Eliminate terrorism, say Buddhist prelates

Leading Buddhist prelates of all chapters have expressed hope that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would take steps to prevent violence in the country and have urged the people to exercise the utmost vigilance while performing Bodhi poojas and meritorius acts to support the valiant security forces.

“It is our earnest desire to see that terrorism is completely wiped out from this country to provide an opportunity to the people to live in peace, harmony and contentment”, the prelates said in a statement yesterday. They have also commended the measures taken by the government to ensure freedom and rights of all Sri Lankans and have stressed the need to continue it.

The prelates have pointed out that resolutions to problems through negotiations was the noble way prescribed by Lord Buddha and the attempts made by a group of terrorists to violate human freedom of unarmed people should not be permitted.”Therefore,the current course of action directed against terrorist violence with the objective to safeguard the soveriegnty and territorial integrity of the country deserves our encomiums”, the statement added.

The Mahanayakas said that contrary to the objectives of the ceasefire agreement, the terrorist forces have re-armed themselves with sophisticated weapons and added manpower over the past four years to cause destruction to life and property. They condemned all terrorists atrocities in the past where religious places of worship were attacked causing harm to devotees. and religious property.