President tells Mahanayake:

Attempts to tarnish country’s image

Asela Kuruluwansa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter the Most Ven Sri Udugama Bhuddarakkitha Thera that certain local elements with vested interests were engaged in an attempt to tarnish his and the country’s image by spreading canards abroad.

The President who sought the blessings of the Chief Prelate in Kandy, Saturday, said that details of such a conspiracy had surfaced in Venezuela recently.

A special envoy has been sent to Venezuela to look into the matter, President Rajapaksa told the Thera.

Ven. Sri Buddarakkitha Thera said there should be a viable mechanism to expose such conspirators to the international community with the help of Sri Lankan Ambassadors abroad.

Explaining matters on the Venezuela incident, the President told the Ven Thera that certain individuals had gone to that country and said that the Government was harassing Tamil people. “Some of the statements are on a personal note to tarnish my image,” the President said adding that certain politicians who get elected to Parliament provide their services not to this country but to foreign nations.

The President said that during the Presidential elections certain people had told him to open the road in front of the Dalada Maligawa as it would garner more votes at the polls.

“But more than these votes, the Dalada Maligawa is sacred to me. If I open this road unsavoury elements carrying moonshine and meat would use it. I wont let this happen,” he said.

The President also told the Thera that an accelerated program is planned to develop the Kandy city.

During the tour the President also met the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter the Most. Ven Tibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera and sought his blessings. Several Ministers and MPs accompanied the President on these visits during which President Rajapaksa also worshiped the Sri Dalada Maligawa.