Chief Buddhist prelates in Sri Lanka
have urged both President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe to settle their differences and work for the progress of the
country.
Both Kumaratunga and Wickremesinghe met the chief
Buddhist prelates over the weekend to discuss current political developments in
the country and the position taken regarding the peace process by the two
sides.
The Mahanayaka theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya
chapters whom they met are two of the most respected Buddhist prelates in the
country and are seen as influential figures. The chief of the Malwatte chapter
is Ven Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi therea and the head of the Asgiriya chapter is
Udugama Sri Buddha Rakkitha thera.
Both discussions were private ones between the two
leaders and the chief monks, but sources close to the two prelates said that
they had urged Kumaratunga and Wickremesinghe to avoid confrontational politics
and ensure working towards progress of the country.
The monks were referring to the current disputes which
have developed between Kumaratunga and Wickremesinghe's ruling United National
Front (UNF) government.
The UNF has threatened to seek a fresh mandate by holding
snap polls, but Kumaratunga is against holding fresh elections.
Wickremesinghe, during the discussions, also explained
the progress in the peace process and expressed confidence that talks with the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) could commence shortly.
The Mahanayaka thera of the Malwatte chapter had said
that any steps taken by the government should be taken in a manner that does
not affect the unitary status of the country and should not be harmful in the
future to the country.
Kumaratunga had sought a meeting with one of the
Mahanayaka theras on Friday night, but the President failed to turn up.
Finally, the chief prelate who had been waiting for four
hours told the journalists who were waiting to cover the event to disperse as
the meeting was not going to take place.
Kumaratunga eventually called on the chief prelate on
Sunday.