Prelate says envoy’s duty to dispel US misunderstanding about Lanka

Asela Kuruluwansa

It is the duty of the US envoy to Sri Lanka to take steps to dispel the misunderstandings America has towards Sri Lanka in that country, Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera said.

The Chief Prelate made these remarks when US Ambassador Patricia Butenis paid a courtesy call on him in Kandy.

“At a time when the Government is making all efforts to develop and bring permanent peace, certain people are engaged in bringing disrepute to the country in the world.

In this context, I hope the American envoy will make a correct appraisal of the situation and present facts to the world about Sri Lanka in an unbiased manner,” the Chief Prelate said. Sinhalese and Tamils lived amicably in Sri Lanka by even intermarrying. Only a small section of people brought destruction to the country.

The people have now forgotten all this and are engaged in rebuilding the country by making a united effort to resettle the displaced in their own areas, the Ven. Thera said.

Ambassador Butenis said her recent visit to Vavuniya gave her a very positive idea about the entire scenario in that part of the country and added that she was satisfied with the Government’s efforts with regard to IDPs in camps. “It is also my duty to give a correct picture of the situation prevailing here to my country,” she said.