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| Wednesday, 3 December 2003 |
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by Southern Province roving correspondent During the course of the last two thousand five hundred years the Buddhist clergy played a prominent role in saving the country whenever the country faced danger. But now when the country is facing great danger, it is sad to note that only a handful of Bhikkus have come forward to save the nation and country, said the Mahanayaka Weligama Gnanarathana Thera of the Amarapura Sri Dharmarakshitha Nikaya. A function was held at the Bogahawaththa Wijayasundararamaya, Ahangama in honour of Ven. Gnanarathana Thera after assuming office as the Head of the Amarapura Dharmarakshitha Nikaya Mahanayaka Thera made the above observations. The Mahanayaka Thera said "With the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 the culture, religion, society and the country as a whole started decaying. From there onwards we lost our identity and sovereignty. It is well-known that moves are afoot to bring down the Portuguese Premier to celebrate 500th year of Portuguese landing in Sri Lanka. We are against any sort of celebration to commemorate the Portuguese landing as they were the architects of our alienation. "Christian fundamentalists go from door to door trying to convert Buddhists into their faith. Their act is like breaking pots and pans in a deserted house. These Christian fundamentalists had visited the Veddah colonies and after spending about five to six months they had tried to win over the Veddahs to their faith. In spite of numerous presents the fundamentalists had showered on the Veddahs they refused to be converted. Thus they displayed their determination to remain faithful to their religion", concluded the Mahanayaka Thera. Ven. Habaraduwe Nanda, Ven. Ahangama Ananda, Ven. Denipitiye Somarathana, Ven. Walpita Sudharmalankara and Kithsiri Punchihewa and Kasun Cumarathunga addressed the function. |
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