By Walter Jayawardhana

President Mahinda Rajapaksa reminding the Buddhist monks that they were at the forefront in protecting the independence of this country during thousands of years appealed to them to be at the front to protect the country from traitorous forces within and without the island once again.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Venerable sirs, for a long time in our history it was the Buddhist monks who protected the honour of this island nation ,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚said the President addressing hundreds of Buddhist monks who converged on Yatagala Rajamaha Viharaya to take part in a ceremony to celebrate the appointment of Venerable Vatareba Hemarathana thero as Upa Pradhan Sangha Nayaka of Southern Province by Malwatte Chapter.

The President presented the Vijinipatha to Venerable Hemarathana entitled for the new Post.

The President said due to the riddance of terrorism from the country and the new freedom felt by the people new ideologies and a new culture is being born in the country. An unprecedented respect for the national flag is felt by many in the country due to the new nationalistic fervour generated by the circumstances.

He said on the same measure traitorous forces are organizing within and without the country to destroy the victory of the masses and he appealed to the Buddhist monks who played a traditional role of fighting for the motherland to be at the forefront , once again.

Ministers, Piyasena Gamage, Hemakumara Nanayakkara, Southern Governer Kumari Balasooriya, Candidate of Southern Provincial election Mr. Sajin De Vas Gunawardana ,Ms.Anarkai Akarsa took part in the ceremony.