Last week, prelate of Asgiriya Chapter, Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana thero sent shock waves with his very stern statement. The last two years have been most trying for Sinhala Buddhists, especially in the North and the East where they are a regional minority. In the North, there are still no Sinhalese, despite the war against terrorism ended eight years ago. Instead of rectifying it, opportunistic politicians and west-funded civil organizations question the need to reconstruct Buddhist places of worship if there are no Buddhists. Vesak decoration in Kilinochchi was interpreted as a religious invasion.

East is far worse, with temple premises being encroached and Buddhist statues and other symbols being vandalized. The Sinhala Buddhists there are being increasingly marginalized. Officials are accused of refusing those who left to escape terrorism to locate their land deeds, issue National Identity Cards, or register them into the voting lists. They are not given their allocated water or due assistance to continue with their agriculture.

Legal experts like Presidential Counsel Manohara de Silva has being sounding the siren that the new constitution in the making is trying to do away the unitary status and the foremost place given to Buddhism in our country. He has warned of devious means to hoodwink us into accepting the changes.

The debate rages for the past two years on the Geneva Resolution with its absurd recommendations to try the war winning team through a special courts with foreign participation. Meanwhile, our military – from the then Defense Secretary to top generals to military intelligence personnel – have been hauled before commissions, investigations and courts over alleged deals and contract killings, despite absence of evidence.

Tom Malinowski, Obama’s Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, in one of his visits laid a wreath to remember those who lost their lives on the Nandikadaal lagoon. He however never visited a single location that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam struck. Thus, it is not difficult to guess whose lives were been remembered by Malinowski. These lives massacred many Sinhala Buddhists (as well as other Sri Lankan communities), notably in Sri Mahabodhi and Aranthalawa, not to mention the bombing of The Temple of The Tooth – the focal point for all Buddhists.

Yet, the two prelates from the Malwatta Chapter and Asgiriya Chapter, who incidentally reside right opposite the Temple of the Tooth stayed silent throughout. In September 2016, MP Wimal Weerawansa led a National Freedom Front delegation to inform both these Prelates that the new Constitution threatens the unitary status of the country. The gist of Malwatta Prelate, Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero’s response was that these speculations, even before the new constitution’s launching are a storm in a teacup. He has faith in the assurance given by both President and PM that no such thing will be allowed.

Intriguingly, these two leaders, professing to be of Buddhist faith, have not engaged in Buddhist activities other than the cursory offering of flowers at the temple during official functions. Even for Vesak or Poson, neither observed the five precepts much less the eight or sit for a sermon. On the other hand, PM with his wife openly engage in Hindu religious activities. While there is nothing wrong with one following any faith of his choosing, the problem arises with Ranil Wickremesinghe repeatedly insulting Buddhism.

Once he equated the three Buddhist chapters in Sri Lanka to wastage, deceit and corruption. He also incurred the annoyance of the then prelates for attending the ‘Big Match’ instead of the ceremony of presenting credentials to the Ramanya nikkaya’s new Mahanayaka thero, as invited – despite the match ending early, allowing him to attend if he wanted. His deliberate snubbing, said the Buddhist clergy, was a clear reflection of his total disregard to the Maha Sangha.

The Asgiriya prelate however has been rumbling ever since MP Weerawansa’s visit. Yet, none expected last week’s eruption. Long overdue as it maybe, the venerable thero covered a number of vital and relevant points.

“Given the challenges the Sinhalese and the Buddhist monks have to face presently, it is impossible to stay silent any further,” the venerable thero expressed. “To do so is to forgo the Buddhist monks’ historic responsibility, consequences of which might give rise to issues beyond resolve. Therefore, we bring the following points to the president’s attention, who is trying to build a reconciled society.
1. While we do not approve Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thera’s unbecoming behavior or expressions, we cannot ignore his arguments. Instead of investigating the validity of the facts he presents, the entire monk hood is being insulted by the so-called leftist politicians and civil society members who were raised in a Buddhist environment. They refer to the Buddhist monks without due respect in their discussions, announcements and written statements. When only a senior monk may address a junior monk by name, we disapprove the manner these groups also refer to Buddhist monks by name only.

