UNP's Jana Bala Meheyuma belittled sovereignty of people - Nayake Thera

Batapola Subhadraramadhipathi Ven. Batapola Nanda Nayake Thera yesterday scoffed at the UNPs Jana Bala Meheyuma march saying it was a futile exercise which challenged and belittled the sovereignty of the people.

The Jana Bala Meheyuma also demonstrated UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's greed for the presidency.

If the country's problems had aggravated the people had the sovereign right to defeat the Government or the President at an election.

Holding elections at the whims and fancy of individuals would be a violation of the constitution. The present constitution was adopted by the UNP in 1978.

Neither Ranil Wickremesinghe nor even the author of the present constitution late J.R. Jayewardene could violate it even he returned from the dead.

Ven. Nanda said the tsunami was the biggest catastrophe faced by the country during its entire history. Without cooperating with the Government to solve the burning problems of the country caused by it the opposition UNP was trying to provoke the innocent masses by organising Jana Bala Meheyumas and he would vehemently condemn such actions.

Ven. Nanda said President Kumaratunga had rendered dedicated service to protect the Buddhasasana, country and nation and the masses would never forget it.

One had to accrue merit in previous births to become a country's leader. But guardian deities would never allow an epitome of Don Juan Dharmapala to become President of this country.