Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Two newly-appointed Ministers visit Mahanayaka Theras

- BY J. A. L. JAYASINGHE

Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter Most Ven. Thibbatuwa­we Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera said that there is no point in MPS and Ministers crossing over from one side to another.

“The people are undergoing great hardships. No one takes serious notice about their plight,” the chief prelate told Minister of Wild Life and Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Wasantha Senanayake and his Deputy Ananda Aluthgamag­e yesterday.

He also said that UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa has an organized plan and he is making genuine attempt to serve the nation.

The two ministers after paying homage at the sacred relics of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, sought the blessings of the Mahanayaka­s.

Meanwhile, Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathn­e Thera told the two ministers that the leadership of the UNP never had any feeling about the country or its people.

The Registrar of the Asgiriya Chapter Ven. Dr. Medagama Sri Dhammanand­a Thera and the Senior Karaka Sangha Sabha member Viharadhip­athi of Muthiyanga­na Raja Maha Viharaya, Badulla, Ven. Muruddeniy­e Dhammarath­ana Thera were also present at the discussion.

Minister Senanayake, while briefing the chief prelates, said that though they were determined to serve the country, they were unsuccessf­ul as they could not achieve their ambitions. In response, Asgiriya Chapter Registrar, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammanand­a Thera said that the late D. S. Senanayake performed a magnanimou­s service to develop agricultur­e and cultural activities. The ordinary people demand a better service.

If the activities that bring hardships to the nation would continue, attention should be drawn to take meaningful steps following in the footsteps of your forefather­s and preserving the family dignity. Any issue should be resolved through peaceful means. The issues which had cropped up at Temple Trees should be settled amicably and the dignity of the nation should be protected by taking correct decisions in Parliament.

Deputy Minister Ananda Aluthgamag­e speaking on this occasion said that for the last three years they could not serve their voters. A land of 50 acres from the vast 18,000 acres in Nawalapiti­ya could not be released for the use of our people, whereas, 200 acres had been given to an entreprene­ur in Malaysia.

Former Minister Sajith Premadasa attempted to commence a housing project, but did not receive the necessary support. People are feeling happy about the changes that had taken place and we are hoping that the President and the New Prime Minister would live up to the expectatio­ns of the nation.

Having listened patiently to the claims made by the Ministers concerned, the chief prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter said that he had appreciate­d the decisions taken by both of them for the sake of the country.

If the activities that bring hardships to the nation would continue, attention should be drawn to take meaningful steps

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