Asgiriya, Malwatte prelates to NFF:

Support country's development

Asela KURULUWANSA and Indika POLKOTUWA

"It is the expectation of the President to develop the country with the support of everybody without party politics.

In this context, it is also the duty of everybody to lend a helping hand to President towards realising that objective, the Chief Prelates of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters said that they appreciated the position of the National Freedom Front to support the Government without seeking political mileage at a crucial time like this."

Mahanayake Theras made these remarks when Minister of Tourism Nandana Goonethilake and Minister of Cultural Affairs Piyasiri Wijenayake called on the Prelates to receive their blessings in Kandy yesterday. Mahanayake of Malwattu Chapter Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Thera addressing the new Ministers said the campaign which propagated that Tamils in IDP camps are harassed by Sinhalese should be stopped.

Mahanayake of Asgiri Chapter Ven. Udugama Sri Buddha Rakkitha Thera said that politicians should not use their positions to fatten themselves and work hard for the well-being of the people instead.

If politicians discharge their duties with that noble objective in mind, they will ever be remembered by the masses, the Chief Prelate said.

Minister of Tourism Nandana Goonethilake, said that NFF whole-heartedly supported the efforts of the President to eliminate terrorism without accepting any ministerial posts. By accepting these ministerial posts, we will hereafter lend our support to President's task to develop the country, Minister said.

Minister of Cultural Affairs Piyasiri Wijenayake said that the NFF ever since its inception supported the Government in keeping with the advice of the Prelates. In future, too, our party will always give an ear to the noble advice of the Maha Sangha, Minister Piyasiri Wijenayake said.