Statements Made By Anura Bandaranaike at Hali Ela(Lankadeepa-7th May 2007)
"If The Buddha Were Alive, He Would Ride Back To The Palace On His Horse Kantake"-Comment

By Darmitha-Kotte

The above comments were made by Minister of National Heritage Mr. Anura Bandaranaike as reported by Lankadeepa of 7th May 2007 when he was invited to participate at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the Chaitya at Weluvanaramaya, Morethota in Hali Ela. His comments were in relation to Bhikkus entering politics in this country! Obviously, as a Buddhist and a good Buddhist at that, Mr. Bandaranaike has not been following the reasons as to why Buddhist Monks were forced to enter the political arena?

On the other hand, he has also obviously not realized that ever since his late father Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike campaigned for elections in 1956 with the "Pancha Maha Balavegha" slogan to win-Buddhist Monks were included in SLFP politics and began to be included in the politics of all other political parties as well-the precedence was laid by his late father-this fact he must never forget! Therefore, let him not speak with his tongue in his cheek to insult Buddhist Monks of the JHU now.

Mr.Bandaranaike if he is a "Buddhist" in the true sense of the word, should realize that under his sister Chandrika Kumaratunga's Executive Presidency from 1994 - 2005 was the worst period where Buddhists in this country were discriminated against and that she appointed well-known Evangelists as her "Advisors"-even Media Advisor was none other than Harim Peiris who was Secretary of the National Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka! She made every effort to justify the massive campaigns of unethical conversions done by the Evangelists and even gave their illegal Prayer Centres (which they call "Churches) Police protection while she instructed the relevant authorities to penalize Buddhists who protested against the Christian onslaught!

It was during her Presidency and Ranil Wickramasinghe's Premiership that Most Venerable Gangodawila Soma Thero was mysteriously murdered by anti-Buddhist elements for which she never made a genuine effort to ensure that the investigations were carried out to punish the criminals involved. If Mr. Bandaranaike still needs us to remind him- Chandrika Kumaratunga had a Christmas Eve Tamasha with Archbishop Oswild Gomis in attendance while Ven. Soma Thero's remains were being cremated at The Independence Square on 24th December 2003! That is how much respect she had for Buddhists and Buddhist sentiments in this country.

These are the reasons as to why the Bhikkus decided to form the Jathika Hela Urumaya and enter politics because there was not one single so called Buddhist politician in Parliament (including Mr. Bandaranaike) who thought it fit, to speak out on the injustices meted out to Buddhists in this country even though, they have all come into parliament through their votes! It was more due to necessity rather than choice if we may say so. Therefore, it would be wise for Mr. Bandaranaike as a Minister, to refrain from making scandalous remarks about Lord Buddha by saying " Bhikkus are committing a crime by entering politics, if Buddha was living, He would have got back on Kantake horse's back and returned to the Royal Palace"-already he has made too many statements with his tongue in his cheek!

Most of the other statement made by him at these meetings were a lot of empty braggings about what he has done in the past and what his infamous sister Chandrika Kumaratunga has done( people know exactly what she has done to the disgrace of the entire nation).

As a minister who was expelled from his Minister-ship and later taken back by President Rajapakse after a pardon, Mr. Bandaranaike had best attend to the duties entrusted to him to protect our national heritage and prove that he is able to do some concrete and constructive work instead of Globetrotting which is his special hobby. To protect our national heritage, there is absolutely no need for him to make overseas trips at State Expense-his work is very much confined to work within Sri Lanka together with the local government authorities. It was reported in the news media recently that he hoped to promote our national heritage internationally( which we know, is for him to travel overseas)-not for any constructive work!

He should also refrain from even indirectly trying to promote the UNP agenda which he has tried to do during this particular trip to Hali Ela and Badulla District when he stated (is reported in Lankadeepa) " 48% has voted for the UNP. Without them the national issue cannot be solved. We have to get their cooperation to do this"

No one needs to ask for UNP cooperation-if they are patriotic, they should know it is their bounden duty!