KAMALIKA PIERIS
The Easter Sunday
bombings mark a significant coming together of the Catholic Church and the Maha
sangha. The Catholic Church and the Maha sangha appeared together on one platform, after the Easter
Sunday bombings. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith held two joint press conferences with
the Maha sangha regarding the bomb blasts.
After the Easter Sunday bombings, Cardinal
Malcolm Ranjith held a joint press conference with Ven. Omalpe Sobitha at the Bishop’s House on 9.5.19. The main speaker was Cardinal Malcolm
Ranjith. He said firmly that the Easter Sunday bombings were part of an
international conspiracy. It was not a local thing. USA was behind it. The Cardinal stated publicly on that this was
part of a ‘Bhayanaka loka salasmak’ of the USA. USA alone is behind this and
ISIS is part of the USA plan. USA has meddled in other countries, such as Libya
and now they want to do the same here.
The second media briefing
took place after the Anti Muslim riots which broke out on May 13, 2019, in Sri Lanka,
targeting mosques and Muslim-owned shops. It was jointly called by the Catholic
Church and the Buddhist clergy at the Bishop’s House, Borella on 14.5.19. The Maha sangha was represented by Ven. Ittapane
Dhammalankara, Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayawardanepura, and chief
priest of Kotte Sri Kalayani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha of Siyam Maha
Nikaya.
Ven Dhammalankara
said it is evident that there is a hidden hand which is manipulating and
instigating the mobs engaged in causing damage. Within a few days since the
unfortunate incident on Easter Sunday we addressed the people and pleaded of
them to stay calm. The people obliged. They were silent, resilient and patient,
said Ven. Dhammalankara. But, now 20 days
later, incidents of violence being reported from various parts of the country
based on the Easter Sunday incident.
Certain parties
are inciting racial tensions and unleashing these mobs. These violent gangs are
being manipulated by organized political forces for their political gain. . Some
sinister force is behind these incidents. These sinister forces are instigating
these groups and sending them to cause this damage,” he said, adding that these
incidents need to be investigated and those behind these incidents should be
exposed.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said that it
would have been better if the government had methodically conducted cordon and
search operations covering all areas in Negombo. Instead, searches were
conducted in an ad hoc manner thereby allowing troublemakers to retain various
dangerous items. He called for thorough searches of houses occupied by Muslims
and Catholics.
The Cardinal reiterated his long standing call
to proscribe the use of religion or ethnicity as part of the name of political
parties. The Catholic leader revealed how he had turned down a request by group
of powerful Catholics to form a Catholic political party. The Cardinal said
that attempts to exploit religion should be blocked.
Since Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera had in the meantime
declared that Sri Lanka wasn’t a Sinhala Buddhist country, both Ven
Dhammalankara and Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith took this opportunity to state that
it could not be disputed that Sri Lanka was a Buddhist country.
The Maha sangha
spoke out on its own, as well, after the bomb explosions occurred. From their
comments made to the media, it was clear that the Maha sangha had known about Muslim extremism. They have
known this for a long time and they were well informed. They spoke of madrasas, Sharia University, date palms and the use of
Arabic.
The Catholic Church also continued to speak
out. Deliberate attempts were being made by influential interested parties to
divert public attention away from the Easter Sunday carnage, the worst ever
single act of terrorism in Sri Lanka directed at civilians, said a senior
spokesperson for the Catholic Church.
Well organized attacks on the Muslim community
in the North Western Province and Minuwangoda in the Gampaha District were
integral part of their despicable strategy. There hadn’t been a single incident
when well over 200 victims were buried in several parts of the country. Many
feared the possibility of communal clashes in Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo
where the most funerals took place, the priest said.
Appreciating the prompt support extended by
the Buddhist clergy to Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith to reassure the Catholics, the
Church spokesperson emphasized that premeditated violence directed at Muslims
living in Wayamba and Minuwangoda were meant to destabilize the country. Influential interested parties had taken this
action, as the Easter Sunday carnage failed to trigger violent response from
those directly affected, the priest said.
Attacks on Muslims not only diverted the
public attention from bomb attacks but drew international condemnation of Sri
Lanka, the priest said. The UN censured Sri Lanka over the situation caused by
the government’s pathetic failure to thwart organized attacks. The priest
alleged that there hadn’t been contingency plans in place to counter the threat
posed by those seeking to take advantage of the situation.
The UN
statement dated May 14 attributed to Adama Dieng, UN Special Adviser on the
Prevention of Genocide, and Karen Smith, UN Special Adviser on the Responsibility
to Protect, placed Sri Lanka an extremely difficult and embarrassing situation,
the spokesperson continued.
The Church official said instead of tackling
the threat posed by extremists behind the Easter Sunday bombings those in
authority were busy creating fresh issues. He pointed out that the government and police
hadn’t explained as to how such large groups freely raided many towns in the
Wayamba Province and Minuwangoda without hindrance. “We haven’t heard of
even one instance of the police or the armed forces firing in the air in a bid
to control the organized mobs,”
the spokesman said.
