‘Mahasangha should be well-informed of plots to rouse communal tensions’
The Mahasangha should be more concerned and well-informed about a situation being plotted to rouse communal tensions and create a crisis situation among religions and sects of the same religion to breach the religious harmony in the country. It is evident that certain NGOs are drafting agendas to dislodge the place given to Buddhism in the constitution. But the government will never allow these forces to achieve their sinister targets, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
President Rajapaksa was addressing the state festival to mark the 260th anniversary of the establishment of the Siyam Mahanikaya Upasampada ceremony at the historical Mahamaluwa of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy yesterday.
The state festival was held under the leadership of Malawathu Nikaya Mahanayaka Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Shri Sumangala Nayaka Thera. The Mahasangha,devotees and distinguished guests were also present.
The President further explaining the value of Buddhist teachings said Buddhism has never allowed Buddhists to be extremists. The Buddhist kings and Mahasangha have endowed lands to people following religions other than Buddhism to build their places of religious worship in the past.
All religious groups including Hindus, Islamists and Catholics have lived peacefully with the Buddhists throughout the country’s history. This prolonged religious tolerance in the country has been exposed to a great danger as certain NGOs are attempting to break up this religious coexistence in the country, the President warned. The government has been the protector of Buddhism as per the provisions of the constitution. It should foster and nourish Buddhism and should give foremost place to Buddhism, he said.
The ulterior motive of these conspirators is to create a conflict among religions and create divisions among the religious sects as in certain other countries where there are conflicts taking place on the basis of their religions and sects, he noted.
Prime Minister D. M. Jayarathna, Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, and Diyawadane Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela were also present.
Suraj A Bandara and Asela Kuruluwansa
CDN