Buddy Racketeers: A response

Thursday, 29 October 2026 00:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

One cannot help but observe that, since of late, there is a concerted effort to demean and belittle Buddhist concepts and talk disparagingly about Buddhist priests, 'Maha Sangha' as reverently referred to by the Buddhists, the majority race in Sri Lanka, like the following content included in the article by Sarath De Alwis titled ‘ Buddy Racketeers ‘

On a Saturday, an opulent parade of luxury, chauffeured chariots rolled directly into the Kotte headquarters of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha of the Siam Nikaya.
Out stepped saffron-clad potentates, oozing obesity and some limping with diabetic neuropathy, the telltale evidence of indolence masquerading as piety.

It is also an inescapable fact that the text of the article is packed with sweeping derogatory references to the Buddhist clergy, like in the above two paragraphs, not commensurate with reality. It is a sad fact that the Author of this article deliberately ignored the good deeds performed by the Buddhist Priests at times of national calamities such as the pandemic or riots to promote peace and provide shelter and assistance to the victims of natural disasters like floods and landslides, irrespective of the ethnicity .

Some Buddhist monks are accused of sowing the seeds of ethnic tensions and rife between communities which is a fact to a certain extent but they are only a minority. Majority of Buddhist Priests strive for peace and harmony among all citizens and are generous in providing essential needs to the deserving. Similarly, there are elements with extremist tendencies in all communities but such facts are never highlighted. The Buddhist Priests are Law Abiding and peace loving. They never challenged authority or judiciary. At times, when they express their opinions or ideas, they may appear stubborn but usually within the framework of civil discipline.

So, please refrain from spreading anti Buddhist attitudes or sentiments. Our priority should be bringing unity among all citizens and achieving prosperity for everyone.

T. Perera