Ven. Agalakada Sirisumana Thera, a member of the governing council of the Shasanarakshaka Sangha Sabha, on Monday (27) alleged that attempts were being made to discredit Buddhist monks and prevent them from playing an active role in society.

The Thera made the remarks while addressing the “Sukha Sanghassa Samaggi” Sangha Convention organised by the Shasanarakshaka Sangha Sabha in Colombo.

The convention was convened to call on the authorities to uphold their constitutional responsibility to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, among other matters.

“There are people in this country who become agitated whenever the Sangha unites and immediately begin campaigns to attack and discredit us,” Ven. Agalakada Sirisumana Thera said.

He further alleged that “forces operating from overseas, along with those who depend on their funding and ideology, are influencing those in power,” adding that such groups were hostile towards the Buddhist clergy and the country’s cultural heritage.

“If this continues, in another two or three years monks may not even be able to walk on the streets. We must not remain silent. We are not here to topple governments or remove rulers, but to unite and demonstrate our strength in the face of the challenges directed at us,” the Thera said. (Newswire)

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