In a media release today, the Mahanayaka Thero of Sri Sambuddha Sasanodaya Sangasaba, on behalf of the Mahasanga and the Buddha of the country, said the Sanga Saba vehemently condemned the scheduled arrival of a Chinese ‘war ship’ to Hambanthota harbour on August 10th.
The release further notes the arrival of the warship at the present juncture is unwarranted and unacceptable considering the tense situation in some parts of the world.
According to the media release, Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its worst economic downturn in history, with unrest among the people and untold hardship openly expressed by other countries that provide continuous humanitarian support and assistance to the country.
Chinese geostrategic moves are not welcomed by other Western countries, and the arrival of this Chinese ship may jeopardise the efforts of those countries, as well as the IMF, to assist Sri Lanka in this dire situation. The Mahanayaka Thero warns that this will bring Sri Lanka and its people to the brink of poverty and starvation.
The irony, according to the release, is that this ship is getting fuel from the harbour at a time when people have to wait all day to fuel their motorbikes. The suppose to be a research ship which is laden with all advance equipment use for spying is very suspicious the release notes.
Nayaka Thero, I urge the Sri Lankan government and President Ranil Wickramasinghe to condemn the contentious act immediately in the best interests of the people of Sri Lanka.
