{"id":93794,"date":"2019-10-11T13:34:22","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T20:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=93794"},"modified":"2019-10-11T13:40:46","modified_gmt":"2019-10-11T20:40:46","slug":"yahapalana-versus-maha-sangha-part-4-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2019\/10\/11\/yahapalana-versus-maha-sangha-part-4-2\/","title":{"rendered":"YAHAPALANA VERSUS MAHA SANGHA Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

KAMALIKA\u00a0 PIERIS<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Last revision 10.10.19 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yahapalana\u2019s attacks on the Maha Sangha are part of its attack on Buddhism, Buddhists, and Buddhist worship. This anti-Buddhist strategy has clearly been planned well ahead and given to Yahapalana to implement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yahapalana decided to avoid a frontal attack on Buddhist philosophy. They know what happened at the Panadura Vadaya. Yahapalana has preferred to hit below the belt. Yahapalana accordingly tried to silence the Maha Sangha, by putting them in remand prison and to sabotage the Peraheras by removing the elephants that go in it. Peraheras have always been an irritant to the non-Buddhists in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uduwe Dhammaloka observed in 2016 we can see that\nstrategies are being discussed among various NGOs and the present rulers seem\nto be going along with them, one\ninstance is the Katikawata Bill, the intention was to suppression of the\nsangha. There is no need for a\nKatikawata bill, the Vinaya rules are sufficient.  Kiribathgoda Ananda has over a 1000 monks\nunder him. They conduct themselves well.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uduwe Dhammaloka continued, there is now a\nmove by NGOs to say that ordaining young boys as monks is child abuse.  We know that as far as Buddhism is concerned\nadult ordination will never work. Monks have to be ordained when they are young\notherwise they will never be able to conduct themselves in a manner required of\nmonks. We now see subtle attempt to portray the ordination of children as child\nabuse. There was a video clip of a young samanera crying for his mother that\nwas shared on social media networks some time ago. These subtle campaigns which\nstrike at the very root of Sinhala Buddhist culture. If child ordination is\neliminated the sangha will be gone in one generation.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Derana\u00a0\u00a0 News on 10.9.19 showed a young man repeatedly slapping two Samanera bhikkhus repeatedly for allegedly taking an item from a shop. An onlooker came forward and stopped him but only after about half a dozen slaps had been given. The next day Derana news showed the two Samanera in hospital. The man was arrested and the camera showed him apologizing for his action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samanera bhikkhus are also featured elsewhere. The popular teledrama \u2018Sidu\u2019 features a village temple, its chief priest, his assistant Ven.\u00a0 Rahula and two little Samaneras, Soratha and Subhoda. \u2018Sidu\u2019 thus shows the three levels of bhikkhus in the Sangha community, senior, middle and junior, their role and the difference in attitude among them.\u00a0 The Samanera are shown to be normal, mischievous little boys, training to be priests. Before it became a soap opera, Sidu\u201d was a lovely film. Buddhist philosophy was woven beautifully into a relaxing film which offered,\u00a0 suspense, melodrama, excitement, \u2018pight\u2019, \u2018comit\u2019 and \u2018luv\u2019.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The international conspiracy leaders have studied the Sangha as individuals and selected the most suitable Bhikkus for what they had in mind. These handpicked monks talk and behave in a manner designed to turn Buddhists against Buddhism. That is the nature of the conspiracy. Getting the monks involved is part of the conspiracy. This has also happened in Burma where monks were brought into disrepute., said Uduwe Dhammaloka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a small group of monks playing a\nmajor role in creating disturbances in the country.  They paved the way for the present government\nto come to power. These monks were completely unheard of until they started\ncreating disturbances on the streets. This is a small minority of monks with\nsuspicious linkages to the west.