Wimal and the Maha Nayake

“The Ven. Thero must be quite aware of the prevailing chaotic, economic, and political situation in the country with lawlessness, murder, abduction, extortion, bribery, corruption, waste and squander of public funds being the order of the day; and the attacks on media personnel, setting ablaze of publishing houses which expose the anti-social activities of the rulers etc; that are taking place allegedly with full government support.”
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by a Special Correspondent

(April 30, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Marxists in Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution slated all religious organisations as non-productive and ineffective in terms of the economy which professed doctrines similar to the addictive effects of opium which once tasted would make man its slave until death. Hence they named religions as opium in society and even refused any state assistance to them.

The Marxist JVP MP Wimal Weerawansa who appeared on stage as a great socialist and patriot of the present generation in Sri Lanka was recently shown on TV going down on his knees before the Most Ven. Maha Nayake Thero of the Malwatte Chapter with a tray full of offerings followed by his comrades. He seems to have given up Marxism to become an upasaka (a lay devotee) at last. He was never before seen associating himself with any religious activity in public.

When those in rags suddenly become rich by hook or by crook they naturally forget their past and begin to enjoy life in style with expensive gel on hair, manicured nails and luxury cars to travel in. To hell with Karl Marx, he must be saying now, supporting the clan of American citizens in local politics.

A government sponsored daily in its front page head line, highlighted recently that the Ven. Maha Nayake Thero had advised Weerawansa to support the President in the event of his separation from the JVP.

The Ven. Thero must be quite aware of the prevailing chaotic, economic, and political situation in the country with lawlessness, murder, abduction, extortion, bribery, corruption, waste and squander of public funds being the order of the day; and the attacks on media personnel, setting ablaze of publishing houses which expose the anti-social activities of the rulers etc; that are taking place allegedly with full government support.

The mismanagement of the economy has resulted in the skyrocketing cost of living consequent to which the poor have been subject to much suffering and heartburn, due to their inability to provide even one meal of a few slices of bread with pol sambol to their starving children, most of whom are malnourished.

The ongoing war has rendered hundreds of young men invalids for life in addition to creating many thousands of widows and orphans left desolate and destitute by the death of the breadwinner of the family. In addition billions of rupees worth of public and private assets have been destroyed.

It may be that the Most Ven. Maha Nayake Thero in his anusasana to Weerawansa and his henchmen has not elaborately touched on all these in detail, but did pithily ask whether the JVP has been of any service to the country or its people. Weerawansa has been let off with an exhortation by the Ven. Maha Nayake to give his support to the President to resolve the current ills afflicting this country.

It is an acknowledged fact that terrorism and war are the creation of shrewd politicians to fool the people and make it a tool to win votes, stay in power and enjoy life to the maximum at public expense.

Despite world opinion that the rights of minorities should be respected and preserved and a just political solution should be worked out through negotiations, the Rajapakse clan and others who back him in their greed for perks at the expense of the public want to make the war an excuse for them to rob in spite of the fact that valuable human lives are lost and many are rendered destitute.

The irony of the situation is that we while claiming to be a country following the teachings of the noble one, which stresses the doctrine of universal kindness to humanity, are behaving like ruthless individuals avaricious for power and perks, while one section of the clergy is actively promoting death and destruction by their cry for the prosecution of a deadly war. We weep for you Sri Lanka!
- Sri Lanka Guardian