tw news-features

by Shenali Waduge

Some of the most remarkable soap dramas can be seen Sri Lanka’s political arena. Political cross-overs have now become a regular feature and those in opposition screaming away about the government’s policies, sooner than later end up with cabinet portfolios and you can imagine the rest of the story.

It would be entertaining to see replays of ‘what they said then and what they say now’ in the electronic media.

Switching allegiance has become common practice complemented with the spilling beans or disclosing a bagful of secrets, secret deals and declaring oneself the ‘innocent party.’

We then have those infamous commissions which really mean that if you go against the ruling party then be ready to be slapped with a commission or two or may be more. None of these commissions ever get completed or even if they do, nothing drastic happens to those found guilty.

Then we have those junior politicos and their exploits in casinos, hotels, clubs, sports venues and for whom punishment in any form would be almost sacrilegious. But then, why blame only the juniors when the senior politicos have also been caught in more than a mess or two?

In the backdrop of these dramas we have an Opposition Leader who makes news every time he gives a public statement. However he should be pardoned for telling a few home truths this time. Sri Lanka being a ‘Buddhist’ nation, as the politicos like to use the word purely for political mileage, we should be honest enough to come to terms with the manner in which Buddhism is practiced by our Buddhist clergy. It is no understatement that the present day actions of our Buddhist clergy are quite contrary to what Lord Buddha had laid out in his noble truths or teachings.

How many really follow the simplistic living style professed by Lord Buddha except for those who live in hermitages in the distant areas of Sri Lanka away from laymen perhaps?

The interior architecture of most temples in urban areas will reveal how ‘simplistic’ the life-styles of the clergy really are. But in a country like Sri Lanka, one is not expected to question or highlight the life-styles of these Buddhist monks. The media dares not and therefore, though the Opposition Leader was brave enough to question the Buddhist monks and referred to the dusseela samagama he has found himself holed up in a harangue of ‘how could you say that about the Buddhist monks.’ You can be rest assured that no one would dare entertain any objections about the rights or wrongs of the Buddhist clergy hereafter.

So we have on the one side of the spectrum politicos adding drama to our lives by doing what they shouldn’t do and then we also have the Buddhist monks whose actions and affairs remain ‘classified and not for publication or debate.’

It will be doubtful if any other politico will ever feel brave enough to question any Buddhist monk for purchase of BMWs, selling vehicle permits, illegal transactions or any other matter even if there is an iota of truth or documentary evidence to prove so.

Unfortunately many principles are based on ones allegiance to a particular political party or a political cause, and not by any fundamental principles in general. This is why we really ought to empathise with those Sri Lankans employed in international organisations which have vested interests in Sri Lanka’s conflict situation for these people are paid to carry out the mission of these organisations and therefore one’s inner conscience is usually put aside for the remuneration gained.

With such a colorful political system can we hope for anything better?