JHU leader warns of AIDS plot against monks

By Isuri Kaviratne

Jathika Hela Urumaya leader Ven Ellawala Medhananda Thera yesterday warned Buddhist monks of a conspiracy by “fundamentalists” to spread the AIDS virus among the Buddhist clergy and discredit Buddhism. Ven Medhananda Thera told The Sunday Times he had taken up the matter with leading Mahanayakes.

“I got information that fundamentalists at a meeting in Kurunegala had decided to eliminate Buddhism from this country. Part of their plan is to infect the monks with the HIV virus,” the Thera said without naming any group or person. The Thera’s allegations come at a time when an international AIDS conference is being held in Colombo.

The monk said the social stigma associated with AIDS/HIV was alone enough to dishonour the Buddhist clergy.“Monks could be infected with the virus when they go for a blood test or blood transfusion,” Ven. Medhananada Thera said.

He alleged that fundamentalist groups had made videos showing young men dressed in yellow robes of a Buddhist monk in intimacy with women. The Thera said an effective way to defeat the fundamentalists’ plan was to make their conspiracies public. He also said the government had a constitutional responsibility to protect Buddhism and this also meant the honour of Buddhist monks.