The
Easter bomb attack also came up for discussion at the Bishops Conference
held at the Archbishop’s House in May 2019. The special invitee for the event
was Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. Speakers were strongly critical of
both President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe.
More
than one speaker said that they should work towards the establishment of a new
government since the Sirisena-Wickremasinghe duo have let down the Catholic
community. A Muslim minister from the Mannar District,
who even operates a Tamil language television station, came in for severe
criticism for the alleged support he had extended to IS extremists. no action has still been taken against
him. One speaker noted that a winning political party could work with
moderate and responsible Muslim politicians.
When the Easter
Sunday bombings took place, the sangha decided to send the Muslims, as well as Yahapalana
and the USA a strong message. 50 bhikkus went by bus to Katuwapitiya church, and
were met by the chief priest of the Church. They exchanged greetings, went into
the church and surveyed the damage done. Then in a symbolic gesture of sympathy,
several bhikkus took brooms and swept the compound. This is a most unusual
event and it must be recognized as such. Derana television gave it lengthy coverage. This can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip7WwvJJL9w&t=1707s.
Gangaramaya Temple and the Kalutara Bodhi
Trust, decided to support the poorest
victims of the Easter Sunday bombings. Rs. 5 million donated by the World Peace
Association was handed over to the Venerable Kirinde Assaji of
Gangaramaya. Kalutara Bodhi Trust and
the Gangaramaya Temple (Buddha Rashmi Fund) said they would also provide funds
for distribution.
The Catholic Church reciprocated. The Catholic
church usually stays away from Wesak, apart from once in a while, blundering by
wishing the Buddhist a ‘joyful Wesak’. This Wesak, In recognition of the support shown by the
Maha Sangha, one particular Catholic church, (I could not take down the name),
displayed on the grounds of the church,
a row of atapattan kudu, with a cross on each of the four sides. The display was within the church premises.
This was a rare event and it was shown on Derana news of 18.5.2019.
Another ‘Wesak
kudu with cross’ venture was not so fortunate. About 50 Vesak lanterns,
carrying the symbols of the ‘Dhamma chakra’ and the ‘Christian cross’ on the
four sides of each lantern, had created a furore in Saliyawewa. .Saliyawewa
Police told the organizers to remove the Vesak lanterns, following a complaint
by a monk. The monk had pointed out that the Dharmachakra symbol should not appear
on a Wesak kudu. It was a symbol of great significance. I wish to add that the
cross should not have been there either. The cross is a sacred symbol of
Christianity and, as far as I know, it is never used for decoration.
The lanterns
were made by the Sinhalese and Christians in the area together with their
children in memory of all those who died in the Easter Sunday attacks. It was
an initiative by a Pradeshiya Sabha member, complained the Christians. They
were made by a team of Buddhist and Catholic youth that had good intentions. It was to be
a collective symbol delivering the message of peace with each other,
particularly in difficult times.
The bhikku
who objected had failed to see the calm and the serenity that the sight of
those lighted ‘Vesak kudus’ with the Cross and the Dharmachakraya on them would
have brought to the people of those two and even other faiths, while watching
them, lamented one reader, probably
Christian, in a letter to the newspapers.
Then in June
2019, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith visited Ven. Ratana who was on his fourth day of
hunger strike opposite the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. Ven. Ratana was
demanding the removal of Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hisbullah,
Western Province Governor Azath Sally and Commerce and Industry Minister
Rishard Bathiudeen. The Cardinal was accompanied by several other Catholic
priests who also spoke to Ven. Ratana. This was shown on television.
After
inquiring about Ratana Thera’s health and wellbeing, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith
spoke to the media. he said Ratana thera commenced this fast for the people
who were killed and injured during the Easter Sunday attacks. He had commenced
this fast having found out the true information regarding this incident. We
have yet not been told who was behind these attacks and who supported and
assisted in these attacks, Rev. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith told the media after
meeting Ratana Thera.
No proper
investigation has been done so far and I feel that a comprehensive
investigation must be done to reveal those who had assisted in these
terrorists. Authorities are simply chasing behind a handful of officials such
as the IGP and Defence Secretary. However, they have so far not investigated
who had indirectly assisted these terror elements, said the Cardinal.
The cordial
relations between Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Maha sangha, displayed during this time, does not come as a surprise. This has been
incubating for a long time. When Cardinal
Malcolm Ranjit was installed as
the as the 9th Archbishop of Colombo, at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena, in
2009, the Maha Sangha were present,
presumably by invitation. The newspapers ran on the front page, a photograph of
Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha, Bellanwila Wimalaratana and a third high ranking bhikku,
whose name I cannot now recall, surrounding a smiling Archbishop and greeting
him enthusiastically, after his ordination.
I thought it a lovely, promising photograph, cut it out and put it away
safely. Now I cannot find it!
After Yahapalana government came in, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith
showed interest n working with the Buddhists. Cardinal
Malcolm Ranjith has not forsaken his religion.
He sees the potential of Buddhism, the majority religion in the country,
to act as a stabilizing force in the country.
