Asgiriya Mahanayaka Thera hails Government for holding Eastern PC Elections

Asela Kuruluwansa and Sanjaya Asela Maturata

Whatever allegations UNPers made against the Eastern Provincial Council elections they should realise that it was the Government which enabled them to step into the East by totally liberating it from LTTE clutches, said Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Mahanayaka Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter.

Holding an election totally free of corruption and fraud was beyond anyone's means, but, the Eastern Provincial Council was by far better and corruption free than some of the elections held in the South, the prelate said.

Ven. Buddharakkhita Mahanayaka Thera expressed these sentiments when Education, Transport, Cultural Affairs and Land Development Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council, Wimalaweera Dissanayake called on him at the Asgiriya Viharaya and obtained his blessings on Wednesday.

The prelate said that since the election had been successfully concluded all parties should eschew petty differences and make an effort to serve the people of the East who had suffered from over two decades of conflict. He was confident that Chief Minister Pillayan would conduct the affairs of the Eastern Provincial Council in a successful manner.

More than 75 per cent of the people in the North too were against war. But they remained silent without raising their voice for peace in fear of the LTTE terrorists. Provincial Minister Dissanayake said the process of stabilising democracy in the East liberated by three communities would be carried out through the Eastern Provincial Council.

He said a 100 per cent fair election could not be held in an area where its people had not experienced democracy or an election for over 20 years. UPFA member of the Maha Oya Pradeshiya Sabha W.M. Wimalaratne was also present.