By Colombo Telegraph –
“We once again stress that we are not anti Bodu Bala Sena. We honour everyone’s right of expression and speech. However, we are Buddhists (Sinhala Buddhists if anyone cares further) questioning the Bodu Bala Sena via the Dhamma. One of our biggest questions is ‘how can the Bodu Bala Sena, claiming to be a Buddhist organization, so blatantly violate Lord Buddha’s teachings on right speech?'” Buddhists Questioning Bodu Bala Sena Facebook update says today.
Who has the moral right to protest ?
“We urge the Mahanayakas to speak up. Sri Lankans have the greatest respect for them and only they can truly put an end to this. For today the rising face of Buddhism in Sri Lanka is Gnanasara and the Bodu Bala Sena, and the Mahanayakas continued inaction and silence isn’t helpful. If they delay further, we fear it will be too late. This is no time for half measures.” they further say.
Meanwhile Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS) Executive Committee member, Dilanthe Withanage wrote in Buddhists Questioning Bodu Bala Sena Facebook page; “FAKE BUDDHISTS and LTTE SUPPORTERS and Real Buddhists – We are happy thank to BBS these groups ( Including Muslims, catholic etc) started talking of Buddha’s Teaching. It is a great victory for Buddhism. Started Chanting Buddha’s teaching, Started going to Buddhist Places. Read Malinda’s article”
We publish below the BQBBS facebook update in full;
Dear Friends,
It was humbling to see so many people present last evening, given the fact that this idea was first announced on Tuesday (9 April) and solely promoted on Facebook and held on a day (12 April) when most people have gone on vacation or back to their ancestral homes.
There were no organizers per se, no pre-meetings, just Sri Lankans guided by the sense of Civic Duty, to maintain and preserve the peace of our tiny Island Nation as it is called for in our beautiful National Anthem, Buddhists guided by the peaceful words of Lord Buddha on Samma Vacca (Right speech) on Subhasita Vaccan (on well spoken speech) gathered in unison.
We once again stress that we are not anti Bodu Bala Sena. We honour everyone’s right of expression and speech. However, we are Buddhists (Sinhala Buddhists if anyone cares further) questioning the Bodu Bala Sena via the Dhamma. One of our biggest questions is “how can the Bodu Bala Sena, claiming to be a Buddhist organization, so blatantly violate Lord Buddha’s teachings on right speech?” Yesterday we posed this question again and got the same answer. So much of the Dhamma is about right speech, 4 of the 10 evil acts (Dasa Akusal) is about speech, one whole factor of the Noble Eight Fold path leading to Nibbana is dedicated to Right Speech. Yet, all this is cast aside by the leaders of the Bodu Bala Sena in the name of “preserving the Dhamma”. If Buddhists in Sri Lanka allow this to continue, they will be left with a Buddhism bereft of any essence, a flower without its perfume. We will be left with temples, ancient ruins, yellow robe wearers, just symbols of Buddhism. We urge the Mahanayakas to speak up. Sri Lankans have the greatest respect for them and only they can truly put an end to this. For today the rising face of Buddhism in Sri Lanka is Gnanasara and the Bodu Bala Sena, and the Mahanayakas continued inaction and silence isn’t helpful. If they delay further, we fear it will be too late. This is no time for half measures.
Now a word on courage and honour…there is no courage, there is no honour in the strong trampling the weak, in the majority attacking a minority. Such victories are hollow. Yesterday we saw young Sinhala Buddhists taking a stance, peacefully gathering, staying calm in the face of abuse and false accusations from the Bodu Bala Sena members, amidst the heavy hand of the police, this is courage, this is honor. This gives us hope, that in our tiny Island Nation there are people who will stand up to the might and have the courage to say “this is not right”.
“For the Blessed One, O Lord, spoke these words to me: ‘I shall not come to my final passing away, Evil Mara, until my laymen and laywomen, have come to be true disciples — wise, well disciplined, apt and learned, preservers of the Dhamma, living according to the Dhamma, abiding by the appropriate conduct, and having learned the Master’s word, are able to expound it, preach it, proclaim it, establish it, reveal it, explain it in detail, and make it clear; until, when adverse opinions arise, they shall be able to refute them thoroughly and well, and to preach this convincing and liberating Dhamma.’ (Mahaparinibbana Sutta)
Sabbe Satta Bhavantu Sukhitata
This for those who were labeled “Nightclub Buddhists” just because they didn’t wear white.
Alankato cepi samam careyya
santo danto niyato brahmacari
sabbesu bhutesu nidhaya dandam
so bramano so samano sa bhikkhu.
