Feb 12, Colombo: The Buddhist Advisory Council has pointed out to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa that responding to everyone’s ideas is a waste of time and what is needed is to consider criticism fairly and lead the country with his own intellect.

Despite what some have said, the Maha Sangha and the people have great faith in the President, the Buddhist Advisory Council met at the Presidential Secretariat for the 8th time on Friday assured.

The Council noted that people are suffering from the hateful comments of the groups who were not given ranks and the President should not be discouraged by the baseless allegations and insults leveled against the government by various parties.

The Maha Sangha called on the President to rule the country in a principled manner for the remaining three and a half years.

The Buddhist Advisory Council paid special attention to the current role of fundamentalists. In past, it was the poor who were caught in their clutches, the Maha Sangha said. It is a matter of grave concern that today the rich, powerful, famous artists and even political leaders have fallen victim to fundamentalists.

It was pointed out that a deputy principal of a popular girls’ school in the Kurunegala area had engaged in an effort to force students, parents and others into the grip of these fundamentalists.

The Maha Sangha commended the President’s program of appointing envoys to overseas missions and pointed out that the embassies should not become resting places for retirees. They said that ambassadors to countries such as Myanmar and Thailand should be people with a vision upholding the five precepts (Pansil).

The Maha Sangha also stressed the need to stop misinterpretations of the Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist vision and archeological and ancient sites. For that, the Buddhist Books and Publications Regulation Act should be activated. The need to activate the Tripitaka Conservation Board was also pointed out.

Members of the Buddhist Advisory Council, members of the Maha Sangha, State Minister Vidura Wickremanayake, Chief Adviser to the President Lalith Weeratunga and a number of officials were also present.