Tagged: Human Rights

In the light of the proposed changes to the Constitution of Sri Lanka now under consideration and growing accusations of contrived attempts via the proposed new Article 33 to neutralize the applicability of Article 9 in the Constitution that imposes a mandatory duty on the State to give to Buddhism the foremost place and protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1)(e), an important question has arisen “ What is the relationship between the State and Buddhism that should  exist in the present day? ”

It is an incontrovertible fact that Buddhism, more than other ideology or religion, has played a singular role in creating an unique civilization and shaping the destinies of this country. Sri Lanka is the oldest Buddhist nation in the world. If not for the continuance of the Dhamma, through the study and practice of it in this country, it is unlikely that there would even be a semblance of pure Sasana in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, or Cambodia. It is in Sri Lanka that the Wheel of the Buddha’s law was truly set in motion with the arrival of Arahant Mahinda with the blessings of that great universal monarch, Emperor Asoka. If this event did not take place in Sri Lanka, the Pali Canon may not have got recorded and the noble doctrine of the Buddha, recited and accepted by the Arahats, at Rajagaha, Vesali and Pataliputta, i.e. three Great Councils of the Arya Sangha, would have vanished into thin air long ago.   

The Island editor’s response in setting the record straight regarding the Indian High Commission’s stubborn rejection that India armed the LTTE, should be applauded. The Indian political hierarchy was indeed involved heavily in arming the Sri Lankan separatist Tamils. RAW ‘s role in acting as ‘the managers’ of the armed terrorists of Sri Lanka is very well established in many a report written on the subject. According to records available India’s interests in the separatist movement commenced in 1970 when the Indian IB agents were replaced by the RAW operatives. After a preliminary survey and obtaining the Indian Government green light the training and arming of separatist terrorists were found to be one of the main activities of the RAW in Sri Lanka around 1983. The advanced training for the selected cadres were given at Chakrata, North of Dehera Dun, India’s top defence academy and in the Ramakrishna Puram in Delhi.

The recent statements by senior Sri Lankan Government sources that the proscription on LTTE front organisations will be lifted present a serious threat to the national security and unitary status of Sri Lanka.