KANDY - Politicians of Sri Lanka were in the habit of making promises that they could not honour, the Most Venerable Mahanayake of Malwatte Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero said receiving a copy of the ‘Policy Statement of the United National Front" on Friday 13.

However, the prelate added that he believed the leader of the UNP would honour his promises spelt out in the new policy statement.

Wickremesinghe was accompanied by the UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, Mangala Samaraweera, SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem and other leaders of the United National Front.

Most Venerable Tibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thera said that politicians gave the public false promises knowing that they could never be implemented. After capturing power, they conveniently forget the promises, he said.

There had been many instances of making false promises to the people by politicians of all hues. The abolition of the Executive Presidency had been one of them, the Thera said.

The Mahanayake Thera said that not only the Executive Presidency but also all the laws related to that institution should be scrapped. The Provincial Councils and Pradeshiya Sabha system should be done away with, the prelate said. "There are many institutions that the people could not afford to maintain," he said.

Copies of the Policy Statement were presented to the Anunayake Thero of Asgiriya Ven. Sri Attadassi and Rev. Fr. Milroy Fonseka.

The UNP leader donated a gold casket which was offered to the Sri Dalada Maligawa. It was received by Ven. Tibbatuwawe Madhankara Thero Bhikku in charge of the Service (Thevava) of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela was also present.