KANDY: The Mahanayake Theros of the Three Nikayas — Siyam, Amarapura and Ramagna after receiving the first copies of the Sinhala Commission that probed the grievances and injustice caused to the Sinhala people of Sri Lanka, called for the unity of the Sinhala people in order to save themselves and their religion Buddhism from annihilation.

The first copies of the Commission report was presented to the leaders of the three sects at a largely attended meeting of the Bhikkhus and laymen, held at the International Buddhist Centre Hall of Asgiriya Maha Vihara.

Chairman, Sinhala Commission, former Justice S. W. Walpita in association with the President, National Joint Committee, former Justice R. S. Wanasundera presented the Commission report copies to Ven. Palipana Sri Chandananda, Ven. Madihe Pagnaseeha Maha Nayake Thero of Amarapura Sangha Sabha and Ven. Kabalewe Jayabharathi, Anunayake Thero of Sri Lanka Ramagna Nikaya who deputised Mahanayake Thero of the Nikaya, Ven. Weweldeniye Medalankara Thero.

A copy of the report was earlier presented to the Sri Dalada Maligawa by the Commission. The copy was received by Ven. Galagama Attadassi Nayake Thero, Nayake Thero attending the service (Thevava) at the inner chamber of the Sri Dalada Maligawa.

Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyaratne was present on the occasion.

The copies of the Commission report was taken to the Sri Dalada Maligawa in a procession from Keppetipola Hall. After presenting the copy at the Sri Dalada Maligawa the delegates walked to Asgiriya, the venue of the meeting.

After receiving the copy of the report Ven. Palipana Sri Chandananda Mahanayake Thero told the meeting that the Sinhala leaders of the day were not in the least worried about the protection of the Sinhala race and Buddhism. Their only aspiration was power.

Power crazy Sinhala political party leaders leave no stone unturned to come to power and then keep on changing on to power the Mahanayake Thero said.

The package of proposals is a similar move to win the support of the minority groups, he said.

The Indians who came to Sri Lanka as labourers in the British owned tea plantations do enjoy better facilities, more rights and privileges than the Sinhala people who have the birth-right to this land, the Mahanayake Thero accused.

While the midland hill country is allowed to be enjoyed by the Indian labourers, attempts are being made by power hungry politicians to parcel out the Northern and Eastern regions to other minority groups. The Sinhala people in the hill country do not have land to burry their dead while on the other hand plantation workers are granted large acreages of land and houses, the prelate accused the ruling political parties.

The Sinhala Commission has been voluntarily engaged in collecting the grievances of the Sinhala people, their problems and the injustice caused to them in order to awaken the political party leaders that they may take steps to resolve the problems, he said.

The Sinhala race and Buddhism in Sri Lanka will come across their annihilation if the Sinhala political party leaders did not unite, the prelate warned.