26 December 2020 05:08 am
The Buddhist Advisory Council commended President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his unwavering commitment to lay the foundation for national policies despite obstacles and challenges that surfaced during the year, a statement from the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
“The majority of the people of the country expected a leader who makes decisions based on national ideology. People do not look for narrow gains such as jobs, positions and privileges for them from President Rajapaksa. Maha Sangha recalled that the President too did not seek the support of such groups even before the Presidential Election,” the statement said.
People wanted a disciplined society that ensured national security that had collapsed after 2015 and a society free from drugs and underworld activities, a public service sans waste and corruption and a foreign policy upholding the country’s identity, the Maha Sangha emphasised.
The Buddhist Advisory Council which met at the Presidential Secretariat on December 24 for the seventh time, expressed these views.
The Maha Sangha applauded the President for initiating measures such as the formulation of a National Education Policy and a mechanism to protect National heritage as well as the compilation of a Constitution, which will change the path of the country, amidst many obstacles including that were posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As expected by the Maha Sangha, the creation of an environment that will provide space for religious harmony while giving priority to the Buddhist identity was another victory achieved by the public during the past period. The Theras pointed out the importance of establishing a Committee comprising all religious leaders to take forward that noble endeavour.
The Maha Sangha representing the Buddhist Advisory Council, State Minister Vidura Wickramanayake, Secretary to the President, P.B. Jayasundera, Principal Advisor to President Lalith Weeratunga, Ministry Secretaries and officials participated in the event.