PM holds talks with Malwatte Mahanayake
[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 November 2003, 19:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasignhe Saturday afternoon called on the Mahanayake of Malwatte Chapter Most Venerable Rambukwelle Vipassi Thera in Kandy, capital of the central province and discussed the current political crisis. Senior minister Mr. G.L.Peiris and the chairman of the United National Party Mr.Malik Samarawickrema accompanied Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe to Kandy, government party sources said.
Meanwhile two other ministers, Mr.Karu Jayasuriya and Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara later met the Malwatte Mahanayake Rambukwelle Vipassi Thera and discussed about the current situation. According to Colombo media sources, the prelate is reported to have told the ministers that the current political crisis could be solved if the two major political parties in the south and other small parties get together and implement a joint plan. The prelate further said that restoring peace and prosperity in the country was not the responsibility of any single political party and there were wide spread support among the people for the formation of a national government, the media sources said. The present constitution was to be blamed for the current political crisis in the country, the prelate stressed, according to sources. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's leader of the opposition Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse and former Sri Lanka's Prime Minister in then People's Alliance (PA) Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Saturday appealed to the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe not to reject the invitation extended by the President in forming a Government of Reconstruction and Reconciliation. Mr.Wickremanayake said Wickremesinghe would be making a grave mistake if he rejected Sri Lanka's President’s invitation to form a national government, the sources said. He said time has come now for leaders of all political parties to join hands with the President Chandrika Kumaratunge, in forming a grand national alliance in restoring peace, the sources added.
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