“If RW can’t govern in the way Ven Sobitha intended he should resign”: Ven Muruththetuwe Ananda

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P.D. De Silva

“If Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe can’t govern the nation in the manner the late Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and the National Movement for Social Justice intended, the Prime Minister and this Government should resign,” reiterated Ven Muruththettuwe Ananda thera speaking at a protest held by the Maha Sangha in Matara last Sunday evening.

More than 500 Buddhist monks convened in Matara to protest against the Government’s decision to hand over the Hambantota harbour, Mattala airport together with another 15,000 acres of land on 99 year lease to Chinese companies and brutal attack on the Buddhist clergy who gathered in Mirijjawila on 7 January.

“Our protests will not end here. Our next protest march will be in Colombo and will start off from the Vihara Mahadevi Park,” the Ven thera added. “Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe promised to rule Sri Lanka in the way the Litchchavis ruled but he has not kept his promise.

Those who criticise the Government including the clergy are hounded.

“It is because of the evil way that the country is being governed that we are facing natural perils such as floods, landslides and severe drought. Even nature is reacting in its own way against unfair and unequal way of ruling this land. If the present Government cannot rule the land justly it should resign,” the ven thera said.

The protest in Matara was convened by Ven Omare Kassapa together with Ven Paraduwe Jinarathana thera and the participation of Ven Muruththetuwe Ananda thera, Ven Galapitagala Premarathne, Ven Bengamuwe Vijitha thera, Ven Iththekande Sadhatissa and Buddhist clergy from far and near.

Members of Parliament representing the joint opposition namely Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Dullas Alahapperuma, Bandula Gunawardena and Namal Rajapaksa were seen at the protest but refused to comment.