Ratanapala

The Buddhist Establishment in Sri Lanka and the Buddhist Priesthood has always been referred to as the Guardian Angels of Sri Lanka ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” a nation comprising of nearly 70% Buddhists. Traditionally they have intervened in the politics of the country when they felt that the country was under dire threat of destruction and disintegration ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” be they due to foreign interventions or due to internal disputes. Regardless of the stances taken in most cases their interventions have always been in the best interests of the country, its sovereignty and integrity. Having said that they must understand their roles. They are there to advice the Leader of the country. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Arthayen Dharmayen Anusasana KireemaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ is their duty. They must understand that they are not the rulers! They cannot expect the Leader of the nation to do exactly what they recommend. The leader of the nation is chosen by the people and he is answerable to them. He is the hand of the Executive and he is responsible for governing the country and that includes punishing those who have committed crimes or those who have been making preparations to commit crimes. Usurping power is no mean crime and the punishment no less. The Sri Lankan nation has made its choice at the Presidential election. Now let him do his job! If he is seen too vindictive and corrupt, that would be his undoing!

In the present instance prelates of the Malwatu and Asgiriya Parshavayas have made statements expressing their displeasure at the arrest of Gen Fonseka by the military and how the General is treated. They are trying to close the gates after the horses have bolted. If they had enough foresight they should have advised Gen Fonseka first and President Rajapakse next not to break up the team that won the Ealam War. In the first place they should have advised General Fonseka not to join up with those who supported the Ealamists and the LTTE. Consolidation of the victory at Nanthi Kadal lagoon still has a long way to go. Ealamists, the Western Powers and the Christian Church are still plotting behind the scenes to bring back to life their dream of Ealam and further dismemberment of Sri Lanka.

It is true that the final death knell to the terrorist outfit was carried out by the Rajapakse Administration which included Gen Fonseka. The President and the General must understand that what they have together achieved is not their lone effort. For over 30 years patriots of Sri Lanka never faltered in their belief that one day the country would be rid of the terrorist menace. They worked hard for it in spite of enormous odds. It is the work of many unsung heroes. It would be too egoist to discount the work of many years by many in and outside Sri Lanka.

What General Fonseka has done since winning the war is grossly reprehensible. He bit the hand that afforded him all opportunities to carry on the noble task of eradicating terrorism from our motherland. He plotted behind the President and the Defense Secretary and colluded with those sided with the terrorists. In fact he was on the way to unroll 30 years of blood, sweat and tears of a nation and to bring back more of the same. His readiness to collude with the Christian UNP, the murderous JVP, the Ealamist agents the TNA and other opportunistic vultures ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Rauf Hakeem et al shows that his 40 years in the service has been one ego trip. He was even ready to betray his comrade in arms to achieve his ignoble ends. A person who is driven by hatred and revenge is no candidate for the leadership of a country. I truly am sorry for those who decided to support his candidature for the highest position in the country ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the Presidency. General Fonseka must understand that more celebrated Generals have ended up in worst situations when they were seen to be betraying their cause. Fieild Marshall Erwin Rommel was given just a pistol with one bullet to end his celebrated life, although he was an officer and a gentleman. General Fonseka has not been a gentleman.

Had the Mahanayake Theros taken a more proactive stance and did all they could to avert this fiasco then they are justified in calling for a Kathikawatha of the Sangha Community. They would have been justified if they intervened with the General when he was getting ready to join up with the traitorous Christian UNP and the murderous JVP. They would have been justified if the General was reprimanded when he was getting ready to divulge state secrets. They would have been justified if they raised their voices when the General used abusive language and Ranil W called lightning to strike ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Mung ta HenagahapanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ more than seven times at the GeneralƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s inaugural meeting in Kandy ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” just in their doorsteps in front of a section of dumbfounded Maha Sangha. They would have been justified had they been of service to the Motherland and at least maintained closer and meaningful relations with the Buddhist Countries in South and South East Asia ( Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Camobodia and Vietnam) and were able to exert their influence in those countries to stop illegal arms sales to the LTTE.

Finally after 30 years, it was left for the President and his brothers to re-establish those relations and connections and get those countries to prevent the flow of war-like material to the LTTE terrorists. Throughout these years they stayed mum as they did when Christian Ranil Wickramasinghe signed a Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE without any consent from either the then President Chandrika K (Choura Raegina) or from the Parliament. (This is how Christian Ranil W helped the LTTE just after 9/11 terrorist attacks when the whole world united to end worldwide terrorism ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” an opportune time to have ended the LTTE menace; Sri Lanka would have ended the terrorist war many years earlier if not for this dastardly act!)

In this instance obviously there are members of the Sangha who are for and against the government of President Mahinda. By this action what the Prelates can achieve is bring division, dissension and enmity between various factions of the Maha Sangha – depicted as one of the five great Anantharya Karmas mentioned in Buddha Dharma . If they are not capable of advising the President and the General and convincing them meaningfully of the harm they are doing to the people who supported both to end the terrorist scourge, then they should resort to what they are best at ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” chanting Pirith and tying Pirith Nool.

Not so long ago ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” just about 500 years ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” when the then General Veediya Bandara killed Jayo Bandara ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the favorite of King Buvaneka Bahu to marry his daughter Samudra Devi, there was much anger displeasure between the King and the General. It was the Chief Sanghanayake ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Buddhawansa Thero who reprimanded the General and intervened with the King to make peace. Our history is replete with such noble gestures and services to the nation by the Maha Sangha. These prelates are definitely not in their league!

Sri Lankan Buddhists lament the absence of such able, forthright and respected monks in positions of authority in the Sangha Community of Sri Lanka today. We lament the absence of Madihe Pannaseeha Mahanayaka Thero, Palipane Chandananda Maha Nayake Thero and Gangodawila Soma Nayaka Thero. They always afforded the Rata, Deya, Samaya the foremost importance and did not dabble in petty party politics. Their sights were clear and they understood the forces that are working ceaselessly against our nation. They properly understood and the role of the Western Christian Countries and that of the Christian Church and never failed to expose their dastardly doings.

Even going back 2500 years, Lord Buddha did not involve the Maha Sangha in matters of politics. There were times when He personally intervened as in the case of dividing the waters of the Rohini River. Even when His friend and benefactor at times ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” King Bimbisara was incarcerated by his own son ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” King Ajasatta and died in prison, he did not intervene.

Our Mura Dewathawos should not be tunnel visioned and short-sighted. They must see the big picture ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the forces that are out to destroy our hard won victory over terrorism ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the Western Christian Nations and the Christian Church. Their current knee- jerk reaction at the behest of traitors of the Sri Lanka to call a Kathikawatha at this time in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s politics is not the best thing that they can do to help our Motherland get over the current difficulties. They must stop acting as landed gentry and stop lending their ears only to the rich, the privileged and the traitorous!

Ratanapala

17 February 2010