Patali Champika Ranawaka seeks forgiveness from the country for 4 political mistakes

Colombo (News 1st): Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who was remanded recently, arrived at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic this morning (December 25) to receive blessings. Following the religious observances, the Minister expressed these views to the media.

"I do not expect to comment on matters that are before the judiciary. I will only bow down before the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha. I will not bow down to lawlessness. But we made a mistake. About that, we ask the people for forgiveness. In the 2004 General Elections, the United People Freedom Alliances emerged victoriously. But they did not receive a majority. It is because of the 9 Venerable Theros in the Jathika Hela Urumaya that they received a majority. At the time the main stakeholders in the UPFA had decided to make Lakshaman Kadiragarmar the Prime Minister. But because he was not a Sinhala Buddhist our Venerable Theros demanded that Mahinda Rajapaksa be appointed. We made that request from then-President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. For that mistake, we ask the nation for forgiveness. In 2006 we were to see a Presidential election. If that had happened the UPFA would have found it very difficult. We are the ones that went to court and had the elections held in 2005. We seek forgiveness from the people of this country for working with the JVP. We as the Jathika Hela Urumaya decided to support Mahinda Rajapaksa when he sought the Presidency. At the time most of his relatives were overseas. For that also, we apologize. There was a period where the LTTE was paid via RADA. It is during that time that the Mavil Aru Anicut issue arose. When they said that they couldn't do that battle, it was our party and the Theros in our party that started it. We are sorry that fake heroes arose through it. These are our political mistakes. There is more that remains unsaid. We will say those things in the future. I must also speak on unrefined media owners. As they all become more uncivilized, we will become civilized. We will organize ourselves for a decent political culture.