REMEMBER PAST, SO AS NOT TO REPEAT ITS TERROR

* Younger generation should be apprised of gruesome era

* Govt. never promoted chauvinism, extremism in society

Chaminda Perera in Welimada

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that recalling atrocities perpetrated by LTTE terrorists in the past was not intended to sow seeds of hatred in society, but to ensure that the such a gruesome period will not be repeated in the future.

“We should tell the younger generation that the country faced such a gruesome period in the past in order to avert such situations in the future through forging closer and amicable ties between communities,” he said.

President Rajapaksa said that terrorist atrocities are recalled to impart a clear understanding of the terrible period that the country went through in the past to the younger generation, so as to ensure that such a period would never dawn again in the country.

He said certain sections of society including some media organisations have forgotten this gloomy era of the country. The President was speaking at the opening of a Vahalkada, Dathu Mandira and Samadhi Buddha statue of Heennarangolla Sri Sudarshanaramaya temple in Boralanda, Welimada yesterday.

The President also launched the temple’s website. President Rajapaksa paid homage to the Samadhi Buddha statue by offering flowers. He also inquired after the health of the temple’s Chief Incumbent Ven Wijekoongedara Sumanathissa Thera. President Rajapaksa said Buddhists have never been extremists.

“Our Buddhists monks are not extremists,” he said. The President said the government has never promoted chauvinism or extremism in society.

He said the country and its dignity is always safe when the people protect the Sambuddha Sasana and Buddhism.

The President said those who actually love the country will protect Buddhism too. Uva Governor Nanda Mathew, Uva Chief Minister Shashendra Rajapaksa, Parliamentarians Uditha Lokubandara and Lohan Ratwatte and former Minister Hema Ratnayake were also present.

“Today marks another anniversary of the the LTTE massacre of Buddhist monks at Aranthalawa. We should remember this,” he said.