'Counter hostile foreign forces'

Chairman U.K. Sinhala Association Douglas Wickramaratne delivering the keynote address. Ven Elle Gunawansa Thera, Minister Dinesh Gunawardene, Prof. Nalin de Silva, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara Dr. Harischandra Wijetunge and Dr. Pandula Endagama are also in the picture.

Colombo Dharmayathanadhipati Ven Elle Gunawansa Thera called upon patriotic youths to come forward and counter hostile foreign forces trying to destroy Sri Lanka and its image.

Ven Gunawansa Thera made this appeal when he participated in a seminar themed, Defeat international conspiracies against Sri Lanka, organised by the Deshaya Surekeeme Jathika Sanvidhanaya at the National Library Services and Documentation Board auditorium Colombo, recently.

Ven Gunawansa Thera said Chairman U.K. Sinhala Association Douglas Wickramaratne who delivered the keynote speech at the seminar has been working with them closely to protect the country against foreign conspiracies for a long period. He had taken concrete action to counter LTTE false propaganda abroad and sinister activities of the LTTE network in Europe. President of the UK Sinhala Association Douglas Wickramaratne said, "We should all thank Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the three armed forces and Police, and honour and respect all patriots who had defended the country." Certain sections of the media seemed reluctant to give publicity to persons who worked tirelessly for the country's welfare, Wickramaratne said, adding certain Sri Lankan diplomats are not taking any action against certain prominent LTTE sympathisers living abroad.

Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara said certain Western forces were trying to create incidents similar to those in Libya in Sri Lanka too and the patriotic people should always keep vigilant to counter them.