Opposition must support electoral reforms - Malwatte Chief Prelate

Indika POLKOTUWA

The Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera yesterday called for the support of the United National Party to abolish the present preferential voting system which the Ven. Thera noted has led to bitter rivalry and friction among political parties.

The Makanayake Thera conveyed this view to the new Opposition Leader of the North Central Province Major General (Rtd.) Janaka Perera who called on the Chief Prelate to seek his blessings.

The Ven. Thera observed that flaws in the present electoral system are noticed only at election time. Instead a concerted effort should be made to change the system before elections are held.

Major General Janaka Perera pledged to work towards justifying the goodwill and confidence he had earned from the public during his 34 years as a soldier while the Mahanayake Thera spoke of the need to build the Party and take it forward while working towards building the country.

In the same way it would be a good thing if the other members of the party too would follow his example, the Ven Thera stated.

The Mahanayake Thera also noted that most people who are honest at the outset change after entering politics and this was the result of the prevailing political system.

He said the position of those who entered politics with the aim of creating a Dharmadeepa was a good illustration. The Ven. thera stated that whatever may the good intentions of anyone, under the prevailing electoral system the country’s politics will not change for the better. Major General Perera noted that the educated and the intelligent have distanced themselves from politics due to the prevailing political culture.

He said he has decided to tread a different course and this is the reason he had set up his base in Anuradhapura. He would never desert the people of Rajarata.