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is these monks who were arrested at\nHomagama. They were brought to court\nlike criminals with their heads covered, Things that were not done even in\ncolonial times are being done now. Our\nmonks are now aware of what is going on, we discuss these matters, concluded\nUduwe Dhammaloka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pin\npettiya in temples is also targeted. Some time ago, the pin petti of Alutgama and\nDambulla viharas were sealed by the Department of Buddhist Affairs. The public\nprotested and the Department gave in. In\nSeptember 2019 another round of pin petti sealing  started. The pin petti at Badulla raja Maha\nvihara were sealed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September 2019, the audit Division of the Department of Buddhist affairs had come Tissamaharama Raja Maha vihara to do a surprise check of its pin petti. The petti were sealed to be taken for examination to the Department of Buddhsit Affairs. The auditors have said that the temple had not maintained proper records of the pin petti money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0The chief priests at Tissamaharama told Derana that they were unable to get the money they needed for the next perahera due to the bomb blast. They needed about 1.3\u00a0million. They needed another 50 lakhs or so, to keep the chaitya whitewashed and pay the workers and feed them for about two or three months. The Chief priest also observed that there was a Christian Church in Tissamaharama which had about three hundred acres of land. Are they checking there as well, he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, since it was best to keep on the good side of the Maha Sangha.\u00a0 Yahapalana made it a point to go to Malwatu and Asgiri Mahanayakas,\u00a0\u00a0 kneel down, hand over baskets of fruit and say what they were going to do next. Maha Sangha was not fooled. Some Yahapalana MPs went beyond that. Derana news 8.9.17 showed Ravi Karunanayake visiting Elle Gunawansa and worshipping before a Buddha statue.\u00a0 Then in August 2019, there was a photograph of Ravi kneeling before a bhikkhu at a function at the BMICH. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately for\u00a0\u00a0 Yahapalana, things did not go as planned. Instead of getting frightened, shutting up and staying inside their temples, the Sangha did the opposite. They marched out en masse from their temples and confronted Yahapalana directly. We now see a re-emergence of the Maha Sangha as a\u00a0\u00a0 strong, formidable political force. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Buddhist monk is fundamentally a teacher, and a counselor to laypeople observed\u00a0 Raj Gonsalkorale. They are part of a community,\u00a0 and their role is defined by the environment they live in.\u00a0 I would add to this that the Sangha are citizens of Sri Lanka, \u00a0and are entitled to all the rights and privileges of a citizen of Sri Lanka. That is an inalienable right. If the\u00a0 Sangha can vote at an election, they can be politically active as well.\u00a0 \u00a0Buddhism is not a philosophy that shuns politics. \u00a0Buddha preached to King Bimbisara,\u00a0 King Pasenadi, and Anathapindika, a rich merchant and banker. In doing so, he was recognizing the importance of political and economic power in a society.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The  first concern of the Maha Sangha was of\ncourse, Buddhism .in June 2017 after a meeting of the Karaka Sangha Sabha,\nWarakagoda Gnanaratana in a strongly worded statement   spoke of internal and external conspiracies\nagainst Buddhists and emphasized the need for the Mahanayake Theras of the\nThree Nikayas and the patriotic people of the country \u2018to act in unison to face\nsuch injustices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sangha made sure that traditional Buddhist activities continued. A Pirit chanting was organized at 600 temples in June 2019 to invoke blessings to the country, tri-force personnel, Police, Government, and the people.\u00a0 The chanting was to start at Anuradhapura, with 500 bhikkhus chanting pirit at\u00a0 Ruwanvelisaya.. The annual peraheras would\u00a0 also\u00a0 continue.\u00a0 In June 2019, chief prelates met the Secretary of Defence to discuss security arrangements to the annual peraheras conducted at Kelaniya, Mahiyangana, Bellanvila, and\u00a0 Navagamuwa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Maha\nSangha have taken a fearless stand against Yahapalana government.  Ven.Elle Gunananda said the Yahapalana \u2018lied\nand lied to us\u2019 (boru kivuva). \nVen.Omalpe Sobitha said there must be a firm Sinhala leadership in\nParliament. The tail cannot be allowed to wag the dog.  Ven.Wattegama PItiyegedera observed that we\ndo not have a national policy that can survive changes of government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Maha\nSangha have made their political position clear .Wattegama PItiyegedera said\nthat Vigneswaran had met the Malwatte and Asgiriya sangha and said they want\nfederalism. Wattegama Pitiyegedera reported that the Sangha straightaway said\nthey cannot agree this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Maha\nSangha have also  made it clear that they\nsupport Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as the next President of Sri Lanka. Gotabhaya   did a well planned tour of the major temples\nof the country. The chief priest of each temple spoke and the speeches were\nshown on television news. They had clearly planned their speeches  beforehand and chose their words carefully.\nThe speeches were political statements intended for the public and Yahapalana.