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| Friday, 20 February 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya given opportunity to meet President The Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya has been given an opportunity to send a delegation to meet President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga today if it found difficulty in keeping the appointment given by the President for yesterday, Presidential Secretariat sources said. Sources said the Secretary of the Sammelanaya, Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera had sent a letter to the President on February 16 stating that the Sammelanaya needed certain clarifications from the President regarding policies pertaining to the election. Accordingly, the President had reserved an appointment for 3 pm on February 20 for the Sammelanaya to meet her. When this was notified to Ven. Athureliye Ratana Thera, he has said February 20 was too late and the Presidential Secretariat responded the same day (February 17) changing the appointment for 3 pm on February 19. The Presidential Secretariat had spoken to Ven. Ratana Thera and Ven. Gnanasara Thera on the telephone too and informed about this change. The two bhikkhus had said they would give an answer about it on February 19. But Ven. Ratana Thera had later said they were unable to come on February 19 as they had to attend a meeting at Ratnapura. Accordingly, the Presidential Secretariat has said they could give an appointment for today. The Secretariat had also spoken to Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera on the telephone about this and he has said he would come back after discussing it with other members of the Sangha. The Presidential Secretariat has also informed the Sammelanaya in writing that an appointment could be given today to meet the President. Meanwhile, Political analysts said that even though the Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya had asked for a meeting with the President, it now seemed to be evading such a meeting. The Sangha Sammelanaya is getting ready to put forward Bhikkhus as candidates for the forthcoming election. Meanwhile, Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera when contacted by the Dinamina has said the Karaka Sangha Sabha of the Sammelanaya will meet today to make a decision about the President's invitation. |
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