From Cyril Wimalasurendre in Kandy
Is there a Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)? The SLFP was buried with Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, observed Ven. Sri Vipassi Mahanayake Thera during a meeting with the eight member PA dissident group.

He added that this was evident when Mrs. Bandaranaike’s coffin was draped with a blue flag.

Professor G. L. Peiris and S. B. Dissanayake former ministers who defected from the People’s Alliance Government recently, told the Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya that they left because of the non-flexibility of President Kumaratunga.

We had a discussion with the President one and a half months ago about the crisis situation and proposed several steps that should be taken to overcome the problems, Prof. G. L. Peiris told Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi and Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters, respectively.

The PA dissident group called Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi Mahanayake Thera at his official Aramaya and the Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Mahanayake Thera at Asgiriya Maha Vihare.

Former Minister Mahinda Wijesekera, Former Deputy Minister Ediriweera Premaratne, and former MPs Bandula Gunawardhana and Jayasundera Wijekoon also called on the prelates.

Prof. G. L. Peiris told the Mahanayake Theras, "We were compelled to say good-bye to the People’s Alliance with reluctance and with great pain, but there was no alternative. The country was being driven towards a black hole on all fronts, political, economic, social, agricultural and ethical.

"We could no more betray the people who had their trust in us and who had aspirations for a better life. So we took the decision to leave the government," he added.

Former Minister S. B. Dissanayake said that the President did not wish to listen to those of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

At this stage Ven. Sri Vipassi Mahanayake Thero responded, "Is there a Sri Lanka Freedom Party now? The SLFP was buried with the late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike. This was evident when Lady Bandaranaike’s dead body was covered with a blue cloth. To cover a dead body of a person with a blue cloth is not the custom of Sinhala Buddhists.

The Mahanayake Thero said, leaders of a democratic country should listen to the others of their team. They are also elected representatives of the people. There should not be dictatorship.

He said that it was clear where the President has gone wrong. She listened to a corrupt set of persons around her. People know this.

She was misled by this selfish group. She should have taken advice from broad-minded educated persons," the prelate added.

S. B. Dissanayake told the Mahanayake Thera of Asgiriya Chapter that the PA government failed to win the war, after spending so much of resources because there was no competent command.

The only able army commander Janaka Perera was removed from the army. Anuruddha Ratwatte does not know war tactics, he added.

Later, the team paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic. At the Sri Dalada Maligawa the group was received by the Private Secretary of the Diyawadana Nilame Lakshman Dharmapriya.

Subsequently, the group visited the Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyeratne who is indisposed at his residence.

Kandy UNP MMC Raja Pushpakumara was present on the occasion on the instructions of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.