‘North, East development encompasses all sectors’

Nihal Jayawardena

The Northern and Eastern Provinces are currently going through a rapid development process. Critics here and abroad cannot deny this fact because they had witnessed the rapid transformation in these areas, Most Ven Udugama Sri Buddharkkhita Mahanayaka thera of the Asgiriya Chapter said.

Ven Udugama Sri Buddharkkhita Mahanayaka thera

Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe

The prelate made this observation delivering an anusasana when Plantation Industries Minister and President’s special envoy on Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe called on him at the Asgiriya Viharaya after paying homage to the sacred tooth relic at the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.

Ven Buddharakkhita Mahanayaka thera said development in the North and East encompassed all sectors including roads, water and electricity supply, housing and health.

The Prelate said the time had come for all to shed political differences and work in unison for at least 5 to 10 years to overcome all danger posed to the nation.

Minister Samarasinghe said he could be considered as the best example of the idea mooted by the Mahanayake thera.

When the country faced danger he left aside his political views and joined hands with the government and the President to help the country to overcome the greatest tragedy faced by it.

He said eventhough the resolution brought against Sri Lanka by the Western nations led by the US at the Geneva Human Rights Council was a grave challenge, he bravely faced it on the advice and directions of the President.

He said he thwarted attempts made by foreign forces to portray a presence of religious discord in Sri Lanka and discrimination against other religions by majority Buddhists by highlighting the LTTE attack on the Sacred Dalada Maligawa and the LTTE massacre of Muslims in the East at the sessions.

He said he also gave a detailed account of the development work launched in the North and East during the last 10 months after ending a 30-year-war and the success of the demining programme to silence all critics.

Minister Samarasinghe also called on Most Ven Tibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter and received his blessings after meeting the Diyawadane Nilame Nilanga Dele.

Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, Plantation Industries Deputy Minister Earl Gunasekare and several other ministry officials were associated with the minister during his visit.