Buddhist groups slam Christian Extremist Ranja’s raid of Temple
Several Buddhist monks have slammed the recent ‘raid’ by Christian extremist Deputy Minister of Social Services, Welfare and Livestock Development Ranjan Ramanayake on a ‘luxury meditation center’ at Kadawatha.
Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera vehemently criticized the so-called ‘raid’ and asked what State Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake, who comes from a Christian background, knows about meditation centers.
Speaking to The Nation on Friday, Dhammaloka Thera said that the so called luxury meditation center was being built under the purview of Bodagama Chandima Thera and was planned to cater for those who come to Sri Lanka from abroad for meditation. It was being built by money donated from Taiwanese Buddhists. Bodagama Chandima Thera has all details regarding the money transactions, Dhammaloka Thera added.
Commenting on the allegation that stones from the harbor were used in the building, Dhammaloka Thera said that those were stones removed from the harbor and asked whether it was wrong to use them for another purpose.
It is learned that the meditation center is to be affiliated to the Nagananda International Buddhist University that is being built in Sri Lanka, also under the purview of Bodagama Chandima Thera.
Meanwhile Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera also slammed the so-called raid, and asked if such acts of taking the law into their hands was the new concept of ‘Good Governance.’ He asked what question can there be for building a meditation center in a country where 70 percent of people were Buddhists. Even if there was state patronage, it should not have been a question, he said, adding that at this rate, those who are against such constructions might even go to courts against King Dutugemunu for constructing the Ruwanweliseya.
Ravana Balaya Convener Ittakande Saddhatissa Thera said that Ranjan Ramanayake is attempting to be a film star in real life by taking the law into his hands. However, Saddhatissa Thera stated that the people gave the best answer for him by ignoring the ‘raid.’ Nevertheless he should be more careful in his conduct, Saddhatissa Thera added.
Meanwhile Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera said that there was a proper way to conduct such an investigation even if there was any mal-practice. The Sangha Nayaka of the area has to be informed, he said, before anyone visits such a place to investigate. If government patronage is investigated, then all temples in the country would have to be investigated as the government aid is received by some way or the other by almost all temples. There was a legal process that is to be followed if financial irregularities are suspected, Wimalarathana Thera further said.
SSP Ajith Rohana vehemently denied that the Kadawatha Police had taken part in a raid of an alleged luxury meditation center in Kadawatha or that the Police received any complaint regarding the center. “I have made inquiries and has been told the
He also denied that no Army personnel or Police officers have been deployed to provide protection to the center following the raid by Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake.
Efforts to contact Deputy Minister Ramanayake who famous for violence for comment proved futile as we were told he was overseas
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