President's programme would enable country to enjoy peace with honour - Environment Minister

Indika Polkotuwa And Asela Kuruluwansa

"The Buddhist community in India totalling nearly 80 million will be a decisive factor in future Indian elections. Buddhists who will vote as one block will be able to create a new crossroads in the Indian political arena," said Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

The Minister was speaking to the media at the Asgiriya Viharaya after calling on the Malwatte and Asgiriya prelates at their respective Viharayas in Kandy and receiving their blessings yesterday following his appointment as the President of the UN Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone layer at its 8th meeting held in Doha.

Ranawaka said the Buddhist re-awakening witnessed in India was an honour to Sri Lanka.

Ranawaka who said that India too had witnessed acts of terrorism in its full fury added that the recent Mumbai terrorist attack was an eye opener for the people in Tamil Nadu who spoke in favour of LTTE terrorists.

Commending the Security Forces for liberating Kokavil after 18 years, he said the Government could have easily reduced defence expenditure if past regimes had conducted the anti-terrorist war properly.

A saving on defence expenditure would have enabled the Government to grant Rs. 100,000 annually for each poor and underprivileged family.

He said so-called peace movements like 'Sudu Nelum' disrupted the war effort thereby leading to a huge loss of lives among the Security Forces in the past. Such movements would not be allowed to raise their heads in this country again.

He said the programme launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa would enable the country to enjoy peace with honour.

Today Security Forces were engaged in a mission to ensure safe passage to the North for the people.

Earlier, the Malwatte and Asgiriya Prelates in their anusasana said, Minister Ranawaka's new appointment as President of a World Forum brought honour and prestige to Sri Lanka in the international arena.

JHU Parliamentarian Ven. Udawatte Nanda Thera, Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake and JHU Kandy district organiser Thushara Swarnatillaka were also present.