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| Thursday, 21 October 2004 |
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by L.B. Wijayasiri and Asela Kuruluwansa in Kandy
The Mahanayake Thera who met a deputation of the Association of Secretaries to Ministers (Amathy Lekamwarunge Sangamaya) who called on him at the Malawatte Maha Viharaya Kandy, said some political leaders were criticising the National Advisory Council on Peace and Reconciliation, without putting forward any meaningful suggestions to solve the conflict. "What is important is not to criticise from outside but to join the peace effort and put forward views. All concerned in the south should unite and come to one decision and put forward that decision before the LTTE, stating this is our solution. "Unless this is done, there would be no peace," he said. All political parties should come into a consensus when the country, the nation and religion are faced with a grave situation, the prelate said. He said he did not mean that all political parties should arrive at one decision always. "Such a step would help create a dictatorship in the country," the prelate said. The Mahanayake Thera said what he was stressing repeatedly was that they should unite to achieve peace in the country. The Mahanayake Thera said the Maha Sangha of the all three Nikayas were anticipating to issue a joint statement stressing the need of all political parties to come to a common consensus in national issues. "If politicians are not going to listen to our requests, the Maha Sangha would be compelled to discuss and take stern action against such politicians. In the event of such developments, the Maha Sangha would be compelled to boycott meetings and ceremonies attended by politicians," the Mahanayake Thera said. He stressed that he did not and would not approve the Maha Sangha taking into party politics, and a permanent program of work was needed to stop the Maha Sangha taking into active party politics. The Mahanayake Thera lamented that politicians of this country did not take much interest in working for the welfare of the rural people. People in some remote villages travel from one village to another by hanging on creepers as there are no bridges. Any government did not attend to the needs of the poor people in less privileged villages. The Maha Sangha in poor temples in villages are neglected. Steps are being taken to establish a trust to help such Maha Sangha and the poor, he added. Ven. Uwatenne Wimalasiri Thera, secretary of the Sri Lanka Nidahas Pavidi Sangamaya, secretary to the Association Ajith Jayasundera, President Gamini Gunasekara (Finance Ministry), Treasurer Kumaradasa Giribawa, Executive, Ismail Nazar, National Organiser, Claude Thomas and executive committee member Jayasuriya Udukumbura also participated. |
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Produced by Lake House |
The Most Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of
the Malwatte Maha Vihara chapter said they would be compelled to boycott
functions attended by politicians if the Mahanayake's repeated requests to
all political parties to unite to find a lasting solution to the ethnic
conflict were disregarded.
