India will leave no room for Lanka's division - Indian Minister

Sarath Samaranayake

KANDY: Visiting Indian Commerce Minister Jairam Ramesh who called on the Mahanayake of the Malwatta Chapter Most Ven.Thibottuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera yesterday reassured that India will not leave any room for division or creation of a separate state within Sri Lanka.

The visiting Indian Commerce Minister who held extensive discussions with the Mahanayake Thera said the Indian Government has always maintained a firm stand on the Sri Lankan issue.

The Minister told the Mahanayake Thera: "India has always treated Sri Lanka as its own family member. The only wish of India is to see peace in Sri Lanka as soon as possible. The Indian Government is well aware of the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka."

The Indian Minister, who called on the Mahanayake Thera with Investment Promotion Minister Naveen Dissanayake, Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake and Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara said: " I firmly believe that peace will dawn in Sri Lanka very soon."

The Indian Government has taken steps to invest a large amount of money to uplift the Sri Lankan economy. These investments will be made in education, information technology and the apparel sectors, he said.

The Minister said the Indian Government will also extend its fullest support to the Sri Lankan Government to safeguard Buddhism. There is a longstanding close relationship between the people of the two countries. This will be a great help to boost the development activities between two countries.

The Mahanayake Thera who invoked blessings on the Indian Minister said: "India maintains longstanding social, cultural and religious ties with Sri Lanka.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Indian Government to extend its support towards all future endeavours of Sri Lanka. The Indian Government cannot remain silent without extending its support towards the problems faced by Sri Lanka."

The Mahanayake Thera appreciated the measures taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to defeat terrorism and bring economic development to the country. Most rulers who ruled the country could not fulfil this national duty due to various obstacles they faced. However, President Rajapaksa is fulfilling this national duty very well.

Therefore, the Maha Sangha invokes their blessings on the President towards this endeavour. "Terror and violence has been unleashed in the North. Sinhala and Tamil people have maintained a close relationship and lived peacefully in our country. This unity and harmony between Sinhalese and Tamils have suffered a setback due to activities of one particular terrorist group."

The Mahanayake Thera said however the Maha Sangha and Sinhala Buddhist community are fully committed to extend their fullest support to the Tamil community. However, certain foreign factions operating within the country are attempting to create disputes among the people, but the Government has been able to identify and defeat these foreign forces.