\nAt Kiri vehera, the camera showed a bikkhu recording the proceedings with a\nsmart phone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The itinerary\nwent as follows. Gotabhaya first went, with his retinue to Anuradhapura where he\nworshipped at Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruvanveli seya, Mirisavati, Lankarama and\nJayanthi vihara. At Ruvanvali seya    \n1500 monks  conducted an adistana\npuja. The heads of these temples greeted him as a promising future leader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After\nvisiting the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, and receiving the blessing of the Sangha\nat Malwatte and Asgiriya temples as well as pirit nool. Gota travelled south,\nto Kiri vehera at Kataragama, where there was an ashirvada puja and 500 monks\nchanted Jaya pirit.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chief\npriest of Kiri vehera, Kobawaka Dhamminna said we will support anybody who is\nprepared to protect Buddhism and our land .We hope that Gotabhaya will take up\nthat responsibility. Bellanwila Dhammaratna said the country had fallen to\nnought today in terms of security and economy. Mahinda Rajapaksa made [an\nimpact]. \u2018You are his brother. You have the ability to take this country out of\nthis mess.  You have experience. Do the\nright thing. We will support you.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Uva Wellassa Sanghanayake Kandaudapanguwe\nSudamma said \u2018look into security,  \nforeigners cannot poke their noses [into our affairs]. Create a good\ncountry, a strong, courageous one where Sinhalese can live with pride. You have\nthe strength to do this. Today Sangha lack respect. They are insulted. We\ncannot be expected to tolerate this.  \nThe Maha Sangha is for the country, its Sasana, and   its culture.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gotabhaya\nthen went to Tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara where  Develegama Dhammasena spoke.    At Matara \nParaduwa Jinaratna, head of a Sangha organization, wished Gota  success at the elections, the  solidarity of the Rajapaksa brothers is an\nexample to the nation, he said.  People\nare on fire,  he continued, they are\nscared the country will be handed over to a foreign power. Stop  those who are robbing the state, selling  the state, save it from foreigners, protect\nBuddhism, get rid of this irreligious government, which has  encouraged Sangha bedhaya .There must be a  love for the country, he concluded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Alutgama\nKande viharaya,   Malegoda Nanda said\nhead of state must have  ‘eveseema’. \u2018As\nDefence Secretayr you showed that quality\u2019. At the Kalutara bodiya Waskaduwe Mahindawansa   told Gotabhaya  \u2018you gave a very good speech at the launch in\nColombo  it had no mud, no division, you\ngot your ideas across very effectively\u2019. \nThere was pirit at Wadduwa bodhiraja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pannipitiya\nRukmale Sri Dharma Vijayaloka\u2019s chief priest, Ittapane Dhamalankara  said most politicians are busy slinging mud\nat each other from the mud hole they have got into. They are placing the\npopulation in danger. \u2018Like you got us out of the war  you should \ntry to get us out of this mud hole too. \nYou have shown by action, not talk your ability and won the admiration\nand respect of the public. I  declare\nthat you are the most suitable as our leader.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Mount\nLavinia Dharmapala aramaya Ramannya chief prelate Kotugoda Dhammavasa said  the public hare hoping now for a good leader.\nThey eagerly await a leader who will \nprovide a \u2018kramavath ayurin rata hikmavagena nisi paripalanayak. \u2018with\nhelp of the Maha Sangha and public  we\nhope that you will be able to create a country which regains its self respect\nand we pray that you will have the strength, power and support of the public to\nachieve this.\u2019   I have given this\nprogramme at length because I wish to show \nthe huge , island wide support given by the Sangha to Gotabhaya and the\nissues the Sangha consider important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Maha Sangha  was aware of the animosity of  Yahapalana towards the Sangha. Keppetiyagoda Sirinimala  of Getambe temple said  in 2017 that usually when there was a crisis,\nthe bhikkhus came forward, \u2018now they are \ndenigrating the monks.\u2019 A protest march and a meeting of the Maha Sangha\nwas held in Kandy in July 2019  because  some NGOs and \nother organizations  had\nchallenged a statement made by the Mahanayake of Asgiriya .The  march \nwas organized by  several Sangha organizations,\nincluding  Jathika Sangha Sabha and Thri\nNikayika Bhikshu Ekamuthuwa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Maha\nSangha have emphasized their unity by appearing in formidable groups, not\nsingly. At the National Conference on Peace, Harmony and Co existence, July\n2019,  one half of the BMICH auditorium\nwas  given over to the Sangha, who could\nbe seen seated  en masse, in a  blaze of saffron. (See Derana news 31.7.19 at\nat13.53).