The Evils Of Religious Fundamentalism Has No Place In Sri Lanka.

Just as the Nation is seemingly recovering from decades of an insurgent ethnic conflict there comes along an unwelcome dilemma in the form of religious unrest brought on by a few unscrupulous, self centred religious fundamentalists who have little to do with the noble teachings of Christianity although they use the auspices of the faith to propagate their ungainly objectives.

The death of one of Sri Lanka's most venerated Buddhist monks under somewhat mysterious circumstances while on a visit to a Christian University In St Petersburg Russia, has sparked off much speculation that his death was not accidental and that foul play might be suspected where Christian fundamentalists whom he had been an evocative critic of might be those responsible with the fear of a Buddhist backlash against Christians as uncertainty loomed yet dealt with effectively by those in authority.

The President Of Sri Lanka Mme.Chandrika Kumaratunga made it official at the time that the police and armed forces were given the order to deal with stringently any sign of an impending anti Christian backlash following reports that some enraged nationalist groups might unleash violence as a post funeral expression of anger after the prelate's cremation which however has now blown over rather mercifully.

In a magnanimous and judicious manner, leaders of many political factions have called for restraint to avert any recurrence of ill sentiments towards the Christian community by certain radical Buddhist elements distressed by the renowned Prelate's passing together with a few mischief makers who take it upon themselves to capitalise on a situation which has presented itself at a most inauspicious time for the Nation and in hindsight it can only be fair to conclude that since investigations are still on, it would be premature to make positive conclusions about the cause of his death although evidence points to natural causes and perhaps a degree of apathy by the medical staff at the hospital which tended to him, as a leading politician has been quoted as saying" The unfortunate passing of Gangodawila Soma Thera should not be a reason for anyone to draw wrong conclusions where patience and wisdom should be of paramount importance!"

While the Roman Catholic Faith is a predominant representation of Christianity in Sri Lanka where Catholics comprise 6.4 percent of Sri Lanka's total population of 19 million. The other Christian denominations such as the Anglicans (Church of England) Methodists and Baptists of long standing recognized and respected existence , vestiges of Colonial Rule comprise a little less than 1 percent.

Over the past few decades there have however been incursions of fundamentalist Christian Sects propagating their unsavoury presence within Sri Lanka using proselytistic and forcible conversion tactics and many incentives backed by the riches imparted from their home bases overseas to lure persons into their communes and many unsuspecting nominal Buddhists as well as orthodox Christians have succumbed to the temptations of these decadent Western Oriented sects which are none other than cults which were being systematically exposed and criticized by the prudent vision of the likes of Soma Thera at the time of his death.

While it would be unfair to accuse the Christian Church per se in Sri Lanka as being responsible for the misdeeds of a visible few splinter groups falsely representing the Christian Faith, their unfortunate presence has indemnified and wrongly portrayed even the Salvation Army of Sri Lanka who have been branded as a proselytistic sect although theirs is a foundation which has stood for decades on Sri Lankan soil imparting great compassion and care towards people in distress irrespective of their faith and has caused unfortunate fallout for the deserving.

Whlie the need to exercise caution in the prevailing religious unrest within Sri Lanka is absolute and relevant matters needing to be dealt with wisely and prudently to sustain the integrity of the officially recognized denominations of Christianity in Sri Lanka it seems also necessary without evil to rout out and disperse the unnecessary growing presence of the fundamentalist Christian Sects who persist in proselytism and forcible conversions in order to ensure peace and harmony in Sri Lanka.

Religious freedom and its importance in Sri Lanka is undeniably an entitlement of a democratic society although there can be no room for predatory infiltration by any fundamentalistic religious sect which has a tendency to eat into the infrastructure of a multicultural society purely because of dissentment infused by the neglect of its leadership!

Perhaps the Late Gangodawila Soma Thera has stressed this very important point while going to his eternal rest.