‘Don’t withdraw military from any part of the country’
Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Mahannayake Thera of Asgiriya Chapter conferring blessings on State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene yesterday said those who had emerged victorious at the recently concluded presidential election should celebrate their success without taking revenge from anyone.
The prelate said the new rulers should not go by information provided by vested interests to pursue their opponents.
The Mahanayake Thera said the security of the country was of paramount importance. It had to be provided to people in all parts of the country including the North. The people in the North were living in peace due to the presence of the security forces. “Therefore, it is not advisable to withdraw security forces from any part of the country,” he said.
The Mahanayake Thera said that the new government’s 100-day programme should be well planned and successfully implemented.
State Minister Wijewardene told the prelate that President Maithripala Sirisena would be able to carry out his programme as he had the support of all parties. The new president had already made it clear that violence would not be condoned and everything would be done to curb it, the State Minister said.
Wijewardene received the blessings of the Most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of Malwatta subsequently.
The prelate stressed the need to do away with the existing system of elections and give national security priority.
The state minister in response stated that there would be no change in the existing security arrangements in the country.
He said that the time had come for the present electoral system to be changed.
The minister also called on the Mahanayake Thera of Ramangna Nikaya Most Venerable Napana Pemasiri Thera at his Menikhinna Aramaya.
The minister paid his homage to the sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalda Maligawa, where he was received by Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela.
Major General Mano Perera, Brg. M. M. Kithsiri, Army Media spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Lt. Col. Chandratilaka, and Lt. Col. Kumara Jagoda were present.
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