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a media conference  to report the decision of the Kotte Sri\nKalyani Samagri Dhamma Maha Sangha Sabha regarding the proposed new\nconstitution. The opening shot showed a group of 12  or so, red and yellow clad Bhikkus emerging\nfrom the discussion led by  the chief\npriest. The chief priests  spoke  to the camera with this group standing behind\nhim, in full view of the camera, looking very \nserious and formidable. It was impressive. (see Derana 6.55 news\n22.10.17 at 15.10) Camera also showed them going into the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third example is from the  \u2018Jathika Maga\u2019  conference \nheld by Maha Sangha Samuluva at BMICH  \nin June 2019 .  This showed three\nor four rows of monks, on the stage,  sitting amidst a set which included   Anuradhapura style pillars, a Samadhi statue\nand a Dagoba.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sangha\nalso  spoke out  regarding non-conformist bhikkhus. In 2017,\nafter a meeting of the Karaka Sangha Sabha, the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya\nChapter, announced Although we do not approve the aggressive behavior and\nspeech of Bhikkhu Galabodaatte Gnanasara the viewpoint expressed by him cannot\nbe discarded. Insulting Bhikkhus by various groups without inquiring into the\nveracity of the issues raised  cannot be\ncondoned.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A historic agreement merging the Amarapura and\nRamanna Chapters was signed in Colombo, in August   2019. The two chapters will hereafter be\nknown as a single entity: Sri Lanka Amarapura Ramanna Samagri Maha Sangha\nSabha.\u201d The agreement was signed by the Amarapura Chapter Mahanayake, the Ven.\nKotugoda Dhammavasa , and the Ramanna Chapter Mahanayaka, the Ven. Napana\nPemasiri. The two prelates will hereafter function as Joint Chairpersons of the\nnew Sangha Sabha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement marks a turning point in the\nhistory of the Buddha Sasana in the country. It was reached after years of\ntalks. Six major aims were cited as the reasons for the merger. These included\nthe need to take decisions jointly regarding issues affecting the Buddha Sasana\nand the country, building a disciplined Sangha society and providing guidance\nto young learned Buddhist monks to face social challenges. Ven. Kotugoda\nDhammavasa said there was no reason why the two Chapters should remain separate\nas they were started by the pupils of the same monk. The Sangha now urgently\nneeded a  Sangadhikarana   and  a\nKathikawatha. We have submitted the recommendations,  for a Sanghadhikarana, but  nothing has happened so far, said the  Sangha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It should be noted however, that the  three nikayas have been  working together  for a long time before the merger. For\ninstance,  in December 2018 a decree by\nthe tri nikaya was announced at the Jathika Maha Sangha Samuluwa led by the\nprelates of the three nikayas at Nelum Pokuna, Colombo.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Easter Sunday\nbombings mark a significant coming together of the Catholic Church and the Maha\nSangha. The Catholic Church and the Maha Sangha appeared   together on one platform after this  sad event. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith   took the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardinal Malcolm\nRanjith held two joint press conferences with the Maha Sangha regarding the\nbomb blasts. The   Maha Sangha was\nrepresented by Ven. Ittapane Dhammalankara, Chancellor of the University of Sri\nJayewardenepura, and chief priest of Kotte Sri Kalayani Samagri Dharma Maha\nSangha Sabha of Siyam Maha Nikaya.   In\nJuly 2019, Kirinde Dhammakusala, chief incumbent of Sri\nBodhi temple at Bopitiya and Rev Francis Jayakody parish priest of Pamunugama\nwere special invitees to the meeting of the Pamunugama Welfare Association of\nBopitiya.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the Easter\nSunday bombings, the Sangha decided to send the Muslims, as well as Yahapalana\nand the USA a strong message. 50 bhikkus ,from Bellanwila Raja Maha Vihara went\nby bus to Katuwapitiya church, and were met by the chief priest of the Church.\nThey exchanged greetings, went into the church and surveyed the damage done.\nThen in a symbolic gesture of sympathy, several bhikkus took brooms and swept\nthe compound. This is a most unusual event and it must be\nrecognized as such. Derana\ntelevision gave it   lengthy coverage.\nThis can be seen at   https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ip7WwvJJL9w&t=1707s<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ven. Bellanwila\nDhammarathana invited His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith to join a pooja at\nBellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya in August 2019 \nto invoke merit on those killed, which he did with all reverence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yahapalana  has   inadvertently,\nhelped to establish Sri Lanka as a Buddhist country. It happened like this. Mangala\nSamaraweera said  on 13 May 2019 that Sri\nLanka was not a Buddhist country.  There\nwas a howl. Of course it is a Buddhist country said the Buddhists.  