These people have kicked even us who voiced ....

"These people have kicked even us who voiced ....

our opinions!"

- The despondent speech made by Sobitha Thera a few days before he became sick

The Late Viharadhipathi of Kotte Sri Naga Vihara was in a despondent mood close towards the

period when he was subjected to the by-pass surgery. The reason for it was that the incumbent government was moving in the direction different from what he envisaged. This is how the thera brought forward those ideas of his disappointment during a discussion held at Kotte Naga Vihara with the leader of Muslim Congress, Minister Rauf Hakeem and a group of MPs of that Party a few days prior to his sickness:

"The conflict that can now be seen between the legislative and the executive machinery if is to keep continuing is that there would not be a future for the country. If this situation of fighting for positions is to persist ... there would not be an existence for the country. The only job would be to keep donating positions. That person says ... put this person. This person says put his people. How long to wait by granting these positions of Ministerialship? This situation totally arose with the conflict between the legislative and the executive machinery. These people are now working by even kicking us out who in fact voiced our opinions. People should first of all understand as to why these two factions united. We still don't know why these two Parties joined together. Nowhere is it written in the document signed by secretaries of both parties about the proposal of the Executive President System is to be abolished. What is seen by this is that these two sides have got together only to share the posts of Ministers. Apart from the group who grabbed Ministerial portfolios of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party another Party is in the Opposition. We got together and shouted asking that the legislative be removed. Now with these people ... those people also have joined. The legislative, the Sri Lankan executive machinery and the U.N.P.... how can two factions go on one and the same journey? Once the 100 Day programme was over, the conflict between these factions started. Though combined once again, the question is as to how far it will go. It was an utter lie that the 19th Amendment would be enforced. But it looks that Mr. Ranil is putting down his head and and is going to get down to the job. The U.N.P. could have easily got the other 6 MP posts and establish a U.N.P. government. But because there were influences from the legislative and not liking to fall out with Mr. Maithri, even those who lost were given Minister portfolios. The public are disappointed for having increased the number of Ministers. Even U.N.P. Ministers are disappointed. Now Sajith is really heartbroken for having taken away the Samurdhi from him. I must mention another thing. However much there was fault-finding in the past regime, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa did something that could be observed. Now even those will weaken. This Bellanwila area ... trees were planted and flowers were grown and what beauty was brought! Now because they are not watered ... all those will wither and die away. What can be told to the new Cabinet as well as the government is not only keep paying attention to sharing appointments .... at least to try to maintain the situation that prevailed during the past".