Don’t engage in fear-mongering about new constitution: Mahanayake tells Wimal

Chief Prelate of the Malwatte Chapter Ven. Sri Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero urged Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa yesterday not to engage in fear-mongering about the new constitution that was still in its drafting stages.

A group led by the National Freedom Front leader and member of the pro-Rajapaksa Joint Opposition paid a call on the Mahanayake during a visit to Kandy yesterday, to draw attention to the fact that the proposed new constitution was a threat to the unitary character of the country.

The Malwatte Mahanayake told Weerawansa during the meeting that both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had provided assurances that the new constitution would not include any proposals that could lead to the separation of the country.

He would not condone spreading doubts and fears about the new constitution when a draft was yet to be made public.

The Chief Priest told Weerawansa that the new constitution was being prepared in consultation with the public and therefore there was no need to prematurely create fears about its contents. (DB)