by Cyril Wimalasurendre
Kandy - When aid is given to Sri Lanka do not limit it to a particular part of the country but give it for the development of all parts of Sri Lanka, urged the Mahanayake thero of Malwatte Most Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi when the Japan state mission leader Yasushi Akashi called on him at the official Aranya of the Malwatte Mahanayake yesterday (12)

Ven. Sri Vipassi told the visiting Japanese mission that he was stressing this point since there was speculation that aid was given to Sri Lanka for the development of a specific part of the country.

The prelate urged that it should not be so but any aid granted should be meant for the development of all parts of the country.

The prelate highlighted the need for peace since peace was everybody’s desire.

However, he said "peace cannot be achieved by only one section but the other group too should act towards peace in the same spirit.

He praised the Prime Ministers efforts to restore peace in Sri Lanka.

The prelate told the delegation that Sri Lanka and Japan continued to have co-operation and friendship for centuries particularly due to their religious relationship.

The Japanese State Mission Leader Yasushi Akashi told the prelate that he would convey to his state leadership the views of the Mahanayake Thero.

Welcoming the Japanese delegation at the Sri Dalada Maligawa Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkita Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya said that peace in Sri Lanka, whose people, predominently Sinhala Buddhists, was disturbed by a group of Tamil terrorists since of late.

The country is plunged in severe state of chaos following the disturbance created by a Tamil group terrorists, the prelate said and added that the country had faced an economic crisis.

Raising the efforts of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for the restoration of peace in the country said that he wished the Prime Ministers endeavours would be fruitful.

He recalled the friendly relations between the people of Sri Lanka and Japan for centuries.

Yasushi Akashi assured the prelate that he would educate his leadership in Japan about the views expressed by the prelate.

Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyeratne showed to the visiting Japanese delegation the large size photographs of the Sri Dalada Maligawa as it was blasted by the terrorist bomb attack of January 25, 1998.

Defence Minister Tilak Marapana, Chairman UNP Malick Samarawickrema, Airport and Aviation Services Executive Director Gamini Abeyratne, DIG Central Nimal Mediwake, Kandy SSP, E. M. Gunatilake, Kandy SP. Kulasiri Udugampola and several others were present.