Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

CONVENE PARLIAMENT TO RESOLVE PRESENT POLITICAL CRISIS: MAHA SANGHA

- BY YOHAN PERERA

Hundreds of monks who gathered at the New Town Hall on Tuesday passed a resolution to urge President Maithripal­a Sirisena to work in accordance with the Constituti­on and to convene Parliament in order to resolve the present political crisis.

The Monks passed this resolution at a Sangha Samuluwa Tuesday afternoon.

Ven. Hadigalle Wimalasara Thera said the objective of the resolution passed by the Maha Sangha is not to bring back UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesi­nghe as the Prime Minister but to safeguard democracy of the country. “Our sole effort is to safeguard democracy in the country as per the duty of all monks. Monks have always guided the leaders of the country especially in crisis situations to put the nation on the right track and our effort is to fulfil this task which we have been engaged in the past as well,” he said.

Ven. Battaramul­le Dayawansa Thera also expressed the same sentiment said duty of the monks is to change the course of the country so that there would be peace and normalcy in the country.

Ven. Bopitiye Dhammasara Thera said what the country need is democratic administra­tion’. We don’t want an administra­tion of Hitler,” he said.

Ven. Dhambara Amila Thera who was critical of President said his statement that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa were offered the premiershi­p before appointing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was unacceptab­le. “President said he offered the Premiershi­p to Speaker Jayasuriya and Mr. Premadasa four months ago. We cannot accept this because of the reason he gave for sacking

Ven. Hadigalle Wimalasara Thera said the objective of the resolution passed by the Maha Sangha is not to bring back UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesi­nghe as the Prime Minister but to safeguard democracy of the country.

Mr. Wickremesi­nghe was plotting to assassinat­e him. The assassinat­ion attempt came up recently and the statement that Mr. Premadasa and Mr. Jayasuriya were offered the premiershi­p cannot be accepted,” he said.

He warned that the internatio­nal community might take tough action against Sri Lanka if the present crisis continue.

 ?? PIC BY PRADEEP PATHIRANA ??
PIC BY PRADEEP PATHIRANA

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