The Need for Constitutional Power Devolution for Provinces in Sri Lanka
Disregarding National Anthem and National Flag
1.
Most Ven. Mahanayaka Thera of Asgiri Chapter, Most Ven. Mahanayaka
Thera of Malwathu Chapter, Most Ven. Mahanayaka Thera of Ramagnya Mahanikaya
and Most Ven. Mahanayaka Thera of Amarapura Mahanikaya has agreed in unison
that bhikkhus should not be required to stand up while hoisting the national
flag and playing the national anthem, here and abroad.
2.
The policies for the bhikkhus according to the Buddha Sasana, are
to remain in the seating posture and respect the hoisting of the national flag
or the playing of the national anthem.
3.
The claim by another fundamental Theravada Buddhist monk, “Bhikkhus are worshipped, they are only second to
Buddha and Dhamma, therefore will not worship anything else. “Nothing in the
whole universe is worthy of it. They stand up only in the presence of the
Buddha and senior bhikkhus” (Impact SundayObserver.lk)
Therefore, whatever is created by the Sasana stands
for elevated status which as well seeks and expects to infuse into all the
aspects of the national ruling in order to sustain that elevated status (that
emanates a dangerous notion of impunity for monks among law enforcing setup). The
fact that the creators of such a piece of Sasana do not understand due to the
insinuated euphoria offered by that portrayal of elevated status is without
a nation and its inhabitants the Sasana (members) cannot exist.
This is a status that amply contradicts the Lord Buddha's
vision of spreading peace through equality applications – and giving up his opportunity
for the throne and luxurious life that could have been incurred by that throne
because Lord Buddha understood that power and hence the force and inequality born
by that power may is a hindrance to his visionary Mission.
The well-educated eminent monks
the like of Chancellor of the Sri
Jayawardhanapura University, Prof. Ven. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera , and
Prof. Ven. Kamburugamuwe have overwhelmingly disputed the above statements as
stated in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3. The later Thera further explains that even
the Buddha had advised us to abide by the law of the country they originate.
“The National anthem and flag which are symbolic of the law of the country and
Nation and race – (the entire Sri Lankan identity) must come before anything
else.”
Thus, monks who would
prefer to be attached to their seats while the National Anthem is recited or
when the National Flag is hoisted shall as well be silently seated while enacting
or changing the constitution for better governance of the entire Sri Lankan Community
as done by Prince Siddhartha for the accomplishment Spiritual journey. The monks who be seated when National Anthem is
recited hold no moral right to interfere in (for the best of) Governing System.
It is deeply disturbing to observe that the majority of Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist
Monks, are actively involved in isolating the non-Buddhists – from Sri Lankan identity
by falsely claiming that Sri Lanka belongs only to one Race the so-called “Sinhala
Buddhists”. This dangerous notion has been well spread into the defense and law
enforcement systems by the portrayal of “be seated monks” against reciting the National
Anthem and hoisting of the National Flag – as of up above all.
The same dangerous notion is the core issue responsible for the entire
mayhem of Sri Lanka’s post-independence history – and still worsening, as the
notion of “one race” owning the island has been the Political Rhetoric for winning
the gullible constituency even after the – so-called war against terrorism –
now truly turning to be an against of Tamils, particularly Saivism followers –
by the actions of State machinery working for that political Rhetor.
Contradicting the
Constitution or Constitutional Contradiction
Sri Lanka’s Constitution
“9. The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give
Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly, it shall be the duty of the State
to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana while assuring to all religions the
rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(l)(e). Freedom of thought, conscience, and
religion.”
“10. Every person is entitled to freedom of
thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to have or to adopt a
religion or belief of his choice”
The
wording, The Republic of
Sri Lanka shall give Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly, it shall be
the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana – coupled with arrogance
of disregard for National Anthem and the National Flag hoisting by Sanga
members has thrown-away any chance of natural Justice – for Saivism, Christian,
and Islamic followers – that has been presumably included to portray that the
constitution is inclusive within– by the wording “while assuring to all
religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(l)(e). Freedom of thought,
conscience, and religion.”
This is
because of the falsified notion that Sri Lanka belongs only to Theravada Buddhism
and has been well infiltrated into the ruling system, as well as while enacting
the constitution that only - ostensibly tries to guarantee the practicing of
other religions – a fact proven by turnover of happenings to North – East Saiva
temples being worshiped by the second-largest population of Sri Lanka for
centuries.
Sri Lanka is a
multinational multiethnic nation, and this wrong notion led to all the civil
commotion and consequently coaxed the 30-year-long war, and the system has
miserably failed to fertilize to cultivate Sri Lankan Identity inclusive of
all ethnic communities' which is simply referred to as national unity, instead
of the ruling system has been fertilizing and fueling hatred since independence
and cultivating abhorrence abundantly to cripple Sri Lanka economically, and all
are decrying today for a reconciliation, within Sri Lanka without understanding
the core issues of hindrances for National Unity.
It is very
hilarious that those who cultivated abhorrence – a permanent hatred of each
other within society, are the same people shouting about reconciliation without
understanding the difference between psychological binding and physical bonding.
The Sanga members are
very much attached to sustaining the elevated status and the defense personnel are
very much prejudiced that reconciliation can be brought by gunpoint – and sights
that 30-year war is constructed for that purpose. This is what is referred to as physical bonding.
That
is why Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera who strongly advocates being seated
while National Anthem is recited commented that the devolution of power is creating
a new problem, and is responsible for targeting Hindu temples as Buddhist
Archeological sites disrespecting whatever constitutional guarantee provided
for adopting religions other than Theravada Buddhism – using Department of Archeology as a weapon. This is
not reconciliation but continuously subjugating minorities by majoritarian rule.
The psychological binding of a community
to the rest of society is inevitable where a permanent hatred has been seeded
for 76 years.
This is where meaningful
devolution of power interlaces with natural justice for minorities of this
multi-ethnic nation and ensures attraction to central majoritarian governance. This
also ensures effective minority participation in the governing system.
From the learned
lessons, land and policing power must be optimally devolved, for the
effectiveness of the devolution, without central subjugating clauses found in
the present 13th Amendment for each devolved unit.
Each devolved unit shall have a Deputy Solicitor General under one Central Attorney General. Upcountry Tamils and Muslims shall have borderless cantons within the Central and North-Eastern Provinces respectively, hence North and Eastern provinces shall become one devolved unit.
Tamil translation of the Sri Lanka National Anthem shall be primarily recited wherever applicable.