Dhammapada Verse 142.
Don stanley / April 13, 2013
The National Movement for a just society led by Ven. Maduluwawve Soobith Thero and Rev. Duleep Chickera need to put Sri Lanka on the right course.
Young people / Facebookers would vote for a new political party GUIDED by them and other religious leaders who know and value Sri Lanka’s MULTICULTURAL and MULTI-FAITH history and traditions. All the current, corrupt politicians are useless and the politicians lining up to be Presidentail candidates have blood on their hand – Ranil Wickramasinghe – JVP and Batalanda and Matale Mass grave, Rajapassa brothers and sons and Sarath Fonseka are murderous thugs.
Buddhism in Lanka must be rescued and liberated from the Balu Sena and the Buddhist flag and saffron clocked military Rajapassa military dictatorship. The Balu Sena is distorting and destroying Buddhism, just as their patrons Rajapassa Brothers are destroying democratic governance and turning Lanka into a corrupt and criminal military dictatorship wrapped in the Buddhist flag and the saffron- which is the NEW CAMOUFLAGE of the Rajapakse led military mob – a strategy to NORMALIZE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
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Asoka / April 13, 2013
The night that the LANKA SPRING began in Colombo and was attacked by the police, the Uthayan office was burnt in Jaffna? Is this a good or bad omen?
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Dodo / April 13, 2013
This Aluth Avurudha will be the year of the LANKA SPRING for REGIME CHANGE!
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Upeka / April 14, 2013
BUDDHISM IN LANKA IS IN GREAT MORAL AND SPIRITUAL DECLINE TODAY. Buddhism in Lanka has been MILITARIZED and TALIBAN-IZED. IT has been emptied of its true spirit and substance and turned into a political-military circus by corrupt politicians, particularly Mahinda Rajapakse and brothers, who use Buddhist RITUALS to justify and distract the people from their greed and corruption, by promoting groups like BBS who commit crimes and spread hatred, hate speech and actions.
The gross MILITARIZATION of Buddhism in Sri Lanka today (also to hide huge land grabs in the northeast) is a result of POLITICIZATION of Buddhism, and the greed of monks to have all sorts of luxuries, power and wealth, rather than leading the simple life – according to What the Buddha Taught (Walpola Rahula).
Buddhism is is great moral decline in Sri Lanka today and has been emptied of its true spirit and substance.
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Seyed / April 14, 2013
Please shall we all stop calling BBS because the first word Bodu is a sacred word. Why not NBS – Nari Balu Seana
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Safa / April 13, 2013
BBQBS we are fully with you to practice the true teachings of the Buddha, not the brand of hatred been spread by Dilantha W and BBS.
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Shiva / April 13, 2013
Wait till the skeletons of Ven. Maduluwawve Soobith Thero and Rev. Duleep Chickera come out…
We;re in for some fine fireworks…
people in glass houses should not throw stones… applies to ALL
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Kapila / April 13, 2013
Chill out dude!
Are you or perhaps your paymasters the murderous Rajapassa brothers jealous of the following of Sobitha Thero and Rev. Chickera?!
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rajiv / April 13, 2013
And the drunken hit and run thug of a ‘monk’s’ skeletons too
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Ben Hurling / April 13, 2013
Just bring out your skeletons Shiva.
Sri Lankans will not back off this struggle because of your blackmailing.
So, Bring it on buddy! We will deal with it.
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Ranjo / April 13, 2013
Empty keyboard fighters!!!!
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Ambettaya / April 13, 2013
We have lost faith and trust in the Maha Nayaka Theros. They too will act like Lakshman Hulugalle.
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Rambler / April 13, 2013
BQBBS
This is not about Buddhism. This is a class war in the cultural arena between two broad social configurations feeling threatened by the rapidly changing power balance in Sri Lanka with foreign undertones. Both sides are undergoing severe identity crisis in the current fluid situation in the country.
I’m not surprised you (BQBBS) invoke the Mahanayakas, the very embodiment of what you define as “Sinhala-Buddhism” and at whose feet the current regime and their political rivals lie prostrated 24/7, for your cause. If you are really concerned about Buddhism you wouldn’t touch the Mahanayakas with a ten-foot pole. But power is the name of the game and you know who is the ultimate source of power in Sri Lanka just as well as MR.
If Gnanasara had the necessary “class” (by that I mean if he could speak some English) he would have been the first to join the Nightclubbing Buddhists. He will be now sporting the latest Zara Men styles and careening to “Heaven” by Depeche Mode at the Skky Bar. But he will still carry a hamuduru shoulder bag to show he is a hip socially conscientious activist. Now of course the poor guy is a transparent thug whose idea of fun is to guzzle some arack and drive a beaten up lorry into people. Gnanasara, please get rid of your sivura and settle down to being a good, sober lorry driver.
