Ceylon Today Editorial

Ven. Sobhitha Thera and Sri Lanka 

Thursday 12th November 2015

 
The Most Venerable Maduluwawe SobhithaThera makes his final journey today. He fought over four decades against injustice by successive administrations in his bid to create a just and free society. Unlike many other monks, Ven. Sobhitha Thera did not align himself with political parties. He led a civil organization that clamoured for justice. At times he was at the receiving end of the bad moods of political leaders in power. He was harassed by those political leaders. He did not give up.

The people rallied round him. Whenever, political leaders promised to establish a just and free society, Ven. Sobhitha Thera extended his support. All political leaders over the past four decades gained victory with the support of Ven. Sobhitha Thera. In the end the Venerable Monk looked dejected as pledges made to the people were not honoured.

As the Venerable Monk makes his final journey this evening, it is appropriate to think about the future of Sri Lanka in his absence. People always placed their trust and faith in all actions executed by Sobhitha Thera. The people believed Sobhitha Thera and the politicians. He mustered the support of the majority in this country irrespective of race or religion. Following his demise, most of the banners that were put up in main cities were tributes by the minority communities. They loved and hailed him as a Buddhist Leader who treated all communities with love and respect.

Sobhitha Thera dreamt of a Sri Lanka devoid of corruption and fraud. That was why he risked his life in the final phase of his life to turn that dream into reality. While attempting to achieve that dream, he faced harassment by political leaders in power. He braved himself in the face of those threats. When the Good Governance concept was mooted by Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ven. Sobhitha was delighted. The two political party leaders sought his help and the Venerable Thera extended his hand of support. However, he looked dejected over certain developments after the Good Governance administration was installed. The monk decided to remain silent. But he looked hurt. After some time he fell ill.

When Sobhitha Thera makes his final journey today, the centre stage of politics looks to be in a state of confusion. Political party leaders in this country cannot muster the support of all people. Their future depends on party supporters and the floating votes. Sobhitha Thera was unique as people from all political parties and civil organizations respected his call. He was more powerful than all politicians. Many political party leaders set up governments with the support of the Venerable Monk. The people believed in Sobhitha Thera. And, Sobhitha Thera had the talent to unify political party leaders towards the common causes of the people. There's no other who could bring political leaders together for the sake of the nation and the people.

That was amply demonstrated by the Venerable Monk at the last presidential and parliamentary elections. No other religious leader has ever played such a vibrant role in the attempts to give hope to the people to establish a just society through Good Governance.

Sobhitha Thera lived a simple religious life. He lived for the people and traversed with the people. He was the emblem of hope. Like the people, political party leaders would definitely feel his loss in the future as Sri Lanka is a politically divided country. Sobhitha Thera left us at the time the country most needed him. He yearned to establish a country free from fraud and corruption. He fought for over four decades to establish such a country. If the President and Prime Minister could turn that wish of Sobhitha Thera into a reality, that is the greatest tribute that could be bestowed on the most Venerable Monk.

There are no more impediments in the way of the Most Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera when the nation bids farewell as he sets off into the sunset this evening. Sri Lanka and her People will miss him much. May the Most Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana!