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Implications of Ramanayake’s remarks on religious harmony
View(s):State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake is no stranger to controversy. Some of his statements, at different times, have attracted charges of Contempt of Court, while others have been the subject of political discussions that have hogged the headlines for several days.
Last week, the actor turned politician, hit the headlines once again, when he made disparaging remarks about the private conduct of a few unnamed Buddhist monks. Not surprisingly, there were howls of protest from various quarters.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe promptly called for an explanation from Ramanayake, and sternly rebuked him to refrain from such conduct. Buddha Sasana Minister Gamini Jayewickreme Perera deplored the State Minister’s remarks, while stating that the UNP is built on the principles of respect for one another’s religions and communities.
On Friday, Ranjan Ramanayake called on the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter and apologised for any disrespect to Buddhism, caused by his remarks, which he claimed were only in respect of a few monks and not the entire Maha Sangha.
By his conduct, Ramanayake, who is a Christian, broke one of the golden rules which need to be observed, particularly, among multi religious and multi cultural societies.
One of the guidelines to be followed is, that, a follower of one religion should refrain from making disparaging remarks about the teachings of other religions, or of institutions belonging to other religions. Even if the Minister’s remarks only related to a few monks, as claimed by him, it would invariably, reflect on the institution of the Maha Sangha and therefore, should be a ‘No go’ area, as far as any person who is not a Buddhist is concerned.
Sri Lankans have, over centuries, developed this culture of respecting others and their religions. From the time of the Sinhala kings, the country has been a model of co-existence and harmony among the different communities. This has been made possible by the culture of tolerance that has become an essential part of Sri Lankan society, where diversity has become a part of day to day life.
Unfortunately, after the emergence of the armed conflict between the Sri Lankan State and the LTTE, suspicions and misunderstandings between communities began to emerge. Since 2012, the Muslims have been at the receiving end of forces that have sought to drive a wedge between them and the Sinhala community.
These events, often instigated and fuelled by forces not representative of the respective communities in the country, have, unfortunately, created a dent in the relationship between the different peoples inhabiting the island, resulting in suspicion and insecurity among the people.
In a pluralistic society, any comment or action should always be sensitive to the feelings of others and, given the importance that people in Asian societies give to their religions, it is prudent to avoid subjects that could give rise to bad feelings between communities.
Being sensitive to the religious teachings of other religions is a manifestation of the respect that one extends to what others hold dear to their hearts, and can only build good relations between the different communities.
However, it is ironic, that most of the protests with regard to the offending remarks made by the State Minister, came from those who are themselves guilty of the very same indiscretions, vis a vis the Muslims, particularly after the Easter Sunday attacks.
Several of Ramanayake’s critics have been and still continue to criticise Islamic teachings and the Muslims in the strongest terms, and poison the minds of innocent Sinhala Buddhists with untruths about Islamic teachings. They have no hesitation in making unsubstantiated allegations against the All Ceylon Jemmiyathul Ulema (Council of Theologians), which is the body that most closely resembles the clergy of other religions.
In fact, this Islamaphobic campaign started in 2012 and has continued with renewed vigour after January 2015, using the democratic space opened up after the assumption of office of the Yahapalana Government.
The General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Ven. Galagodathe Gnanasara Thera, while criticising the remarks of Ranjan Ramanayake, completely forgets that he is guilty of actions very similar to those that he accuses the Minister of. At a meeting held at the Ganekande Temple in Veyangoda, the prelate called on the Prime Minister to take action against the State Minister, for the latter’s statement against the monks.
At the meeting held on July 7, 2019, in Bogambara, Kandy, the Venerable monk demanded free reign for Buddhist monks to mould the local Muslim culture, the way they want. This goes even beyond Ramanayake’s unacceptable criticism of the private lives of a few Buddhist monks.
The controversial head of the BBS wants to go even beyond criticising Islamic teachings and Islamic Culture, and fashion the Islamic Culture according to his own desires. His obsession and hate of Islam and Muslims has blinded him to the fact that he is asking the Prime Minister to take action against the State Minister, despite the monk himself attempting to do something even far more objectionable.
It is even more surprising that, others who are critical of Ramanayake’s intrusion into the Buddhist space, by his totally imprudent allegations against a few Buddhist monks, do not realise that their own actions or silence, in the wake of the BBS Chief’s continued targetting of Muslims and Islam, make them equally or, more guilty of a similar indiscretion.
However, one must be cautious in advocating a “hands off” policy with regard to persons of one faith criticising the teachings or institutions of others. This does not extend to those religious personalities engaged in public life or politics, who cannot complain, if they are subject to criticism, for their views and, or public conduct.
(javidyusuf@gmail.com)