Clergy Association to support President at election

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The All Ceylon Clergy Association Secretary Ven. Vatinapaha Somananda Thera yesterday said they would organize a campaign to get the support of the clergy, laymen and the laywomen to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s victory at the forthcoming Presidential election.

Ven. Somananda Thera said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the only leader who did not succumb to external influences in the fight against LTTE terrorism.

“President Rajapaksa put an end to LTTE terrorism, that had been a bane to the country for over three decades, and established peace in the country,” the Thera said. ”He brought the countrymen under one flag and removed division among the people and established peace,” the Thera said.

The Thera said their Association will conduct 5,000 Buddhist monks into Colombo to perform a Pirith chanting to invoke blessings and protection to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. ”We will also launch four decorated pirith chanting vehicles to traverse the land from four corners so as to sanctify the country with the blessings of the Triple Gems,” Ven. Somananda Thera said.

They have arranged a special religious ceremony at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura to invoke protection to the country and the President.