Daily News Editorial

PM’s assurance sufficient guarantee

12 October 2016

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has assured the country that the preeminent place accorded to Buddhism will remain intact as ensured in the present constitution. He said all political parties in parliament and religious leaders in the country have no issues in giving the foremost place to Buddhism. He said, not only have political parties expressed their readiness to protect the religion, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith as well as Islamic and Hindu leaders in the country have also accepted the Article in the constitution. Hence individuals need not create unnecessary issues over the future of Buddhism under the proposed new constitution, the Premier said at the opening of the Bodhimaluwa, Bodhi Prakaraya and Dagoba of the Sedawatte Vegheragoda Viharaya in Kolonnawa on Sunday. “As a state, the President, I, and all of us, protect Buddhism, not through words but through action”, the PM told the gathering.

Perhaps, there is no present leader, as Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, who is more qualified to speak on the subject of Buddhism, not just due to his rich pedigree, that links his family as benefactors towards the development and the upliftment of Buddhist temples, viharayas, restoration of Buddhist artefacts, archaeological sites other and meritorious acts to foster and promote the Buddha Dhamma, but also his wide in-depth and profound knowledge on the Buddha Dhamma. It is perhaps this confidence in the Premier, that he would never act to the detriment of Buddhism, that may have prompted the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter to deliver short shrift to the likes of Wimal Weerawansa who went to meet the prelate to apprise him of the dire consequences awaiting the preeminent status enjoyed by Buddhism in the proposed new constitution.

The prelate, no doubt, is also aware that Premier Wickremesinghe is not an individual who makes an ostentatious display of his devotion to the Buddha Dhamma but one who has the religion firmly embedded in his heart. His close rapport with the leading members of the Maha Sangha, his family’s close links with the Kelaniya Rajamahaviharaya, Gangarama temple and a host of other places of Buddhist interests no doubt will persuaded genuine Buddhists to shed any misgivings they may have on this score.

The Premier said all political parties, including the TNA, have no issue on this score. Hence why members of the Joint Opposition, such as Udaya Gammanpila, are making a big hue and cry about the ‘dangers to Buddhism’ under the new constitution is not difficult to fathom. With 70 pent of the country’s population being Buddhist, what better opportunity to sow the seeds of doubt in the uninformed and uninitiated among the Buddhist majority that their religion is going to lose its foremost position, at the instance of the West or the Tamil diaspora? This, despite the Ministry of Buddha Sasana being a creation of the UNP government and also the Poya weekend, which was scrapped by the United Front Government.

President Sirisena, the other day, invited those who claimed the country was going to be divided and Buddhism is to lose its place under the new constitution, to meet him and point out where has this happened. This, at a time that member of the Steering Committee on Constitution making Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne stating that not even a single clause of the new constitution had still been written.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa should at least now rein in his members, particularly the monks, now that assurances have been given by both, the President and Prime Minister, that no harm would be caused to Buddhism. He (Rajapaksa) has already seen the consequence to the country from the three decades long ethnic conflict caused due to the racist politics on both sides of the divide. There is no knowing the nature of the conflagration, that may erupt, as a result of the rousing of religious sentiments.

Drawing a Red Herring?

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has filed two cases in the Colombo District Courts claiming damages to the tune of Rs.200 million against the FCID, for tarnishing his image as a politician by taking him to remand custody over an alleged cheating in a sum of Rs.70 million granted by the Krrish Company for the development of rugby. Rajapaksa claimed that he was taken into custody without a proper investigation, to fulfill a political need.

Is this going to be a forerunner for an avalanche of cases to be filed before courts by others of the former regime under investigation for alleged fraud and corruption? It is now clear that investigations into these cases are on the verge of being concluded and the public are awaiting the climax.

Is there a plan to stampede the courts with similar cases in order to prolong proceedings, while the suspects escape prison? Or, in the alternative, is this an attempt to intimidate the investigators and discourage them from proceeding with the cases by showing the futility of continuing (with the cases) since their findings will any event be challenged in court.

The authorities should stand by the investigating officers and allow them to continue with investigations, unhindered, if the aim is to eliminate bribery and corruption from the body politic.