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'Political power temporary'

by L. B. Wijayasiri in Kandy

Most Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Mahavihara Chapter observed that the political power derived from the people was temporary and when those powers were misused or arbitrarily used the people rejected such rulers. That principle was common to both the ruling and opposition parties and both those paries should keep that in mind.

The prelate made those observations when Enterprise Development, Industrial Policies and Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris called on him at the latter's official Aramaya at Malwatte in Kandy yesterday (17) morning to receive the blessings.

Kandy District MP Mrs. Chithra Shrimathi Mantilleke, Presidents Counsel Wijaya Wickramatunge, Professor Anuradha Seneviratne and Municipal Councillor Raja Pushpakumara were were present.

Minister Peiris at the outset told Mahanayake Thero that the main objective of his visit was to convey to the Mahanayake Thero a special message from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Prime Minister wanted him to tell the Mahanayake That his government would continue to seek blessings and advices of Mahanayake even after the elections and not only before and during elections.

Unlike some other parties who sought the advice of Maha Sangha before and during the elections and forgot hem after the elections, the UNP would continue to seek and follow their advice.

He also told Mahanayake Thero that the peoples' hopes and expectations were in a very high degree but there was little time to attend to them and fulfil those expectations.

Therefore Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had already taken initiative towards the implementation of the 100 Days emergency development program announced before the elections by him. For the first time in 7 years the Cabinet meeting last Wednesday commenced the scheduled time of 10.00 a.m.

In reply to a statement made by the Mahanayake Thero that the rural people in upcountry areas were suffering due to the breakdown in the agricultural sector, Minister Peiris said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had plans to devide the country into five Industrial Zones and develop those areas under five Authorities.

It was under that programme that Central Region Development Ministry was created and Tissa Attanayake was entrusted with that responsibility. He would now attend to the needs of rural peasants in Kandyan areas and take steps to develop agriculture while Minister Kirielle would look after the Plantation Industry in the Central Hills.

Mahanayake Thero was highly critical of a High Police Officer in the Province and accused him for the alarming rate of election related crimes committed in Kandy area.

However if not for the action taken by SSP Kandy Division Asoka Ratnaweera the situation would have been worse. Disciplinary action should be taken against those police personel.

Minister Peiris said that during the first few days no proper investigations were conducted into those incidents due to influence by politicians. However, by now Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had take steps to initiate impartial but effective investigations into those incidents and those who would be found to be responsible would be brought to book regardless of their positions.

Mahanayake Thero wished Peiris well and suggested that they should meet again and discuss various issues at length.

Kandy District MP Chithra Shrimathi Manthileke, Presidents Counsel Wijaya Wickramaratne, Municipal Councillor Raja Pushpakumar and Professor Anuradha Seneviratne also participated.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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