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| Wednesday, 13 October 2004 |
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by L. B. Wijayasiri in Kandy President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga should be commended for her devotion and dedication to the creation of lasting peace in the country, the Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Mahavihara Chapter told the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. The prelate said they were hopeful that India being the closest neighbour, would extend her fullest cooperation in achieving the President's objective. Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao accompanied by Assistant Indian High Commissioner, Kandy Dr. B. R. Rajan Pillai called on the Mahanayake Thera at the latter's Awasaya in Malwatta Maha Viharaya Kandy recently. Rao told the Mahanayake Thera that she decided to pay a courtesy call on the prelate as a goodwill mission on her assuming office as the head of the Indian Diplomatic mission in Sri Lanka and to receive his blessings. The Most Ven. Sumangala Mahanayake Thera said the President formed the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation (NACPR) to continue her peace effort by getting the support and participation of all. "But unfortunately it is a matter for regret that the UNP and the Tamil National Alliance had not participated in it," the prelate said. It would not be difficult to achieve peace, the country's main hope, if the UNP and the TNA participates in the NACPR, the Mahanayake Thera said. He told the envoy that he had also requested the Tamil National Alliance to participate in the NACPR and to get the participation of the UNP too. The Mahanayake Thera also sought the Indian Government's assistance in the restoration of Buddhist places of worship destroyed during the North-East war. High Commissioner Rao said to find a solution to the conflict faced by Sri Lanka and achieving lasting peace, it was of vital need for all political parties and groups to make a united effort. "Once peace is achieved, all other problems of the country will be solved within an undivided Sri Lanka. The Indian Government will support in every possible way to achieve that objective," she said. "India and Sri Lanka are democratic countries and they cannot prevent various groups holding different views and acting on them. But all differences of opinion could be ironed out through discussions and consensus," the High Commissioner said. |
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