convened District Executive Committees of the PNM and requested that National Executive Committee be convened. Simultaneously, some claim that you have left the Executive Committee of the movement. Could you explain this?

Answer: In a situation where the President of PNM doesn’t act to convene the Executive Committee of the PNM to correct the erroneous situation of its affairs, I met all District Executive Committees to request their support to get the Executive Committee convened as it is the only way such a request could be made democratically within the PNM. All District Executive Committees representing the National Executive Committee of PNM have made this request. Under this situation what should be done is that the National Executive committee should be convened and a definite decision of what should and should not be done taken. For, letting masses have a bad impression on the movement is harmful. As the national movement gave leadership to the masses in this country and was able to achieve several significant victories within a very short time it is necessary to take it back on to the correct path.

Question: There are many views that the national movement is being betrayed for the power politics of President Rajapakse and an attempt is underway to submerge PNM in communalism. What is your view as a pioneer member of the PNM and as a member of Executive Committee?    

Answer: We did get certain indications regarding such attempts. This was confirmed by the views expressed in articles contributed by Dr. Wasanthe Bandara and political articles contributed by Wimal Weerawansa as the Secretary General to ‘Muragala’ the organ of the PNM which is intended to carry  the ideology of the organization to the masses. Views contrary to national movement were expressed in these articles. Specially, views such as “Opposing provincial councils is insanity as they are a boon for the task of the national movement” were expressed. Stating that “provincial councils are important institutions” they expressed views that strengthened federalism while preaching that “opposing federalism is the task of the national movement.” Next, we did suspect that the demonstration of PNM demanding revocation of the tiger organization being allowed to march through without any obstacle to the gates of Temple Trees, when other mass agitations were attacked with poles and shields on the pretext of ‘entering High Security Zones’, and secretary to the President coming through the gates to climb on to the temporary stage and receive the memorandum from the hands of Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa was a scene enacted on a prior design. Now it is confirmed that there were intentions to drag PNM away from its original objectives. There are only doubts before an actual incident takes place. However, their sinister aims have been revealed now. Their intentions are definitely in contrast to the genuine objectives of the PNM. We cannot allow such things to happen.

Question: Finally do you have anything to say to the patriotic masses in this country?   

Answer: We should appeal to the patriotic masses in this country. Patriotic National Movement (PNM) is a broad national movement which has shouldered a historical role and has incorporated patriots and mass organizations in this country to fulfill this objective. Its main intention is to fulfill a task that our earlier generations or our ancestors failed to fulfill. This organization has an important place in the country as the national movement which recognized threats from imperialists and attempted to launch a programme with the masses to counter vile designs of imperialism, achieving several victories in the process, just as other states carried out various programmes to counter impacts from imperialists. Imperialism has begun various operations to divide the North. PNM is the stage built for the patriots to expose imperialism and to represent nationalism. As there were no national movements in Sudan, Afghanistan or Iraq imperialists were able to intervene directly in those countries. PNM is the national movement built sacrificing sweat, blood and life to counter imperialism in its attempts to move to break into Sri Lanka due to its strategic location in the region and to plunder its resources. PNM is a patriotic national movement made up of political forces and individuals that endeavour to uphold the precedents maintained by our forefathers and keen to safeguard the Motherland and its people.

This highly important national movement should not be sacrificed to enable petit interests of a few individuals. Though this movement has progressed with certain victories it has not achieved its final goal. PNM, which is an aspiration for anti-imperialist forces in Asia and the whole world, should be preserved to give leadership to downtrodden masses and people repressed by imperialism. This is a movement which opposes not only separatist terrorism but also the local agents of imperialism. We would swear that we would be prepared to sacrifice our lives for the Patriotic National Movement (PNM) it its endeavour to fulfill its historical task. We also ask patriotic masses in this country to have confidence in the national movement and to be vigilant to safeguard it. We Also call upon all patriotic masses to be conscious of various designs of local and foreign agents who are against the genuine objectives of the PNM and to rally round the national movement to defeat all sinister conspiracies.