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We have proved IC wrong, says Ven. Wimalaratne
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday arrived at the BIA from Jordan to a rousing welcome. After being garlanded by SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena, a smiling President received the blessings of the clergy.
Ven. Bellanwila Wimalarathana thero said that the armed forces had made huge sacrifices to make the President’s dream of uniting the country come true. He said that the Sri Lankan forces had proved that terrorism could be defeated militarily. He criticised a section of the international community for obstructing the Sri Lankan efforts against the LTTE while propagating the need to fight terrorism.
The thero said that the President now faced a daunting task. He emphasised the importance of shedding all political differences to provide for Tamil civilians accommodated in welfare centres. He said that the President had the strength to usher in peace and prosperity.
Ven. Galaboda Gnaarassana called for the setting up a special fund to re-build the country to receive donations from the public. He said that the funds could be received by a bank account opened in the name of Mahinda Rajapaksa. In an obvious reference to the US move to block urgently needed an IMF facility worth USD 1.9 billion, the monk said that the country shouldn’t beg for foreign loans. Handing over a bowl containing some currency notes to the President, he said that there were only Indian and Chinese currency notes, but no European currency notes.
