President ‘misled’ clergy
By Sassanka Samarakkody
COLOMBO: The National Bhikku Front (NBF) has charged that President Chandrika Kumaratunga has taken the masses for a ride by claiming that the document pertaining to the P-TOMS would be shown to the ‘Maha Nayakas’ (Chief Monks) before the MoU was signed with the LTTE.
Ven Dambara Amila thera, the monk who recently staged a death-fast protesting against the P-TOMS told the media that the president had given an assurance to the ‘Maha Nayakas’ of the Asgiriya and Malwatte Chapters that the document on the P-TOMS will be shown to them before it was presented in parliament.
But what took place on June 24 clearly shows that the president had misled the Maha Nayakas, and her action clearly indicates that it was a deliberate attempt by her to make the people of this country lose faith in the Maha Nayakas, he said, and added that they should explain the real position to the masses, and take prompt action to clear their names from this imbroglio.
“It is a matter that the Maha Sangha should deeply examine and arrive at a decision whether to further accept the leadership of a lady who belittles the Maha Sangha by uttering falsehoods for her own political survival”, the monk noted.
Ven Amila appealed to the Maha Nayakes to take ‘stern action’ against those who are responsible for “betraying the nation” and the Maha Sangha.
Ranil rules out pact with ruling party
LEADER of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe is believed to have dismissed a move to work out a partnership between the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the UNP, similar to the interim arrangement between the People’s Alliance and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) a few years ago.
Speculation is rife that President Chandrika Kumaratunga had talked about this with a Colombo District UNP MP, while the minister had reportedly discussed this with a senior UNP
However, authoritative UNP sources have said that Wickremesinghe has emphasised the need to pressure the government to hold the presidential election in November this year. |
