A group of Buddhist monks who had met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday had reportedly requested him to field Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as the presidential candidate of UNP led alliance and then work towards abolishing the executive presidency.
Sources from the Prime Minister’s Office said the monks who represented the three chapters had wanted him to abolish the executive presidency and to field Mr. Jayasuriya as a candidate so that he could abolish it once he is elected.
The monks have informed the Prime Minister that they all campaigned to abolish the executive presidency in 2015 under the leadership of Late Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and that this pledge should be fulfilled.
The monks who have attended the meeting included the Anu Nayaka of Ramanya Chapter Venerable Matale Dhammakusala Thera, Sanga Nayaka of Wayamaba in the Ramanya Chapter Venerable Watawala Sidhaththa Thera, Venerable Makkuruppe Ratanajothi Thera, Venerable Tanthirimale Chandraratana Thera, Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Thera, Venerable Attangane Sasanaratana Thera, Venerable Talpotha Dhammajothi Thera, Venerable Ehelepola Indrajothi Thera, Venerable Labudeniye Piyaratana Thera, Venerable Mahadivulwewa Mahinda Thera and several others.