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daham / April 13, 2013
Well, next time when you organise or call for people to come for anything, if you are truly driven by buddhist philosophy please organise these events at a Temple. Organising these to provoke another in a location that could create further trouble is not acceptable. What you need to prove to the world is that BBS is not driven by the Buddhist philosophy. That’s the only way that you can protect Buddhism and image of buddhist. If your intentions are sincere you don’t have to rally people for vigils but rally people to protect peace in society and to respect others of different nationalities, races, religions and etc. Rally Buddhist for equal rights of all ethnicities that live in Sri Lanka.
Fanaticism or extremism in any form should not be harboured in any society. Any protest to antagonise another party or public stuns by publicity craving (in robes or not) should also not be entertained. Just because one is against the behaviour and anti social activities of BBS it also does not mean that they should be on the side of others that work with ulterior motives. Stand for the right cause.
Prove to the world that One being proud of the race and religion of which he/she belongs to can also be a person that accepts and a proponent of a multi ethnic and multi religious society.
I too vehemently disagree of rhetorics and the unruly behaviour of BBS. But don’t play in to the hands of other unscrupulous powers that is eyeing to destabilise our Country.
Stand for the Country and stand to protect the reputation of the Nation. It doesn’t mean that you need to agree with those who act with blind faith in the name of the country, race, religion or any other cause. Stand against those who wants to brand the nation based on unruly few.
Do what is right for the Country and what is right for the Society, then you will not be causing any harm to the rightful living of anyone.
What is important is to agree to disagree with respect and coexist. I believe this is what is needed for a multi cultural, multi ethnic society. I stand to be corrected.
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Rambler / April 13, 2013
daham
Well said, Sir.
“Just because one is against the behaviour and anti social activities of BBS it also does not mean that they should be on the side of others that work with ulterior motives. Stand for the right cause.
Prove to the world that One being proud of the race and religion of which he/she belongs to can also be a person that accepts and a proponent of a multi ethnic and multi religious society.
I too vehemently disagree of rhetorics and the unruly behaviour of BBS. But don’t play in to the hands of other unscrupulous powers that is eyeing to destabilise our Country.
Stand for the Country and stand to protect the reputation of the Nation. It doesn’t mean that you need to agree with those who act with blind faith in the name of the country, race, religion or any other cause. Stand against those who wants to brand the nation based on unruly few.”
Words of sanity and wisdom that cannot be paraphrased without loosing their essential meaning and the elegant simplicity of expression.
Thank you.
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Park / April 13, 2013
BQBBS the time has come for the masses to take action. The way the police acted shows that they are not following the rule of law. If with all the soldiers on the roads of Jaffna could not protect Udayan News Paper attack, its time for the Defense Secretary to resign. He has proven more than once that he is incapable of protecting civilian organizations even during peace times. It is also time for the commander of the armed forces in Jaffna and IGP to resign as well.
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Amerasiri / April 13, 2013
Budu Bala Sena is:
1. Mara in Yellow Robes
2. Give True Buddha Dhamma a bad name and a terrorist name.
3. Make True Buddhists become apologists for these “Buddhist” Balu terrorists.
4.Bring Disrepute to especially Sinhala Buddhists
5. Give support to the Rajapaksa family rule and terrorism.
6. Funded by the West through the Norwegians to split the people of Sri Lanka.
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MedalankaradeChoppe / April 13, 2013
Dilantha Vithanage and Kirama joker and the Fat pig wants to drink human blood and feast on human flesh.
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Lankan / April 13, 2013
Mahanayakes should ex-communicate the Buddhist Priests who are not abiding by the teachings of Buddha. Hope the Mahanayakes have the guts to do it.
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Piranha / April 13, 2013
The mahanayakas are playing the fiddle while Buddhism in Sri Lanka is being dragged through the mud. They will continue playing even when the country goes up in flames from all out inter-religious violence. The maha nay alas have not set an example to fellow Buddhists or nipped this extremism in the bud. Shame on them.
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Ranjo / April 13, 2013
Do Monks shave their arm pits?? But, not all of them don’t shave their heads. just a close hair cut!!!
