ASHOK, NALIN WANTS RATHANA THERA TO CLARIFY

MP Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera who pledged support to SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa should make a statement on the pledge given by Mr. Rajapaksa on Wednesday that he would give fertilizer to farmers free of charge, two ministers supporting the New Democratic Front candidate Sajith Premadasa said yesterday.

State Ministers Ashok Abeysinghe and Nalin Bandara Jayamaha told a news conference that Ven. Rathana Thera should make a statement on this pledge as he was a person who had lobbied for organic food and banning of chemical fertilizer.

“Mr. Rajapaksa made the pledge in the presence of the Ven.thera therefore the latter should make a statement on it,” Mr.abeysinghe said.

State Minister Jayamaha said Mr. Rajapaksa should state whether he would provide organic fertilizer or not as the Anurdhapura District where he held the rally on Wednesday is ramped with Kidney disease which said is a result of using chemical fertilizer.

Responding to the statement made by Mr. Rajapaksa that he will get the security forces members who are being held in the custody freed, the state Ministers said the present government had not remanded any security forces member on false charges or for fighting the LTTE.

State Ministers Ashok Abeysinghe and Nalin Bandara Jayamaha told a news conference that Ven. Rathana Thera should make a statement on this pledge as he was a person who had lobbied for organic food and banning of chemical fertilizer.