Image: Minh Tue (Extreme right) was simply travelling on foot to Jaffna and not engaging in a procession or Pada Yatra(Pix Source – Volunteers helping Minh Tue in SL)
By Ruki Fernando & Manushika Cooray
Minh Tue is a Vietnamese who describes himself as an ordinary learner and practising what Buddha has taught in scripture. He has been walking in Vietnam barefoot, eating once a day (only in the morning) from food received from others, sleeping in the open, and not receiving any money. He has no possessions, except some bare essentials like a bowl for food and to drink water. His robes are sown by himself; using discarded pieces of cloth he picks up along his travels.
Minh Tue’s simple lifestyle and attempts to follow Buddha was seen by many Vietnamese as a contrast to traditional Buddhist Sanga in Vietnam, who were seen as politically aligned to repressive Vietnamese government and having affluent lifestyles. Minh Tue had become very popular amongst Vietnamese, including those outside Vietnam, with crowds following him physically in his walks and many more following him spiritually.
He had walked beyond Vietnam to other neighbouring countries such as Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. Some of his followers had followed him even during overseas travels. Vietnamese volunteers have travelled with him to see him and help him, including those of Vietnamese origin from countries such as Singapore, Australia, United States of America and United Kingdom. Youtubers and media have also followed him and kept his followers informed of his travels.
Minh Tue had arrived in Sri Lanka on April 10, 2025 and received a visa for 30 days; his travel documents were seen by the authors of this article. He had hoped to walk to Jaffna and travel from there to India before the expiry of his visa. He had started walking from the day of his arrival and managed to walk from Katunayake to around Narammala till April 17.
During the walks, Minh Tue and his followers, numbering about 34 (plus about 10 helpers), remain silent; each participant walking behind each other, in meditative manner, quite similar to the way some Sri Lankan monks walk during ‘pinda patha’. This way of their walking ensures that there is no disruption to pedestrian or vehicular traffic or public order. Sri Lankans have not observed any reports of public disorder caused by their walking in this island.
Allegations against Min Tue
On April 13, the Committee for International Buddhist Affairs of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha has sent a letter to the Mahanayaka of the Malwatta Chapter making allegations against Minh Tue. The letter was seen by the authors of this article. The allegations include; donning Buddhist monastic robes without being ordained, attempting to form a dissident sect, causing division and damaging the reputation and unity of Vietnamese Buddhism and threatening Public Order and National reputation. The letter also stated that Minh Tue is supported by anti-government individuals and organizations that seek to use his image to discredit the Vietnamese government and divide the Buddhist Sanga. But specific details of allegations or evidence indicating the allegations were not provided.
The letter requests the Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwatta Chapter to coordinate with Sri Lankan authorities to verify and prevent Minh Tue and his group from engaging in any religious or public activities in Sri Lanka, provide assistance to liaise with Sri Lankan authorities to address cases where religious identities are exploited as a cover for political subversion, undermining the unity of Vietnamese Buddhism and sovereignty of the Vietnamese state.
These writers came to know from multiple Vietnamese sources that allegations in the letter are false and that it’s a group of Buddhist Sanga in Vietnam close to the Vietnamese government which is hostile to Minh Tue due to his growing popularity amongst ordinary Vietnamese.
Media have reported that Vietnamese Government had obstructed Minh Tue’s walks in Vietnam.
Minh Tue has responded to the above allegations, a translation of which was seen by these authors. He maintains that he is not a monk or teacher and that he doesn’t carry the name “Thich”, which he says belongs to Buddha. He also says he is not part of the Vietnam Buddhist Association and doesn’t wear Buddhist robes and that he is not impersonating anyone.
Mixed responses from Sri Lanka
On or around April 16, in Giriulla, a witness has told the media that when Minh Tue and his group were about to visit a local Hindu temple to rest, a local Buddhist monk had objected, citing the above letter. The local monk had claimed that Minh Tue and the group which was with him were “fake monks and were violating the law”. But Sri Lankans have sympathised with the Vietnamese. Eventually Minh Tue was eventually able to enter the temple.
The Deputy Registrar of the Malwatta Chapter, Mahawela Rathanapala Thera, is reported to have told BBC Sinhala that the Chairman of the Department of Buddhism in Vietnam has made a written request to the Malwatta Mahanayaka Thera, informing him not to allow the anti-Sasana activities of this Vietnamese group. The Deputy Registrar is reported to have stated that these people are ‘monks in disguise’ and that they are not ordained according to the Buddhist Vinaya and that the Chief Incumbent of the Malwatta Vihara Chapter had requested the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs to investigate the facts regarding this ‘Vietnamese group’ and take action regarding the violation of visa conditions through the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration. Speaking to BBC Sinhala, the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs is reported to have said that steps have been taken to inform the Department of Immigration and Emigration to take necessary action based on the letter received from the Malwatta Mahanayake Thera.
Police stop Minh Tue
These writers visited Minh Tue, some of his followers and helpers on April 21. They informed that the police had stopped them from walking on April 17 and verbally informed them that they were not allowed to walk on a tourist visa. No written orders or instructions have been presented by the police.
