January 15, Colombo (LNW): The Chief Prelates representing all three Buddhist sects have addressed a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, emphasizing the urgency of establishing legal provisions to combat the distortion of the Dhamma and actions that undermine the Buddha Sasana for personal gain.
In their communication, the Chief Prelates underscored the importance of enforcing the law against individuals who distort and jeopardize the fundamental tenets of Buddhist philosophy and culture by disseminating false ideologies about Buddhism.
The letter highlighted instances where certain individuals engaged in activities aimed at misleading the Buddhist public, leading to social unrest. This included acts such as distorting the character of the Buddha and making derogatory statements about sacred objects revered by Buddhists. The Chief Prelates revealed that organized groups and extremist organizations were operating behind such incidents, with some providing significant financial contributions to those involved.
The Chief Prelates expressed concern that the actions of individuals seeking to undermine Buddhism were no longer isolated incidents but part of an organized effort. Consequently, they urged a shift from attempting to address these events individually to the formulation of necessary legal provisions aimed at preventing such distortions of the Dhamma and the noble teachings of Buddhism.
The letter concluded with a call for collective efforts to safeguard the sanctity of Buddhism and prevent any organized attempts to defame its principles.
