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| Sunday, 6 February 2005 |
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Ranil's mission draws flak by Jayasinghe Premarathne As the media brought to light the secret agenda behind Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's swift visit to Norway leading members of the Maha Sangha and the academia have come out strongly against his act of betrayal. Prof. Ven. Warakawe Dammaloka Nayaka Thera, Secretary Siyam Maha Nikaya - Asgiriya Chapter said that tsunami disaster was unprecedented and the international community support come from the bottoms of their hearts. They assisted us considering it as their duty. Our country has no economic strength to do without foreign aid. He said that it was a national betrayal to attempt to sabotage the continuous aid flow. Meanwhile Ven. Prof. Kumburugamuwe Vajira Nayaka Thera, President of the Religious Organisation for National Peace said "If what media says is correct about the Opposition Leader's foreign tour, I must mention that it is a very unfortunate incident at a time when the whole world has come to our rescue. If attempts are made on political grounds to sabotage the foreign aid it is a national betrayal." "Opposition leader must realise that the tsunami and the peace issue are two different things. They should not be combined," he said. Ven. Vatinapaha Somananda Thera, General Secretary, the All Ceylon Buddhist Association said"if Ranil Wickremesinghe attempts to hamper the flow of foreign aid to Sri Lanka it is a betrayal." Further the Thera said that the educated and the oppressed masses of this country do not agree with such politics. Therefore if the UNP attempts to sabotage foreign aid it is betraying the nation and their own party members affected by tsunami who are also entitled to aid, he said. Prof. Desmond Mallikarachchi, Head, Department of Philosophy and Psychology, Peradeniya University viewed Ranils attempt to hamper the aid flow as a childish and opportunist act seeking political advantages through the exploitation of a national disaster. Dr. Ven. Hanguranketha Deerananda Thera, Senior Lecturer History Department, Peradeniya University said "What we must do is not to sabotage the foreign aid but to work out a common agenda forgetting all political hostilities to build the country. Dr. Ruwan Kanchana, Consultant Psychiatrist said "As the international community has come to our help at this hour of need what the Opposition Leader and the UNP have done to seek political gain is despicable act of betrayal. |
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