Mangala’s uttering and Buddhism

Minister Mangala Samaraweera was right in a way, when he said at a meeting that Sri Lanka is a country of Sri Lankans and not a Sinhalese Buddhist country.

We have to appreciate him for being forthright despite the political repercussions he might have to face. Already the Buddhist clergy is up in arms criticizing this statement.

But Buddhist clergy should be the last to speak against this as there is no place for ‘me’ and ‘mine’ in Buddhism.

Buddhists in general and clergy in particular, cannot claim anything as theirs, as they are expected to shed all defilement’s in life in order to shorten their journey in Samsara.

Lord Buddha in his effort to attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana donated his eyes, head, flesh, and blood and further gave away his family in his previous births.

However, we have to be mindful that our population consists of 70% Sinhala Buddhists and 30% Minorities. Imagine a situation where Kuweni’s descendants come and say that this is Kuweni’s country! -A.G.WEERASINGHE