Bhikkhunis voice their concerns on Poya day

The Bhikkhunis of this country are living helplessly, even without basic human rights, and request the present government to find solutions to their many problems. They voiced these concerns at a Poya programme held today (1) at the Dambulla ‘Seema Malakaya’, where ironically the first batch of ‘Sil Matas’ were ordained as Bhikkhunis on a Binara Poya day like today, 900 years after the Bhikkhuni Order was established.

They said that many Bhikkhunis are without national identity cards (NICs) and that they have to go through numerous hardships when they try to obtain religious education and higher education. They also accused that a Bhikkhuni ward of a hospital in Kurunegala has been destroyed.

They pointed out that there are more than 3000 Bhikkhunis in the country and that they  always silently work  for the mental well-being of the public, but due to these injustices, they are going through great mental agony.

As per Buddhist teaching, the religion depends on Bhikkhu, Bhikkhuni, Upasaka, Upasika. Then why, out of these four segments, the Bhikkhunis are given ‘step-motherly’ treatment?, they questioned the authorities.

(By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa)