From Cyril Wimalasurendre
KANDY: The most venerable Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya Vihares yesterday told Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake to instruct the Peoples Alliance (PA) supporters to refrain from their involvement in incidents of violence and maintain peace so that all groups would enjoy freedom to conduct the polls campaigns.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake called on Ven. Sri Vipassi at the official aramaya of the Malwatte Mahanayake Thero and subsequently visited the Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Mahanayake Thero at Asgiriya Maha Vihare.

Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Mahanayake Thero urged Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake to advise Minister Mahinda Rajapakse to ensure peace in Hambantota by preventing his supporters creating violence against political opponents.

Ven. Sri Buddharakkhitha informed the Prime Minister that the prelate received many complaints in letters and petitions stating that the supporters of Minister Mahinda Rajapakse were harassing the political opponents in cruel manner.

"We have a high regard for Rajapakse family. Minister Mahinda Rajapakse is well known to us. However, the current incidents of violence against political opponents in Hambantota district cannot be approved.

"There should be freedom for all groups to conduct their campaign. Newspapers daily carry incidents of violence and crime related to election campaign".

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said at this stage that all what the newspapers say cannot be believed. All groups are responsible for election related incidents, he noted.

He said, "We are, too, subjected to challenges. We are forced to act in the way one man in this country wants us to do. This one man dictates to us the way we should do our work, go out and the time, we should do things.

"However, I shall bring to the notice of Minister Mahinda Rajapakse what the prelate said," he added.

Earlier, Ven. Sri Vipassi Mahanayake Thera of Malwatte told the Prime Minister that incidents of violence were reported daily from numerous parts of the country.

The prelate said, let any party come to power but all parties should be allowed freedom to campaign anywhere in the country according to free will. It is not fair to believe that freedom is allowed only to the party in power. The Prime Minister should advise the supporters to refrain from involvement in violence and any form of breaking the law.

A large number of political parties are contesting at the general election. But more attraction is focussed on the two principal parties. The two party leaders should treat it as their duty and responsibility to ensure peace and freedom during the period of polls.

The prelate told the Prime Minister to take utmost care in the course of travel in the country during the season, as the leaders were subject to threats of the vicious elements.

Ven. Galagama Attadassi Anunayake Thero of Asgiriya and several members of the sangha of the Asgiriya chapter were associated with the Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya in this session.