The Police Media Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police Buddhika Manathunga is reported to have told BBC Sinhala that “a pada yathra is an activity that falls under the category of a procession”. He is further reported to have said, “You need to get permission from the police to hold a procession. The second thing is that according to the Immigration and Emigration Law, you cannot come to Sri Lanka on a visit visa and hold a demonstration. Based on all those facts, we informed them that this was illegal and therefore they were required to obtain permission to carry out this activity. Accordingly, they stopped this activity in the Kuliyapitiya area,” said SSP Manathunga.
Hostility shown by Immigration Department
On April 22, these writers came to know from one of Minh Tue’s helpers that some officers from the Investigation Unit of the Department of Immigration and Emigration had visited Minh Tue and his group and instructed all of them to leave Sri Lanka by April 26, despite all of them having valid Sri Lankan visas to remain in the island till May 30 (30 days from arrival on 10th April).
This and the restriction on walking had led to Ming Tue and group purchasing air tickets to cut short their visit in Sri Lanka and travel to India on night of April 24.
Immigration officers had confiscated six passports of volunteers helping Minh Tue and his followers and the officers had instructed a representative from the group to come to the Immigration office within 2 days to receive instructions about their stay and actions that will be taken with regard to their confiscated passports. Some representatives visited the Immigration office the next day (April 23) and their passports were returned, but not before spending several hours at the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Their return are tickets were also inspected. However, immigration officers didn’t issue any written or verbal instructions that their visa was being revoked or its duration was reduced. Department of Immigration and Emigration officers verbally informed the group, two Sri Lankan Buddhist Monks and Sri Lankan activists (including one of the authors) supporting the Vietnamese that they had no opposition with Minh Tue and his group’s walking.
On the night of April 24, Minh Tue and the group left Sri Lanka for India. Minh Tue had told these two writers that his policy was to obey orders of relevant authorities of any country and not remain in places where he wasn’t welcome.
The media had also had reported this.
Minh Tue’s premature departure – a loss for Sri Lanka
These writers met several Sri Lankans who have been assisting Ming Tue and it seemed that most Sri Lankans were very supportive and welcoming towards the visit and walking of Minh Tue and his followers. Amongst these were two Buddhist Monks and a man who shared with us their many efforts to ensure Minh Tue and group could stay in Sri Lanka and continue their journey towards Jaffna. They had also intervened to find places for the group to rest, when some Buddhist Monks had been reluctant to extend a welcoming hand.
These writers came to hear that Ming Tue’s helpers had financially assisted Sri Lankan communities through charitable acts during the course of their walk. It was also clear to us that this group was contributing to the Sri Lankan economy, by patronising Sri Lankan shops, hotels, transport providers etc. These writers felt that the group’s presence and walking have been contributing to nurture the friendship between the people of Sri Lanka and Vietnam; especially amongst Buddhists and that Sri Lanka had much to benefit spiritually from Minh Tue’s presence in Sri Lanka even for 30 days.
Is walking to Jaffna a violation of tourist visa conditions?
Walking or seeking alms or engaging in religious activities is not prohibited for persons with tourist visas as per the official website of the Department of Immigration or Emigration. Many tourists in Sri Lanka openly engage in religious practices, a very common example being tourists participating in annual processions (which lead to closure of roads) linked to major Buddhist temples such as “Dalada Maligawa” in Kandy and “Gangaramaya” in Colombo. It is also very common to see tourists doing long walks spanning several days and weeks through public spaces, a prominent example being the “Pekoe Trail”.
Article 10 of the Sri Lankan constitution guarantees Freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice for all persons, not just Sri Lankan citizens. Article 12 (1) of the constitution ensures all persons (not just citizens) are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law. Article 11 of the constitution guarantees that no person (not only citizens) shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, which includes mental torture.
Minh Tue was simply travelling on foot to Jaffna and not engaging in a procession or Pada Yatra. He had not organised or joined any religious activities in Sri Lanka. He has chosen the means of travel in Sri Lanka as walking, according to his conscience and religion. Walking as a means of travel is not prohibited by Sri Lankan law. It’s similar to travelling by cycling, car, bus, train etc.
Thus, these writers feel that the decision taken by the Sri Lanka Police to prohibit Minh Tue and his followers from walking to Jaffna appears to have no legal basis and has violated articles 10, 12(2) and 11 of Sri Lanka’s Constitution.
The prohibition of walking by this very popular spiritual leader with Buddhist background, from a neighbouring country, with largely Buddhist population, may lead to tensions amongst people in Sri Lanka and may obstruct friendly relations between the people of Vietnam and Sri Lanka. It may also bring Sri Lanka into disrepute.
Minh Tue and his group may visit Sri Lanka again if they are welcomed and supported. Many hope they do. These writers are confident that most Sri Lankans, especially Buddhists, will welcome and support them. Importantly, these writers hope that the state and especially the police will ensure their journey isn’t obstructed by those who may have vested interests; whether from Vietnam or Sri Lanka.
( First published in The Daily Mirror)