Yes it is, added the Hindus, Christians and\nMuslims independent of each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardinal Malcolm\nRanjith said it could not be disputed that Sri Lanka was a Buddhist country.\nSri  Lanka is a Sinhala Buddhist country\nsaid Faizer Mustapha. So did Minister Mano Ganesan.. Navinda Jayasinghe\nspeaking for Catholics said this is Sinhala Buddhist country, there is nothing\nto argue about it. Its identity is Sinhala Buddhism. Vadivel Suresh said there\nare no two words about It. Buddhism  is\nthe senior  religion under which come the\njunior religions  of Hinduism, Islam and\nChristianity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The Sangha spoke up. The religious groups in\nthis country should keep it in mind that Buddhists in Sri Lanka had always\nrespected and allowed unhindered the existence of other religions, said\nAsgiriya in an   official statement. We\ncondemn acts by other religious groups that insult this tolerant Buddhist\nethic,\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rest\nagreed. They also announced, with appreciation, that it was the Buddhist ethos\nthat permitted them to  practice their\nreligion with complete freedom. Faizer Mustapha said it was the Buddhist  ethos that permitted the other religions\nto   follow their religions peacefully\nand exercise their rights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, long before all this, In Sept 2018  Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith was present at the\nprize giving of Kanduboda Shri Saranankara Daham Pasala in Delgoda, organized\nby the Ven. Parakaduwe Sri Saranankara with Chancellor of the Kelaniya\nUniversity Ven. Dr. Walamitiyawe Kusaladhamma \npresiding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardinal\nMalcolm Ranjith said at this event that Buddhism was the backbone of this country and it was a religion\nwhich had been followed by the people in this land for a long time. People who had been shaped by Buddhist\ncivilization do not violate human rights. He added that a society which\nattempts to make human rights a religion, could safeguard human rights\neffectively through Buddhist teaching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rights of all people in this country are safeguarded when Buddhist\nculture is safeguarded, he said. Human\nrights are safeguarded in our country much more than what is prescribed by the\nUN because of the Buddhist environment,\u201d he added. Since we have inherited a great culture\nover the years, there is no need to think about human rights in a special way  Anti-religious ideologies are being filtered\ninto the society today. We have to put them aside and safeguard religions,\u201d he\nsaid. ( Concluded) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADDITION\nNO 1.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 When Mahinda Rajapaksa took over at Prime\nMinister in Oct 2018, he emphasized the Buddhist connection. He went to several\ntemples, Abhayarama first, of course, then to Kelaniya, Vidyalankara and also\nAnuradhapura. He received\nthe blessings of, among other bhikkhus, Ven. Welamitiyawe\nKusala Dhamma    and Ven Kumburugama\nVajira<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADDITION\nNO 2.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November\n2018, Chief Sangha Nayake of North Central Province and Chief Incumbent of\nJayanti Viharaya, Anuradhapura, Ven \nNugetenne Pagnnananda said what was important was not individuals or\npolitical parties, but the national interest. Those who sought the intervention\nof foreigners in the internal affairs of the country put national sovereignty\nin peril.”We should solve our internal issues ourselves. Already foreign\npowers have poked their fingers into our affairs”, he added. In the past\nSri\u2008Lankans had invited Dutch to save them from the Portuguese and,\nsubsequently enlisted the support of the British to get rid of the Dutch.\nFinally, the entire country had been ruled by the British. “Hence, I\nrequest all concerned not to invite foreign powers to interfere with matters\nconcerning our country\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADDITION\nNO 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August\n2019, at a Yuthukama meeting Ven. Elle Gunawansa made a stirring speech. He critiqued\nYahapalana in strong terms. He said the first thing that Yahapalana was looking\nat from the time it came to power was how to hit the Buddha Sasana. So they\nbrought in a Theravada bhikkhu kativatatak. If this katikavata had gone through\nI would not be standing here speaking to you and the Diyawadana Nilame would\nhave been in prison, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came the\npin petty issue. Elle Gunawansa  \nalso   spoke of the Cultural\nTriangle, which now has 6 billion rupees in its fund. \u2018This is our money\u2019, said\nthe thera. It was made by displaying Buddhist  \nviharas, and ancient ruins. No other government after independence has\ncreated a greater \u2018vinase\u2019 than this government. So don\u2019t be fooled. This is\nyour last chance, he said. We need an \u2018ayomaya nayakayek\u2019. Not someone who will\nkneel before the west. If you make a mistake don\u2019t come saying sorry. \u2018I am\nvery upset\u2019 he concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADDITION\nNO 4.