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malanava / April 13, 2013
WHAT EVER SAID AND DONE HATS OFF TO RAJPAKSAS FOR KEEPING ALL SINGALEASE BUDDIST AS FOOLS AND MAKING THEM TO KEEP THIER MOUTH CLOSED USING WAR VICTORY FOR THIS LONG PERIOD WHEN THEIR SO CALLED MOTHER LAND TO BE GOING TO BE SET IN FIRE BY THE ACTIONS OF POWER HUNGRY BORTHERS AND SO CALLED SKIN HEADS.-JAYAWEWA
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kokuvilan / April 13, 2013
JUST WHILE AGO I SENT A COMMENT AND AS AN OVERSIGHT I HAVE TYPED MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IN PLACE OF MY NAME-KINDLY DO NOT PUBLISH SAME-THANKS
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Ranjo / April 14, 2013
How many aliases do you use, mate?
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Saner view / April 14, 2013
This BQBBS is as invasive as BBS on our society.Both should be spurned. A few bloggers lke Asoka and Dodo happily claim the Lanka Spring has started with BQBBS vigil on the eve of the New Year. That exposes it all. This BQBBS action on the eve of New Year and in front of Sambuddha Jayanthi Mandiraiya was well planned and timed to create an uprising in the country. They were begging for creating trouble.It was a provocative action intended to create mischief and should be shunned by peace loving people as other manifestations of destablising forces, Buddhist or others.
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Senguttuvan / April 14, 2013
It was somewhat late in coming. The real and decent non-political Buddhists in the country are now slowly beginning to organise themselves to save Sinhala Buddhism from the impostors and shenanigans
that have kidnapped it. However, don’t expect too much of support from the Kandy Mahanayakas. They have proved far too docile, scared and compromising. With the original two in Kandy now becoming nearly five, the Buddhist hierarchy is hopelessly divided – along caste lines. But true Buddhism in the country will survive – once it rids itself of defilement within that has sapped its goodness and resources.
The leading lights of the BQBBS are likely to remain anonymous – in the nature of the violent times and society we have created. After all, nobody wants to be dead heroes against a regime that has no compunction in resorting to extreme violence to keep it afloat. If Buddhism is to be saved from the savages that have kidnapped it, some sacrifices have to be made. In the next few gatherings of the BQBBS variety, one must expect resistance from the other side – and blood will flow. Conflict often brings compromises and creates consciousness in a people fully capable of differentiating between right and wrong.
Senguttuvan
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Anam / April 14, 2013
I think these thugs are not Bhuddist Monks they are dressed in robes by Gota to create communical problem so they can hold on to power wake up Sri Lankans
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punchinilame / April 14, 2013
Very obvious. That is why the silence of the Mahanayakes. This stage is
like the grease yakkas – all the handy-work of a Terrorist Consultant
in Singapore to maintain his fees!!!
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Das / April 14, 2013
I think some body should start a face book campaign to eradicate racialism and for a multi racial multi religious Sri Lanka.this should be well published.Sri Lanka. Was a rich country once and one of the poorest and corrupted country now.the Sri lankans has no reason to suffer and migrate all over the world.people should wake up and agitate .if you eradicate corruption Sri Lanka will restore it’s glory back.remember the days we stood in que for bread.things changed over night with a regime change.that’s the need for the hour,
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Native Vedda / April 14, 2013
Das
“campaign to eradicate racialism”
How dare you pronounce these stupid suggestions.
Tamils and Sinhalese are born racists and its their birth right to be one.
You are out of your mind, out of the world and outnumbered by 20 Million people.
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Senguttuvan / April 14, 2013
The Terrorist Consultant/Plagiarist reader Punchi Nilame has in mind has an audience only in Sri Lanka – and that too in the Army. The Australians and the American academic community have questioned his credentials – some of which he has conceded. In India, many in the academic field I know ask why he vanishes after making a speech – without waiting for Q & A.
Senguttuvan
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Diogenes / April 14, 2013
That convicted criminal drunkard lorry driver rogue venerable Galabodawatte Agnaanasaara a follower of Devadatta cannot be a Buddhist. It is the duty of the Mahaa Nayakas to disrobe this despicable thug and and apply tar on his balls. He is a disgrace to Sangha community.
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Babeeq / April 14, 2013
All BBS monks must go for vasectomy treatment
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Bagiv / April 14, 2013
Hmmmm…….quite a few guys from Military Intelligence active here trying to work to the agenda of the powers that be, I can see!! Shiva,Daham and Rambler, in addition to the others…..please remember what happened to your predecessors who worked so honourably under SF!!…..you will be discarded too!! Only boot lickers will continue on the path to destruction, when the masses rise!!
Shri Lanka is a GREAT nation full of true patriots from ALL RELIGIONS and ETHNICITIES!! Lots of muslims/tamils fought on the side of the sinhala forces and died in the war!!…DO NOT insult them by bringing up the racial card and promoting a bunch of thugs in saffron robes to create another diversion in the form of a racial conflagaration!!
