Don't Waste Your Vote!
A Reply to Sarath Bulathsinhala's plea to vote massively for JHU

Somaweera Sirisinghe writing from New Zealand

Like every other well-meaning patriot who is sick of the current political imbroglio my fellow New Zealander Sarath Bulathsinhala thinks, "enough is enough". The only difference is that he is chasing after the dream of a "Dharma Rajyaya".

In the haste to achieve this un-defined, un-chartered goal he compares the historical role played by Buddhist Monks as advisors to Kings and nobleman to the monks participation in political hustings in the 21st century that divide the community.

Bulathsinhala campaigns for the JHU to prevent balkanisation of Sri Lanka when the reality is quite contrary.

All political commentators that include Malinda Seneviratne of "the Island", who openly supports JHU and Sociology Professor Hettige etc agree that a third-force can not easily establish in a country that has an entrenched bi-party democratic process. Hence their prediction is that JHU at best could only come up with a couple of seats. The diversion of these votes from the Sinhala Buddhist community will definitely prop up the UNP and its coalition of non-sinhala minority parties. This will be the beginning of the balkanisation and the end of our motherland -Sri Lanka.

Bulathsinhala's vain attempt to compare the state of Vatican as an embodiment of priests participating in the running of countries is childish. It is just like the other comparison made of Ayatollahs controlling the affairs of some other states. He forgets the fact that Buddha never wanted a religious hierarchy of priests to take control of the lives of the people. If that is the aim of JHU the voters of Sri Lanka need to take heed.

The signs are already emerging. A stalwart of SU with a policing background who is a live wire behind the JHU recently replied a critic "we must treat every single individual who tries to dissuade the Ven Bhikkus from proceeding with this noble cause as traitors".

It is not the bhikkus and their "ahimsa" but the power seeking elements behind the "Kasawatha" that we should worry about.