BY JATILA KARAWITA  Courtesy:  The Morning

https://www.themorning.lk/articles/RwRFr97rNUfevrbOFeXU

• Urges public to be wary of rhetoric and actions 
• Eran vows no room for religious influence

A prominent and highly influential Buddhist monk Ven Elle Gunawansa Thera alleged that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been taken over by a religious group belonging to the ‘faith-based group’ ideology.

He charged that at the same time the newly installed set of administrators have taken cover under the veil of a Transformation Committee and advised the public to be wary of their rhetoric and actions.

The Thera, noted for his forthright views and decades-long involvement in nationalistic politics, social activism, and religious leadership, made this disclosure during a weekly political talk show aired on electronic media on Monday (25).

Sri Lanka Cricket was controlled previously by those mostly belonging to this faith-based group,” the Thera said.

And now the majority of those who have replaced them are also members of this particular religious group. We don’t mind them being members of whatever religious group or cult of their choice. But, we oppose strongly if they strive to foist their religious beliefs upon players forcibly under the guise of transforming cricket. This we don’t condone and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”

Sri Lanka Cricket’s previous Ex-Co headed by Shammi Silva resigned late last month reportedly at the behest of the government, to make way for the Cricket Transformation Committee, helmed by investment banker turned ex-lawmaker Eran Wickramaratne.

The monk said he possessed evidence to prove how certain players against their better judgment had become pawns in the game of forced conversions in the recent past.

He described the process as ‘deeply unsettling’ and observed the need to end the ‘vicious cycle’ before things could boil over.    

Ven Elle Gunawansa Thera stated that Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning captain turned former politician Arjuna Ranatunga too had revealed to him once how he too had been coaxed to join the religious group, but had managed to evade the approaches subtly.

The Thera explained that a ‘faith-based group’  is not a cult itself. It is a core Christian doctrine rooted in the Bible that stresses spiritual transformation and a personal relationship with God. But, some specific Churches, ministries, and groups that heavily emphasise this term exhibit cult-like or controlling behaviours,” the Thera opined.

He however, pointed out that the Catholic Church too was sternly opposed to the conduct of such groups which, according to him propagate concepts directly rejected by main faiths in this country.

He charged that the group in question had even spread its tentacles around nerve centres in the nation allegedly with the blessings of the US Embassy in Colombo.

Wickramaratne addressing the local media for the first time a fortnight ago since taking office at SLC in late April, assured that under his watch a professional and a merit-based administration would prevail over religious influence.  

The monk has consistently occupied a central role in shaping the nationalist discourse, while advocating for policies rooted in local heritage and the traditional values of the majority population.

However, critics and certain human rights observers have historically linked the Thera to hard-line nationalist factions.

He has also frequently clashed with secular politicians over the role of clergy in governance, insisting that monks hold a vital mandate to guide the country’s political leadership.   

The Transformation Committee also includes Sidath Wettimuny, Roshan Mahanama, Kumar Sangakkara, Prakash Schaffter, Dinal Phillips, Upul Kumarapperuma, Thushira Radella and Avanthi Colombage.

Courtesy:  The Morning