The Worst Attacks on Buddhism – 48 Monks Imprisoned and Hundreds Killed in 1989 by UNP

Dilrook Kannangara

“The Joint Opposition is also maintaining a deafening silence about the true plight of Buddhism! The Joint Opposition must do much more than what it currently does for the protection of Buddhism. They cannot have a free ride to power and popularity as some of them wilfully disregarded Buddhist interests when in power. They must stand up for Buddhism”

Popular Buddhist monks are demanding an investigation into the deaths of Venerable Sobhitha thero allegedly killed in 2015. However, the memory of Venerable Gangodawila Soma thero lives on. He too died under mysterious conditions during a previous UNP regime. Yet again, hundreds of Buddhist monks were killed by the UNP regime and its new bedfellows the JVP and LTTE in the late 1980s and mid 1990s. UNP goons operating in Batalanda and other torture chambers had devised a torture tactic especially for Buddhist monks called the Dharma Chackra (circle of Dharma). Hundreds of young Buddhist monks were tortured and killed. Some Buddhist monks were burnt on tyres. In the mid 1950s, a UNP leader allegedly threatened to pour hot tar on the shaved heads of Buddhist monks.

There certainly is a one to one correlation between the torture of Buddhist monks and UNP regimes. This entire correlation must be investigated.

At present 48 Buddhist monks are facing court action after imprisonment or suffer in prison. Other activities of Buddhist monks are also planned to be curtailed by the “Kathikawatha Bill” once enacted. The UNP regime is also planning to demote Buddhism from the supreme place it enjoys in the Constitution.

Without a doubt, the UNP is on a mission to destroy Buddhism. Tamil invader Elara (205-161 BC), Kalinga Magha (1215-36), European invaders (1505-1948) and Indian sponsored Tamil terrorists (1976-2009) attempted to wipe out Buddhism from Sri Lanka but failed. UNP regime is doing what they failed and surely will suffer their fate.

President Sirisena cannot claim to be unaware of what is going on. As the President, he is fully aware of the destruction his Prime Minister’s UNP is doing to the Buddha Sasana. He must take responsibility for the anti-Buddhist vile actions of the UNP regime which is now synonymous with periods of killing monks and restraining them. The Joint Opposition is also maintaining a deafening silence about the true plight of Buddhism! The Joint Opposition must do much more than what it currently does for the protection of Buddhism. They cannot have a free ride to power and popularity as some of them wilfully disregarded Buddhist interests when in power. They must stand up for Buddhism.

It is time the guardians of this nation call out ‘the nation, the community and Buddhism’ once again. Otherwise, the US fathered, Indian mothered and Saudi delivered UNP regime will destroy Buddhism. Venerable Sobhitha thero cannot be faulted for his political choices as no one could predict the future. What he saw in his last days was not the regime he strived to create.

754 Viewers