Those who live by the Sword WILL DIE by the Sword!! Creating the Moda Balu Senawa may well be GOnA’s ultimate folly!! Long live a united, multi ethnic multi cultural Shri Lanka!! STAND UP and BE HEARD, BQBBS….You are doing a GREAT job and WE are fully behind you!!!
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Daham / April 16, 2013
Bagiv – I think you have got your wires crossed big time. I have no connections what so ever with Military Intelligence or I don’t play racial card here. I vehemently oppose the behavior of BBS. Similarly I will not stand with anyone who wants to undermine the Country. Being patriotic doesn’t make a person a racist. I stand for equal rights for Sri Lankans & I am against any division of power based on race. Such division does not make the place equal but racist.
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Furious Buddhist / April 14, 2013
I don’t agree with the statement – we are not against Bodu Bala. Of course we all are. This is a bit of hypocrisy to be politically correct. I also prescribe to BQBBS. What was the vigil about? It was against BBS. I have no problem if BBS henceforth changes its name in line with Buddhist principles and gets on with cleansing the Buddhist orders and the Buddhists towards Samma Ditti, Samma Sankappa etc etc on the 8th fold path. So let us not pretend. The BBS in its current form cannot be tolerated. Buddhist tolerance is not about tolerating what is down right wrong. I call for a dissolution of BBS.
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ASIF / April 14, 2013
Buddhism is hijacked by buddhist thugs.Mahanayakes silence is their acceptance,shame.
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TRN / April 15, 2013
137-140 (Dhammapada)
Whoever, with a rod,
harasses an innocent man, unarmed,
quickly falls into any of ten things:
harsh pains, devastation, a broken body, grave illness,
mental derangement, trouble with the government,
violent slander, relatives lost, property dissolved,
houses burned down.
At the break-up of the body
this one with no discernment,
reappears in
hell.
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Don Quixote / April 15, 2013
Maybe it is time for a “retirement” or two from the Mahanayakes’ ? Give the job of leading the sasanaya to those who are capable of doing so !
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AYMAN / April 15, 2013
HERE IS A REPORT FROM USA. A STATEMENT BY THE ANAHEIM TEMPLE COMMITTEE
THAT THEY ARE NOT WELCOME. INCIDENTALLY ANAHEIM IS CLOSE TO DISNEYLAND.
PERHAPS THEY WILL GET A CONTRACT TO PERFORM THERE.
GOTA MUST HAVE SENT THEM THERE. GOTA AND HIS BLOODY BULL SHITTERS ARE
GETTING A KICK ON THEIR ARSE.
This statement was issued by the management committee of the Sri Ratna Viharaya of Anaheim California USA
Subject: Please read…and share……
The Management Committee of the Anaheim temple would like to issue the following statement regarding the visit of the Bodu Bala Sena:
We are deeply disturbed and disappointed by the actions taken by Ven. Sumana in allowing the “Bodu Bala Sena” representatives to stay at the Anaheim temple, organizing a ‘Buddhanussathi Pooja’ and a get-together (please see attached flyer).
This was organized with the consent of the Ven. Sumana by two individuals without consulting the Management Committee of the temple and we had no prior knowledge of this visit until last Thursday. Since then, the Management Committee has met and spoken to Ven. Sumana requesting not to provide accommodation to the representatives of this group and not to organize a bodhi pooja or a meeting with them.
It is our position that Sri Ratana Viharaya should not support “Bodu Bala Sena” which advocates against the rights of minorities in Sri Lanka and resorts to violence, mob action and intimidation to advance their cause. The temple premises should not be used as a platform to promote hatred and/or to promote an extremist group like “Bodu Bala Sena”.
Therefore, the Management Committee requests our devotees not to participate in any of these activities and not to support this extremist group now or in the future.
The Management Committee of the temple
AMERICAN BUDDHISTS REFUSE TO ACCEPT GOTA’S “BBS”
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AYMAN / April 15, 2013
GOOD AMERICAN BUDDHISTS SAVING BUDDHISM FROM THE BORU BANA SENA
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Raizuh Langai / April 15, 2013
True sons & daughters of Sinhala buddhist shall wake up to the reality and safeguard the nation without fear. These are the people who can safeguard the nation from nepotism and all other ills the country facing today. The Mahanayaka should {and must } listen to these true Buddhist Sri Lankans. Otherwise their role in the annals of the history will be questioned by the future generations.
Bahu Bootha Seana and its political masters! find a boat and escape from our beloved country!
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