Prelate commends MP’s remarks on loincloth, the ocean and the election

A group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs led by Namal Rajapaksa are visiting Buddhist temples around the country these days, seeking blessings from the Maha Sangha. They have been calling on the chief incumbents of these temples during these visits. Among the temples they visited recently were the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, the Bellanvila Raja Maha Viharaya and the Sunethradevi Pirivena. On one of these visits, in one temple, the chief incumbent held the hand of SLPP parliamentarian D. Weerasinghe and told the MPs led by Mr. Rajapaksa that Mr. Weerasinghe had made a very good statement to the media recently. When asked what that was, the prelate recalled that Mr. Weerasinghe, when asked who the SLPP’s presidential candidate would be, had replied that people were starting to wear their loincloths to name candidates when the sea that was the presidential election was still so far away.

The monk noted that this was a good response. “There are so many other issues in the country that need to be resolved. The election is anyway still far away. There is no sense in going about throwing your support behind one person or another,” he said.

Several SLPP MPs have expressed views in recent weeks over who their potential candidate will be.

Mr. Rajapaksa agreed with the prelate's assessment of Mr. Weerasinghe’s response, saying the MP had given the response because he loved the party. “Various people in the party have said different things (on an SLPP presidential candidate), but they are not speaking for the party. Ultimately, we will make a decision collectively on who the candidate will be. We will talk about the candidate when the election comes. This is not a time to waste time on such talk,” Mr. Rajapaksa said.