Plea to Opposition Leader: Support Government to solve ethnic issue - Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thera

D. C. de Silva, Kahawa special correspondent

KAHAWA: My appeal to opposition leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe is to join hands with the government, shedding all differences, in order to solve the ethnic problem, defeating the brutal terrorism of the LTTE, said Venerable Dr. Baddegama Samitha Thera, the ex-parliamentarian and Deputy Chairman, Baddegama Pradeshiya Sabha, at Keembiya Gamini Vidyalaya recently.

He was addressing a special meeting to felicitate him on his successfully completing the reconstruction of the badly dilapidated portion of the Medakeembiya-Magamulana, Karuwala Kanda road, in the PS division, fulfilling the pledge given at the past PS election period.

The Thera had been able to obtain an allocation of Rs. five lakhs from the Finance Commission, on a directive by President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the purpose, was revealed at the meeting.

The Thera further added, that, he was the only member of Parliament then, to appreciate the step taken by Ranil Wickremesinghe to sign the ceasefire agreement with the LTTE, in order to cease hostilities, between the two parties in conflict, until a viable solution is reached through discussion.

The Thera said I speak the truth, I thought we must not be revengeful, and we are not revengeful. He said, when King Elara's sword fell down at the fight, it was King Dutugemunu, who picked up the sword and gave it to King Elara in order to fight more further, as King Dutugemunu, never wanted to kill an unarmed enemy.

The Thera said Dutugemunu was never in a jungle hide-out like Velupillai Prabakaran today. He said, I don't want to live as a Buddhist monk only to obtain Siw-pasa and Pansukula, by the devotees, but I want to work for the people.

The Thera said, politicians today want only to keep power, and not to serve the people. He said, our new generation must go ahead equipped with, the new technological know-how and as such, they should learn English, Mathematics and Science. Without knowledge in those three subjects, nobody would be able to become an air pilot.

The Thera said, there must be future scientists from Magamulana. Therefore we must produce future intellectuals from the village, in order to earn not in rupees, but in dollars.

He reiterated children must make it a point to learn aircraft technology.

The Ven. Matugama Gunaratana Thera the Viharadipathi of the Talgasyaya Sri Asrastaramaya, Gamini Vidyalaya Principal A. V. Sumanasiri, former Principal, M. H. Siripala, and G. H. Amaradasa also spoke.

A. V. Sunil Santha made the welcome address and Bennit Wickramanayake proposed the vote of thanks. Medakeembiya Selachetiyaramadipathi Sastracharya Pitakande Seevali Thera administered pansil.