Prelate blames moves to block foreign aid flow

Asela KURULUWANSA

KANDY: Attempts by certain interested parties to block the flow of foreign aid or loans to the Government for its national development activities can never be condoned. Such attempts made for selfish gains will only retard the country’s progress, Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter said.

The Asgiriya Prelate expressed these sentiments when Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris called on him at the Asgiriya Viharaya yesterday and received his blessings.

The Most Ven. Buddharakkhita Mahanayake Thera in an anusasana, said a popularly elected Government should be allowed to exercise its mandate and complete its legal tenure without placing obstructions on its path.

“If anyone tried to sabotage a legally elected Government’s work going beyond constructive criticism it could never be condoned.

In recent times, it has been customary for the main Opposition party to obstruct the path of the Government at every possible turn without allowing it to implement even its salient policies which are beneficial to the country.

If this went on, the opportunity we have got to redeem the country from the present morass would be lost for ever,” he said.

Export Development and International Trade Minister G. L. Peiris said the Government was in urgent need of funds to develop infrastructure.

It is most regrettable to see certain parties trying to pressurise foreign countries to curtail those funds.

Peiris said the Government always welcomed constructive criticism.

The country would be able to surmount all problems if all parties joined hands to resolve the national problem, he said.

Peiris said his Ministry has taken all possible steps to develop the Export Sector and the foreign exchange earned through this exercise would be directed to develop all regions through a systematic programme.