A Samagi Jana Balawegaya delegation that went to put a series of claims about Buddhism to the Malwathu Mahanayake Thera found several of them questioned by the prelate they had come to brief, NewsFirst reports.
The delegation of senior opposition leaders, led by SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, met the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwathu Chapter of the Siam Nikaya on Monday. The discussion covered governance, Buddhism and social media.
What the delegation put
SJB representatives were critical of the government’s handling of several recent matters and raised concerns about issues affecting the Buddhist clergy and the Buddha Sasana. As the meeting went on they alleged that the government’s support base was weakening, and claimed efforts were being made to appeal to minority communities at the expense of Buddhist interests.
The delegation also raised content circulating on social media, alleging that some Buddhist monks had been subjected to criticism and defamatory campaigns online. Madduma Bandara said those campaigns were being conducted by individuals linked to the government.
What the prelate said back
On the social media allegation, the Mahanayake Thera first asked a practical question — whether mechanisms existed to identify those responsible and prevent such content from spreading. He then declined to accept the attribution.
Various individuals engage in such activity, he observed, and it would be difficult to attribute it to a particular political party without evidence.
“We should not say that,” the prelate remarked when sweeping claims were made, stressing that such conduct was inappropriate regardless of who was responsible.
On the broader claim that Buddhism was being undermined, he urged caution, noting that some earlier claims about restrictions on Buddhist activities had not materialised, and pointing out that government leaders continue to attend Buddhist as well as other religious events.
When opposition representatives went on to link certain present-day political figures to past violent incidents, he challenged the assertions and asked on what basis they were being made, emphasising the need for evidence before drawing conclusions.
The legislation in the background
The exchange sits on top of a live dispute, and one detail from it is new.
Former Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella argued that matters relating to the Buddhist robe and the clergy should be handled with due respect until the relevant legislation is enacted, and suggested the Executive President has the authority to make interim arrangements pending legal reform.
Responding, the Mahanayake Thera said the government had indicated that legislation on the matter would be introduced within a short period.
That is the first indication from the Malwathu Chapter of a legislative timeline. The dispute began when the imprisoned Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera appeared in court in civilian clothing rather than his robes, drawing protests from a section of the clergy. The Mahanayake Theras of the four main chapters wrote to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake saying only they may decide on the removal of a monk’s robe. A committee appointed to update the regulations and standing orders under the Prisons Ordinance is due to hand its report to the Presidential Secretary on 15 October, and the Mahanayake Theras are to review it.
Kiriella’s point and the prelate’s answer are about the same gap: what happens to monks in custody between now and whenever that law is passed.
A note on sourcing
This account rests on a single outlet. NewsFirst filed it on Monday evening and no other verified newsroom had carried the meeting at the time of writing. The photograph NewsFirst published shows the prelate receiving a delegation of roughly eight people in white in a temple reception room, which is consistent with its account of the occasion.
Not reported
NewsFirst does not name the other members of the delegation beyond Madduma Bandara and Kiriella, and does not say whether party leader Sajith Premadasa attended. It does not identify the past violent incidents the opposition raised, or the political figures it linked to them.
It gives no detail of the promised legislation — what it would cover, when it was indicated, or by whom — and carries no response from the government or the Buddhasasana Ministry to the delegation’s claims. It does not say whether the SJB has met the other chapters, or what the delegation asked the Mahanayake Thera to do.
Source: NewsFirst.
