Chief Prelates call on leaders to continue Unity Government and fulfill promises made to people

Sri Lanka’s influential Mahanayake Theras (Chief Prelates) of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters have urged President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to promptly resolve the political crisis which has emerged in the wake of the Local Government elections without allowing the nation to be destabilised.

The two Chief Prelates have pointed out that the Government should work together to take the country forward to fulfill the promises they made.

The Mahanayake of the Malwathu Chapter, the Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera, said that the Government bore a responsibility to rule the country without creating confusion.

In a letter to the President and the Prime Minister, the Chief Prelate said that if the confusion from the Local Government elections continued, a collapse of state administration and economic downturn were inevitable so all parties should work in unison to avoid such an outcome and fulfill the promises they made to the people at the previous elections.

The Chief Prelate noted that with the election results, the confusing, unstable and uncertain situation emerging in the country was an obstruction to the people’s progress and wellbeing as well as to unity, peace and harmony within the country.

The Mahanayake Thera also said that it was important to pay special attention to this situation and now it was necessary to act diligently to fulfill the promises given to the public in 2015 and at the General Election. It was important to resolve the livelihood problems of working class and middle-class people, he emphasised.

The Chief Prelate said the main emphasis should be on making national, religious, cultural and economic progress as well as fostering peace and unity.

The Registrar of the Asgiri Chapter, Venerable Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera, in a statement said that he hoped for stability, the betterment of people and security of the country.

He requested all political party leaders and groups to refrain from acting in a manner which was detrimental to the country’s stability, economy and security.

The Venerable Thera noted that even though more than a week had elapsed since the conclusion of the Local Government elections there had been no change in the current political environment. He hoped that politicians would not abuse the mandate of the people by engaging in crossovers.

He stated that President Sirisena, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa should be responsible for handling the current situation of the country and they were responsible for maintaining the country’s stability.

The Venerable Dammanada Thera requested political leaders to ensure the country’s security and work towards ensuring stability.