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| Wednesday, 13 October 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| All Buddhists must unite, says Minister All Buddhists should shed differences and unite to preserve the Buddha Dhamma, said Buddha Sasana, Public Security Law and Order Minister and Deputy Defence Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake. The divisions among the Buddhists of Sri Lanka at different periods on various issues helped anti-Buddhist forces to raise their heads resulting in many anti-Buddhist activities to the extent of desecrating Buddhist sentiments and susceptibilities, he said at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Government Services Buddhist Association at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Hall at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo recently. A commemorative stamp issued to mark the Associations Golden Jubilee was issued by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications D. M. Jayaratne and presented to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. Public Servants of all grades including Secretaries of Ministries, Heads of Services and Police and senior officials were present. Association President Ranee Fernando, Deputy Director of the National Hospital welcomed the guests. Wijayananda Abrew delivered the vote of thanks. The Government Services Buddhist Association was formed in 1954 at a time when Buddhism faced several threats and challenges and their efforts helped forge unity among Buddhists. The time has now come for the association to intensify their activities to promote unity among Buddhists in view of the similar threats now facing Buddhism by emergence of anti-Buddhist forces, he said. Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Kotte Naga Viharaya said there was no end to the pressures exerted on Buddhism and degrading Buddhism from colonial days. There was a time when being a Buddhist was a disqualification to hold a top Government post. It is in such an era that personalities like Migettuwatte Gunananda and Anagarika Dharmapala rendered a yeoman service for Buddhist revival and create a healthy climate for Buddhists. The Government Services Buddhist Association formed in 1954 also played a noteworthy role in fighting for Buddhist rights. Mahanayake Thera of the Amarapura Nikaya Ven. Weligama Sri Gnanaratana Maha Nayaka Thera in his anusasana said many of those in the public service do not properly serve the people when they go to transact business. "If we serve according to the precepts of Buddhism the country would not be in such a sorry state today. We should assess how much we have achieved since gaining independence. We are famed as a Dhammadeepaya. We should work towards living up to that reputation," he said. Minister Jayaratne said it was at a time when the national and Buddhist sentiments were at a low ebb soon after independence that the Government Service Buddhist Association was formed in 1954 and rendered a valuable service in forging unity among Buddhists. The Association also presented a memento to one of the founder members of the Association P. B. Weragoda for the yeoman services. |
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