Ravi K in Kandy to pay homage to Mahanayake Theras

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake paid a courtesy call on the Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters yesterday (3) and obtained their blessings prior to the presentation of the forthcoming budget.

The Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter, in receiving the Finance Minister, said that his expectations for the forthcoming budget were that it would provide as much relief as possible to the ordinary citizen in general and the farming community in particular. The Venerable Thera said the people were expecting for some relief for their economic woes from the budget.

The people of this country who had The people of this country who had been battered by a severe drought recently were anxiously awaiting some relief been battered by a severe drought recently were anxiously awaiting some relief. This matter should be given top priority in the upcoming budget, the Thera stressed, adding that this needs to be done and without delay. Referring to the new taxes that were proposed the Venerable Thera also suggested that taxes should be recovered without burdening the people too much.

In reply to the views expressed by the Mahanayake Thera, Minister Karunanayake said that he would take the Venerable Thera’s advice and act in such a manner without creating problems for the common man, adding that the farming community would definitely be included in the relief measures that were proposed in the budget. The Minister also visited the Asgiriya Maha Viharaya and met the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera and obtained his blessings as well. The Mahanayake Thera expressed hope that the forthcoming budget would contain many relief measures for the citizens of this country.