Quaint Talks

By Anura Maitipe

Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe

The Buddha always extended his great compasion and paid heed to others when they pointed out his mistakes which he admitted. It was mentioned in the "Pujavali" that King Suddodana, had complained to the Buddha for ordaining Prince Nanda and Prince Rahula without obtaining permission from their parents. Buddha had admitted his mistake and apologised to King Suddodana, the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said at the Kollupitiya Walukarama Viharaya.

A certain section of bhikkhus opposed the move made by Walivita Sri Saranankara Thera to re-establish Uppasampada Bhikkhu Seela in Sri Lanka. Not only did they oppose it but also tried to chase him out from Kandy. Buddhism is always an open philosophy and it was not a lopsided one.

Minister of Plantation, D.M Jayaratne

The UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who had led the UNP to 14 defeats seem to have given up politics. Now he was preaching Bana on certain electronic media channels. I hope Wickremesinghe will become "Prince Nanda" of the 21st century, Minister of Plantation D.M Jayaratne told the Sunday Observer.

The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe never practises what he preached. I don't know the relevance of Buddhism and luxury vehicles he was talking about.

Buddhism is an open philosophy and any one can embrace it at their will and wish. During the Buddha's time even arch critics of Buddhism such a Angulimala and Ajasaththa who had killed hundreds of innocent people later became the true followers of Buddhism.

Minister of National Heritage, Anura Bandaranaike

After forming an alliance with the UNP Mangala Samaraweera has no right to talk about the policies and principles of the SLFP.A person who had been converted from Buddhism to Christianity has no moral right to talk about Buddhism again, Minister of National Heritage Anura Bandaranaiake said.

The SLFP was a party formed by my father the late S.W.R.D Bandaranaike.Since the death of my father it was brought up by my mother. There are two people who have authority to talk about the SLFP policies it is myself and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"A few years ago I joined the UNP along with another 12 parliamentarians but even then the UNP leadership did not offer me the deputy leader's post in the party. The UNP is fully bankrupt now that is why they offered it to Mangala Samaraweera who joined the UNP with another MP.

"Earlier I served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President has said that he will offer me the same portfolio in the future", he said.