Sri Lanka Ministry of External Affairs EXCLUDES Buddhist Organizations from meeting Thai PM?
– Shenali D Waduge –
The Prime Minister of Thailand arrives in Sri Lanka on May 31, 2013 to mark the anniversary of a highly significant Buddhist event. Her arrival is to promote Buddhism and commemorate the Buddhist links between the two nations. Given the nature of her visit it is questionable why the Minister and Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs have excluded ALL the renowned Buddhist Organizations most of whom have direct links with Thailand and who are patronized by the Thai King himself.
While including as invites all and sundry the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry has left out sending invites to the Regional Centers of the World Fellowship of Buddhists led by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, World Fellowship of Buddhists-SL Branch, German Dharmadutta Society, SUCCESS Sri Lanka (Jayagrahanaya), and other leading Buddhist organizations like Dharmavijaya Foundation and YMBA.
The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) is given patronage by the Government of Thailand and its main office is currently situated in Bangkok and has special patronage of H.E. the King of Thailand and the patron of the WFB is a relative of the King of Thailand. Even the Thai Prime Minister and the local Thai Embassy officials will also wonder why key lay Buddhist Organizations are not part of the invitees and may read their absence differently – so is there a hidden agenda?
These Sri Lankan Buddhist Organizations have every right to have an audience with the Thai Prime Minister to discuss matters concerning the challenges to Buddhism both locally and internationally, but the question is why have these local heads being deliberately left out.
This is not how the External Affairs Ministry, its Minister and its Secretary should follow protocol. Should we be surprised that when proper protocols are not followed and the voice of the Buddhists is disregarded that the country had to witness a self-immolation of a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka whose appeals were ignored and led him to sacrifice his life for a noble cause while his other brother joined a long list of soldiers (Ranaviru) who defended and died and thereby sacrificed his life on behalf of the Sri Lankan nation. The country is morally indebted to this patriotic family.
The External Affairs Ministry need to correct this “mistake” forthwith and extend invitations to the heads of these Buddhist organizations as guests alongside the preferred list that has been already been prepared and sent.
The Buddhist public asks for no less.
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GLP is a traitor beyond words…. why the Govt keeps this traitor I do not know
Some ministries in Sri Lanka are simply rubbish. They have not the foggiest notion about what to do and what not to do.
One Day we have to find another place to live, MR is requesting the Sri Lankan’s working in abroad to come back, for what? Do we have a country to say proudly as ‘This is my mother land”???
Day by day the country getting labeled for many nonsense activities.
Politicians are blamed for all these, they are the one dragging it to a hell.
We had one nation for all, now its like pieces.
They seem to know the religious crap should not be mixed up with governing and foreign policy.
when each community and each other begin to hate, that mean relationship, friendly environment or even considering as one nation is DONE. Political leaders and religious leaders has to pay for this, could be from any community. Sri Lanka is great nation and peoples, but political & religious leaders all are very selfish.
Religion should be in your heart & mind. Your every act should be part of religion. if you are follows their relgigon it is your heart & mind and they must follow: respect your parents, teachers, elders and youngsters. Be example to others on your daily activities since you wake and untill sleep.
Political & religious leaders are selfish in great nation. We are day by go behind compare with other nations. It is really very sad see today situation in the great Island.
MR and SF did great job for the nation & people of Sri Lanka. They both will get people respect as always for job weldone in May 2009. However, can not take that in granted for rest of life in future.
“These Sri Lankan Buddhist Organizations have every right to have an audience with the Thai Prime Minister to discuss matters concerning the challenges to Buddhism both locally and internationally, but the question is why have these local heads being deliberately left out.”
The activities and silence of the religious organization have disqualified in participation and making a mockery of the country and the people and the religion of Buddhism.
The Govt is doing the right thing. Keep them out. We do not want any more fores.
Why was the Bodhu Bala Sena granted private audience with the Thai Prime Minsiter?
The BBS is best qualified to initiate strengthning of ties between our Sinhala Buddhist Nation and Thailand.
Nihal F in Blog 1 rubbishes the EAM and Hon GLP. I agree with him. Reform needed urgently in the EAM
Can Ven Galgoda Atthe Gnanasara Thera be included in the National List to take over the EAM. