Act cautiously in the face of the country's debt crisis - Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thero

Colombo (News 1st): The Registrar of the Asgiri Chapter of the Siam Sect - Venerable Medagama Dhammananda Thero says that the Government should be cautious against the prevailing debt crisis of the country. Venerable Medagama Dhammananda Thero said this when Minister of Education - G.L. Peiris called upon the Thero today. Venerable Medagama Dhammananda Thero said that Ports and Airports are valuable resources to a country. Venerable Thero said that Sri Lanka has to re-think about the ways in which it can manage these resources and declare our authority on it and go forward. Venerable Thero said that when the Maha Sangha backed the present Government at the Election, they had their complete faith in the President that he will carry out the country's affairs while safeguarding the country's national resources. Professor G.L. Peiris told Venerable Medagama Dhammananda Thero that there is a need of developing this national resource. (ECT) He said that the country is in need of major investment to reap the maximum benefits from this resource. The Minister said that The Agrawal Shipping Private Limited in India will invest in the Terminal but they do not own anything. In response to what Professor G.L. Peiris had to say, Venerable Medagama Dhammananda Thero said that there are other visible external factors within this issue and that there are plans that are connected to that in motion as well. Venerable Thero said China wanted to get their hands on this after getting to know of Mike Pompeo's arrival. Thero said, after the Chinese delegation came to the country, the U.S. Secretary of State criticised China saying that China is a predator and they are luring Sri Lanka into a debt trap. "There is a cloud of uncertainty as to how the Hambantota Port was given to China on a lease. On one side, the Trincomalee Harbour and on the other side, the MCC Compact. It was a big relief that the Government said no to MCC. But we have to carry out our affairs with the U.S. in a way that the MCC will not emerge again." said Venerable Thero.