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A resolution\nto remove Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe from the post of Chairman was\npassed by the Dayaka Sabha of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, in September 2019.\nThe resolution was moved by a member of the Kelaniya Seela Bhavana Samitiya and\nseconded by Co-Secretary of the Dayaka Sabaha. around 300 members of the\nSabha  were present .Ven. Kollupitiye\nMahinda Chief Incumbent of the temple inquired from the Sabha whether there was\nanyone supportive of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, and seven members of the\nSabha raised their hands in support of the Prime Minister. Ven. Prof.\nKollupitiye Mahinda then announced that the matter would be referred to the\nExecutive Committee of the Sabha for a final decision to be taken. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADDITION\nNO 5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 155 birth\nanniversary of Anagarika Dharmapala was celebrated at Sugathadasa Stadium in\nSeptember 2019. Television cameras showed a huge crowd and many monks. Several\nbhikkhus, including Polipiti Mukalane Pannasiri spoke. Ven.Medagoda Abhayatissa\nmade an unprecedented reference to politicians  \nwho go about \u2018holding their male partners by the hand\u2019.  Bhikkhus so not usually touch on this subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Elle Gunawansa again let go. He said the\nAnagarika fought British rule. Today also we have become a subject state and we\nare now seeing a \u2018sanskrutika vinasayak\u2019. Once again we are strangled by a\nforeign power. Both laymen and bhikkhus must get together to save the country.\nWhen we talk of a Sinhala jatiya they say we are rousing communal feelings. That\ncriticism is made only to us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADDITION\nNO 6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September\n2019, there was a huge meeting for the presentation of the report Sammuthiye\nMalimawa” or modern dasa panatha at BMICH hall by Jathika vidvat Bhikkshu\nPeramuna .This report focused on the 13th Amendment and the Executive\nPresident. The bhikkhus said they do not like the executive Presidency but as\nlong as the 13th amendment is there, the Executive President also must be\nthere. Otherwise the country will divide into two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bhikkhus\nspoke of puppet government and NGO rule. Walpola Piyananda of Washington said\nthat now there are over one million Buddhists in USA and more are joining in. The\n\u2018film personality\u2019 (Ranjan Ramanayake) who is attacking the Sangha is not doing\nthis on his own, he is pushed into it by others. Diviyagaha  Yasassi let go against Yahapalana government\n. What damage they have caused to the country from Bank scam  onwards. This is our last chance to save the\ncountry, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADDITION\nNO 7<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October 2019 Mahanayake of Asgiri, Ven\nWarakagoda Sri Nanaratana said, speaking before the media, if we do not vote\nintelligently we may lose this country. This is seen as the last chance. Ven\nPallegama Vijitha said they are assaulting our country at all levels. At the\nnext Presidential election, don\u2019t vote for those   who give handouts. vote for those who  offer \nyou an economic policy which you can earn and feed yourself. This is our\nlast change. Vote wisely or we lose the country. (END)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADDITION\nNO 7<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October 2019 Mahanayake of Asgiri, Ven\nWarakagoda Sri Nanaratana said, speaking before the media, if we do not vote\nintelligently we may lose this country. This is seen as the last chance. Ven\nPallegama Vijitha said they are assaulting our country at all levels. At the\nnext Presidential election, don\u2019t vote for those   who give handouts. vote for those who  offer \nyou an economic policy which you can earn and feed yourself. This is our\nlast change. Vote wisely or we lose the country.[1]<\/a> (END)<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

[1]<\/a> Derana news 6.55 3.10.19 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KAMALIKA\u00a0 PIERIS Last revision 10.10.19 Yahapalana\u2019s attacks on the Maha Sangha are part of its attack on Buddhism, Buddhists, and Buddhist worship. This anti-Buddhist strategy has clearly been planned well ahead and given to Yahapalana to implement. Yahapalana decided to avoid a frontal attack on Buddhist philosophy. They know what happened at the Panadura Vadaya. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[104],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-kamalika-pieris"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93794\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}