Consult Opposition to solve ethnic issue, Prelate tells President

by L.B. Wijayasiri in Kandy

The Most. Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Maha Vihara Chapter advised President Mahinda Rajapakse to have consultations with Opposition parties who did not support him at the Presidential election and get their support to arrive at a common consensus on the ethnic issue and then have talks with the LTTE for a solution to end the war.

In an Anusasana when President Rajapakse called on him at the Malwatte Vihara after the Maligawa ceremony, the Mahanayake Thera said the aims and aspirations of all was to live in peace and harmony and priority should be given to achieving peace. "The people have given a mandate to President Rajapakse to take steps to fulfil these expectations," he said.

The Most. Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sidhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera and the Most. Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake Thera and other members of the Maha Sanga Chanted Seth Pirith and blessed President Rajapakse who offered Atapirikara to the prelate.

A majority of the people of cultivation areas had voted in favour of President Rajapakse despite false propaganda by the Opposition.

Therefore steps should be taken to find solutions to their problems. However those cultivators do not expect luxurious things. They only need fertiliser and agriculture input at reasonable prices and reasonable guaranteed price for their produce," the Prelate said.

Politicians who came to power gave more concern to developing suburban areas. The rural people and their needs were neglected. That should be changed and equitable distribution of resources should be assured to uplift the rural areas and living conditions of rural people, Most. Ven. Sumangala Mahanayake Thera, said.

The Buddha's Anusasana was that the ruler should be like a father and citizens should be treated as his children working on that advice, the country could be ruled with less problems. The President's statement at the Dalada Maligawa that while the Buddha Sasana is protected other religious also would be looked after too should be highly appreciated, he said.

The President also called on the Most. Ven. Udugama Buddharakkhitha Sri Ratanapala Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya chapler and received his blessings. The Secretary General of the chapter Ven. Professor Warakawe Dhammaloka Thera delivered an Annusasana.

President Rajapakse thereafter visited Rajopawanaramaya Getambe and called on Viharadhipathi Ven. Keppetiyagoda Siriwimala Thera and received his blessings.

The President's wife Shiranthi and their three sons were also present.