Ranil's silence deafening - Ven Galagama Dhammaransee Thera

Priyanka KURUGALA

While the masses celebrated May Day together to express solidarity against the controversial Darusman Report, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Jayalath Jayawardene and some other UNPers maintained a deafening silence on the matter which gives rise to suspicion, co-ordinator to the President (Religious Affairs) Ven Galagama Dhammaransee Thera said.

The Thera said, the UNP should reveal to the nation the reason for its silence.

The Thera was addressing a press conference at the Information Department yesterday.

Ven Dhammaransee Thera said many powerful western countries want to have two nations in Sri Lanka. US President Barack Obama savoured the experience of killing Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. President Mahinda Rajapaksa also savoured victory after defeating Prabhakaran.

"Due to this reason we request Barack Obama not to interfere in our country's internal affairs. We ask that the controversial Darusman Report be torn-up, the Thera said.

"We do not support terrorist leaders and terror activities. But we know that Osama bin Laden was created by the US to threaten many countries including the then Soviet Union. "But we should also realize that bin Laden fought against imperialism," Ven Dhammaransee said.

The Thera also said the US destroyed many lives and properties to defeat one leader. It did not consider the LTTE terrorist activities as it did the Taliban terrorist activities.

"Our people honoured President Mahinda Rajapaksa on May Day. Our President deserves the same accolades as Obama," the Thera said.

Co-ordinator to the President (Religious Affairs), Rev Sarath Hettiarachchi, Rev Shantha Francis and Moulavi Dr Seyed Hassan Moulana also spoke.