CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Buddhist Temple in Oslo

S. Akurugoda

According to media reports, United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayewardena has requested the assistance of the Royal Norwegian Government to establish a Buddhist temple in Oslo, Norway, for the benefit of Sri Lankan Buddhists living in Norway.
In addition to the above proposal of Dr Jayawardanena, let us rush through some of his involvements for the 'upliftment' of Buddha Sasana, both in Sri Lanka and India, during the last few years.

1. Sacred "Chudamanike" from Kelaniya Viharaya was taken to Jaffna soon after the treacherous CFA was signed by the UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe. According to the photographs published in media, Dr Jayawardena was seen carrying the "Chudamanike" on his head while there were hundreds of Buddhists devotees in the procession.

2. A Bo-sapling was taken from Sri Lanka to India to mark 2550th Buddha Jayanthi Celebration probably for the benefit of Sri Lankan Buddhists living in India.

The request of Dr Jayewardene should be taken 'seriously' since Norway is the 'Vatican' of Evangelical-Lutheran religion as seen from the following facts.

The constitutional basis for the relationship between church and state in Norway:
" Article 2 of the constitution of the Kingdom of Norway declares that:

The Evangelical-Lutheran religion shall remain the official religion of the State.
" The King is the constitutional head of the Church of Norway.
" The King exercises his authority through the Government Council of State (those representatives who are baptised Church members).
" The King has delegated the rest of the authority linked to liturgy to the Church of Norway National Council.
" Legislation and finances concerning the Church are passed by the Parliament (Stortinget).
" The King's Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs:
" provides an organizational and financial framework for Church of Norway,
" is responsible for the administration of comprehensive church legislation and regulations.
" The Department also has administrative responsibility for the clergy, bishops, diocesan councils, the

Church of Norway National Council.
Governing bodies within the Church of Norway
" Within the state-church-system, the Church of Norway has been granted more autonomy through a process of reforms
" The 1996 church-law.
" Elected governing bodies (consisting of both lay church members and clergy) at three levels has been established: local, regional and national
- The local parish councils.
- The diocesan councils.
- The General Synod and The National Council, The Council on Ecumenical and International Relations, The Sami Church Council.

Economy:
" Financial responsibility for salaries and the maintenance of buildings is shared by the State and municipal authorities.
" Additional parish activity largely depends on offertory money (250 mill NKR) and voluntary activities.
" The economic support from the state and the municipals were 3,2 billion NKR in 2005 (appr. 0,5 billion USD), or 800 NKR for each Church-member (appr. 126 USD) (1 USD = 6,32 NKR).

Basic statistics:
" Approximately 82,7 % of the Norwegian population are members of the Church of Norway.
" In 2005 almost 75,7% of all infants were baptized in the Church of Norway.
" 1285 parishes, served by 9100 elected council members, 1250 clergy and more than 6300 employed lay people.

Hence, at the rate this controversial UNP parliamentarian is promoting Buddhism; the day is not that far for him to request the assistance of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, to establish a Buddhist Temple in Vatican!

The MP's above proposal should also be taken 'seriously' since he has made this request under the following circumstances.

Dr Jayawardena flew to Oslo few days ago to participate in a conference arranged for the benefit of the LTTE under the title, "Peace and Reconciliation in Southeast Asia". The LTTE frontline activist Vaiko addressed the conference which was said to be mainly attended by the Tamil Tiger sympathisers. As per the reports, he had facilitated the visit of two Buddhist monks to participate at the Conference. (Apart from the promises made by the 'man of all religion' to setup a Buddhist Temple in Oslo under the patronage of Royal Norwegian Government, the monks who participated must have had their own personal reasons to visit Oslo since the two monks in question are no longer considered as influential figures in the political arena).

After meeting the LTTE men in Oslo, it was reported, Dr Jayalath Jayawardena had secret meetings with the LTTE men in London too.

Incidentally, Dr Jayawardena's alleged meetings with LTTE men in Norway and UK are taking place at a time when the outfit and their front organisations throughout the world are using issues arising out of places of religious worship, statues and death of a priest due to claymore mine to their maximum advantage to retard (or to stop if possible) the operation against the LTTE.

We, as ordinary citizens, are fully aware of the role Dr Jayawardena is playing while extending his one hand to Buddhism and extending the other to the LTTE. We are also aware, that the parliamentarian had been invited to attend the midnight Christmas Pontifical Mass celebrated by the Holy Father Benedict XVI on 24th December 2006 at the Vatican. It is said that such invitations are not given to any and every Catholic merely because he/she is a Catholic. Such invitations are given to devotees, as an appreciation of their services and loyalty to the Catholic Church.

We can understand the politician's behaviour towards religions since we have seen many political leaders in Sri Lanka behaving in that fashion, although not to the same extent as Dr Jayawardena. However, his honesty and sincerity is in question when we see an ardent Catholic pretends to show-off as an ardent Buddhist while having secret meetings with ardent Terrorists.

Ironically, the LTTE is a banned organisation in some countries and not in Sri Lanka. The government of Sri Lanka and those who opposed to terrorism request all the other countries, where there are people engaged in supporting activities to the outfit, to ban the LTTE and to take actions against respective criminal codes. On the other hand, we read about politicians, parliamentarians including ministers of the government, servicemen, NGO personal, academics and journalists in Sri Lanka, who have various links with the outfit, are serving the LTTE in various ways. Activities such as participating in secret meetings and having various links with Terrorists etc in Sri Lanka are not appeared to be punishable offences.

As a result, while the security forces are advancing to rescue Wanni from Prabhakaran, we see several others fronts, who are unarmed, moving freely to rescue Prbahakaran from advancing troops.

It is very unfortunate that the Sri Lankan security forces were made to fight its enemy while opening all doors and avenues to the enemy's frontlines without any restrictions.

S. Akurugoda

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