In Sept
2018 Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith was
present at the prize giving of Kanduboda Shri Saranankara Daham Pasala in
Delgoda, organized by the Ven. Parakaduwe Sri Saranankara with Chancellor of
the Kelaniya University Ven. Dr. Walamitiyawe Kusaladhamma presiding.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith
said at this event that Buddhism was the backbone of this country and
it was a religion which had been followed by the people in this land for a long
time. People who had been shaped by
Buddhist civilization do not violate human rights. He added that a society
which attempts to make human rights a religion, could safeguard human rights
effectively through Buddhist teaching. Rights
of all people in this country are safeguarded when Buddhist culture is
safeguarded. Anti-religious ideologies are being filtered into the society
today. We have to put them aside and safeguard religions,” he said.
Since we have inherited a
great culture over the years, there is no need to think about human rights in a
special way. Human rights are safeguarded in our country much more than what is
prescribed by the UN because of the Buddhist environment,” he added. He also said the efforts made by the
Buddhist clergy to bring up children according to Buddhist principals were
commendable.
Cardinal
Ranjith attending the launching ceremony of the biography of Ven. Banagala
Upatissa on 7.1.19. At this even he said
that spiritual guidance can be found in the scriptures of different religions
practiced by the people of this country. that guidance is especially included
in Buddhist philosophy. (Ceylon today
7.1.2019.)
Vesak in May
2019 was badly affected by the bomb
blasts. Wesak could not be the jolly entertainment it usually was, with
pandals, dansalas, hundreds of viewers
on the streets, enjoying themselves. Yahapalana government asked temples
countrywide not to organize large-scale Vesak celebrations because of the
security situation. Vesak
pandals, Vesak decorations and celebrations must be confined to temple premises.
The Buddhist
took this as an opportunity to show loyalty to Buddhism. Buddhists
made a special effort this time to take the family and go to temple. My
housekeeper, who usually never goes home for Wesak, wanted leave to go home.
She said that the priest in the temple has wanted them all to be present at a
pahan puja in the temple and she wished to participate. Trishaws in
towns, proudly carried Buddhist flags.
An unprecedented number of Buddhists took sil.
Derana news of 18.5.2019 showed rows of Buddhist observing sil at Ruvanvelisaya
in Anuradhapura. Over 245,000 Buddhist
devotees in Kurunegala observed sil in May 18 and 19th, said the
media. Meditation
programmes and sermons were conducted island wide, with the participation of
over 2,800 bhikkus, the media added. Buddhist said this was the correct way to
celebrate Wesak and the style should continue. The unexpected also happened.
Derana news of 18.5.2019 also showed a bhikku giving a sermon in a mosque.
Since pandals were banned, the Buddhists decided to decorate the streets
instead. Shops reported a huge sale in Buddhist flags. Streets were decked with Buddhist flags, in
an abundance I have never seen before.
The streets were strung across in rows and rows of Buddhist flags. In
addition to the standard flags, there was also the ‘palan kodi’, extending
across the road and along the sides of buildings. The lamp posts had ‘kanu kodi.’
Each had its colored stripes arranged accordingly. The emphasis was on the colors not the size. In one street, instead
of flags, there were strips of crepe paper in the ‘Buddhist colors’ strung
across the main road. I
think they must have run out of flags.
Houses flew the Buddhist flag, I think more
than usual. These flags came in many sizes, from tiny to large. .Some houses
had large flags, flying boldly, on poles prominently jutting out on the street.
In one house, in Colombo, the ‘flag’ was laid over the whole of the boundary wall,
facing the road at Ward Place. The colors were printed in long horizontals. On
the southern highway, there was a Buddhist flag atop a factory chimney.
So the Easter
Sunday bombings, a sad event, had resulted in the strengthening of Buddhist
resolve and the recognition of Buddhism as the leading religion of the island. The Easter Sunday bombings have, also quite
unexpectedly, helped to establish Sri
Lanka as a Sinhala Buddhist country. Mangala Samaraweera said on 13 May 2019 that
Sri Lanka was not a Sinhala Buddhist country.
Of course it is a Sinhala Buddhist country said the Sinhala
Buddhists. Yes it is, added the Hindus,
Christians and Muslims independent of each other.
Cardinal Malcolm
Ranjith said it could not be disputed that Sri Lanka was a Buddhist country. Sri
Lanka is a Sinhala Buddhist country said Faizer Mustapha. Vadivel Suresh said
the same thing. So did Minister Mano Ganesan.
They also announced, with appreciation, that is was the Buddhist ethos that
permitted them to practice their religion with complete freedom. (Derana news
17.5.19).
Faizer Mustapha
said it was the Buddhist ethos that permitted the other religions to follow their religions peacefully and
exercise their rights. Navinda Jayasinghe speaking for Catholics said this is
Sinhala Buddhist country, there is nothing to argue about it. Its identity is
Sinhala Buddhism. Vadivel Suresh said there are no two words about It.
Buddhism is the senior religion under which come the junior religions
of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity!!
(continued)
