‘Opposition to walking path due to jealousy’

The Anunayake of Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha and Chief Incumbent of the Wadduwa Sri Bodhiraja Rama Viharaya Prof Ven Kotapitiye Rahula Thera has said that there is nothing wrong in constructing a walking path for people on the Parakarama Samudraya bund on which all types of heavy vehicles are moving, the State Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government Affairs says in a media statement.

 Ven Anunanayake Thera said so when State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Affairs Roshan Ranasinghe visited him recently, the release said.

The State Minister said that it was only a small group of the Buddhist monks and a few uninformed farmers who were opposed to the project, and the vast majority of the people supported it.

Ven Anunayake Thera pointed out that there was a road surrounding the Kandy Lake, called Sangharaja Mawatha, which helps people to see the beauty of the lake. If that road was not there for people to walk around that tank its beauty would have gone unnoticed. Similarly, the proposed walking path would enhance the beauty of the Parakrama Samudraya, he said.

It was not the first time when some people opposed the development of the country. “Many opposed when the expressway projects, but today those very same people are using them. We are aware that Minister Ranasinghe is involved in the walking path project. Permission from all government and other authorities have been obtained. But, unfortunately some people with vested interests are trying to sabotage it. The most, unfortunate development is some Buddhist monks, too, have been misled,” Ven Anunayake Thera said.