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All Lankans duty-bound to protect Buddha Sasana, says Bodu Bala Sena
View(s):All Sri Lankans should act as “unofficial policemen” and do their part to protect and preserve the Buddha Sasana, said Bodu Bala Sena leaders at a general meeting held in Maharagama. The Bodu Bala Sena (“Buddhist Strength Force”) has announced a list of 10 demands drawn up to counter any attempt to limit the rights of the Sinhala Buddhist people.
The organisation describes itself as a non-political, action-oriented civil group dedicated to the cause of protecting and defending Buddhist philosophy and well-being, and Sinhala culture and heritage. “The Bodu Bala Sena proudly assumes a responsibility in empowering the country’s Buddhist community,” the Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thera, Secretary of the Buddhist organisation, told the Sunday Times.
“We have established ourselves at a time when there is no institution to look into issues Buddhists in this country face,” the Thera explained. “We want Buddhists to be aware of the Bodu Bala Sena and its cause.” “Groups funded by the Middle East are operating in this country and they are promoting extremist or fundamentalist ideologies,” he said. “Pakistan has given some 12,000 people weapons training, and these people are conspiring to destroy the peace and religious harmony of our country.
“Don’t we have a right to expose such things?” the Thera asked. “How can we be accused of promoting nationalism in what we do? Don’t we have a right to question irregular activity that is not in the best interests of the Buddhist community?” said Ven. Gnanasara Thera, citing groups that, according to the monk, promoted the ideologies of Wahhabism and Salafism.
“Leaders of the Bodu Bala Sena started receiving death threats after they exposed 10 non-government organisations that were spreading radical ideas,” the monk said. “Death threats or even killing us will not stop our fight. We will fight in the interests of the majority.” The Bodu Bala Sena says halal certification promotes extremism and should be subject to controls; the Buddhist organisation contends that halal certification imposes a minority requirement on the Sinhala Buddhist majority,
“It is the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama Association that has imposed halal on the majority and should take responsibility for the prevailing communal tension,” said Ven. Gnanasara Thera. “Traditional Muslims who have been living peacefully in the country for generations are not to be blamed for this.”
The Bodu Bala Sena is urging local businesses to remove halal certification from food items by March 31. Bodu Bala Sena president, the Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi Thera, said the organisation has one mission, and that is to protect and preserve the Buddha Sasana and Buddhist culture.
“We do not resort to toppling governments, promoting racism or religious extremism and nor will we engage in politics,” the Ven. Wimalajothi Thera said.
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