Ven. Rathana thero takes aim at Austin Fernando

COLOMBO (News 1st) - MP Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thera, expressed highly critical views during an event held at the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo on Saturday (July 28). A number of politicians and civil society activists had been invited to participate in the 30th-anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Women's Development Services Cooperative Society Limited or Women's Co-Op. Addressing those gathered the Thero stated that he earlier held a position which stated that he was a "Senior Advisor to the President". He went onto note that since the current administration does not heed any of his advice he had relinquished this position. Ven. Rathana thero also accused former Presidential Secretary Austin Fernando of being a thug adding that the country has to be saved from people of this nature. However, in an interview with News 1st on the day he left the Mahinda Rajapaksa government in 2014, the venerable Thero had expressed these views. "The way I see it, if talks are to be held with anyone in this government, then it can only be Basil Rajapaksa because he has a great deal of power in this country. I have worked with him in a very friendly manner. Getting close to him is like getting close to the President. So in the future, I will continue to grow the cordial relations between us"