October 13, Colombo (LNW): A delegation of senior Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) figures, headed by party General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, met the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwathu Chapter of the Siam Nikaya on Monday to discuss governance, religious affairs and the treatment of Buddhist clergy on social media.
During the meeting, opposition representatives criticised the government’s handling of several recent issues, expressing concern about matters affecting Buddhist monks and the wider Buddhist Sasana.
Former MP Lakshman Kiriella maintained that issues concerning the Buddhist robe and the clergy should be handled respectfully while the necessary legal provisions were being prepared. He also suggested that the Executive President could introduce interim measures until formal legislation was enacted.
The Mahanayake Thera responded that the government had indicated its intention to introduce legislation on the matter in the near future.
The discussion subsequently turned to the government’s political standing, with SJB representatives claiming that its support was declining and alleging that attempts were being made to win over minority communities at the expense of Buddhist interests.
The delegation also expressed unease over material shared on social media, alleging that certain Buddhist monks had been targeted by online criticism and defamatory campaigns. The prelate questioned whether effective measures were available to identify those responsible and prevent the circulation of such content.
Madduma Bandara alleged that individuals associated with the government were behind the campaigns. However, the Mahanayake Thera cautioned against attributing responsibility to a particular political group without supporting evidence, noting that people from different backgrounds could engage in such activities.
The prelate firmly discouraged sweeping accusations, stressing that such conduct should not be attributed to a political party without adequate grounds.
Concerns were also raised over the government’s approach to religious matters, with SJB representatives warning that Buddhism could be placed at risk. In response, the Mahanayake Thera urged them to exercise restraint, observing that some previously voiced fears about restrictions on Buddhist activities had not materialised. He also pointed out that government leaders continued to participate in Buddhist ceremonies and events associated with other religions.
The meeting further addressed allegations connecting contemporary political figures with violent incidents from the past. The Mahanayake Thera questioned the basis for these claims and emphasised the importance of establishing the facts before reaching conclusions.
Throughout the discussion, the prelate encouraged caution in political criticism, underlining the need for evidence when making allegations and warning against generalisations that could unfairly implicate individuals or political organisations.
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