2. We disapprove the manner this government completely ignores certain politicians’ racist statements, but try to silence the monks who respond to it. If this leads to any unrest in this country, this government must assume full responsibility.

3. It is observed that a problematic environment is developing with the government efforts to change the current laws. This is because the changes are targeting the Sinhalese and the Buddhists. Therefore, change laws only if there is a real need and after discussion. Our perception is, the current laws are sufficient to control a fracas.

4. The government must take immediate steps to stop the encroachment and destruction to historic places in the North and the East that is currently taking place in the guise of reconciliation. The president must directly intervene in this matter.

5. The minister in charge of archeology is disregarding the historic places of residence of Buddhist monks. He is instead trying to convert it into tourism. Immediate steps must be taken to stop this minister’s efforts.

6. Various reports have emerged in print and electronic media of efforts to annihilate the Sinhala population. It is the responsibility of paramount importance of the government to verify these reports and take appropriate actions.

7. It has come to our constant attention from Sinhalese, Buddhists and our monks that various statements against Buddhism are issued by certain entities who identify themselves as Buddhists as well as from those who are not Buddhists that are derogatory to our ways. In the same manner, the Buddhist philosophy and the Buddhist culture is being distorted. Therefore, the government must take immediate steps to introduce the necessary bills control these statements.

8. All other religions in this country must remember that the Buddhists in Sri Lanka have always respected their religions and have supported its existence. When we have been thus, we absolutely disapprove the insults leveled against Buddhists by those in other faiths. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that in the face of this foreign and local conspiracies targeting Sinhala Buddhists, the entire Buddhist monk hood and patriots unite.

All must pay close heed to Asgiriya Prelate’s statement. As highlighted in his last point, the space for other religions to live in harmony is created in Sri Lanka by the compassion and tolerance in Buddhism. Long before this statement was issued, the same was said by His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.

Those conspiring to do away with the unitary status or the foremost place given to Buddhism is not engaged in the exercise for the love of non-Buddhists or the so-called minorities in our country. Both the unitary status and the Buddhist culture in our country provides the framework for all to live in equal harmony. Remove it, and there will be utter chaos and confusion as different extremist sectors try to gain dominance, as can be seen already in the North and the East.

Just as we must unite and the government must take immediate steps to counter the attack on Sinhala Buddhists as venerable Asigiriya Prelate advocates, the Prelates too have an important task ahead of them. They must quickly finalize the Kathikawath (Registration) Bill, so that the three main nikkayas are conferred with legal authority to enforce disciplinary action against monks who disregard the strict code of conduct for Buddhist monks.

The government must not try to interpret this code of conduct, nor the disciplinary actions to be metered out. That is the task of the respective nikkayas. The government’s job is to ensure that the legal support is given to enforce the judgement and disciplinary actions as decided by the respective nikkaya.

As things stand, there is no way to disassociate from the likes of Gnanasara Thera, whose antics are bringing much embarrassment and disrepute to Buddhists. He is taking real issues that are confronting the Sinhala Buddhists in a manner that paints anyone who talks of it as an extremist. He is thus effectively silencing a very legitimate voice.

History records of monks who had even gone to war to protect our country and the Shasanya. However, they first disrobed before joining the war efforts. After successfully concluding the war only they returned to the Shasanaya. They broke no code of conduct and thereby bought no disrepute to Buddhism, Buddhist traditions or culture.

If the likes of Gnanasara Thera feels the current precarious situation needs the kind of conduct he is currently engaged in, then he must first disrobe so that he too does not become party to deriding the Sinhala Buddhists. The prelates of the three nikkayas must insist upon it, if they are to uphold their historic responsibility of safeguarding the Sinhala Buddhists (and thereby the other communities) in Sri Lanka.