• NGOs , trade unions arraigned to topple Govt. 
• We don’t produce crude oil, gas and sufficient pharmaceuticals
• Unless tourists come, we don’t have foreign exchange

An eminent Buddhist monk said yesterday some sort of authoritarian rule is needed to develop the country. Chief Incumbent of Kataragama Sri Abhinawarama Temple Ven. Kapugama Saranatissa Thera said it in delivering his remarks at a religious event organised by Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) in the compound of ‘Kiri Vehera’ for the 27th consecutive year.   

Ven. Thera who is also the former principal of Kataragama National School said terrorism was a known enemy of Sri Lanka in the past, but the pandemic had become an invisible foe.  

“The present government has been compelled to make sacrifices in the face of an enemy more ruthless than terrorism. We sense that we cannot achieve the prosperity we expected. The global economy has declined.