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 13^th 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.