Bravo ! No more saffron robes in parliament

“No Buddhist monk should be given nomination for the upcoming general election or any other election in the future”, Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya Chief Incumbent Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratana Thera said yesterday, as reported in the Daily Mirror of 23/11.

The prelate attending a news conference held at the Temple, requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and leaders of other political parties not to appoint Buddhist monks to the parliament from the national list either. I am sure President will take a note of this issue seriously.this is laudable advice to all politicians. If it is followed by the political leaders of other parties, SL would be a better country. We watched with sadness how a leading Buddhist monk was manhandled in parliament a few years ago. Buddhist people are grateful that at least one Buddhist monk came forward to highlight a great tragedy in Sri Lanka.

Now we see the trend of our new President in disciplining the lay public. Maharagama UC area garbage was cleared within 18 hours on the orders of the President. Why did the UC wait for such instructions – were they blind or sleeping all this while till President shook them by their ears? All government institutions should get up from their deep slumber – sleeping for four years is over – now there is a workaholic President. We are sad that some Buddhist monks are involved in anti-buddhist disreputable activities - costly advertisements in the daily papers tell us the story. We also saw on TV how some unruly, young misled monks in yellow robes behaved while taking part in protest rallies and how they were badly handled by law enforcers.there is a necessity to discipline misled Buddhist Monks by Monk Leaders themselves, by imposing strict discipline, rules and regulations, as this is a danger zone for lay politicians.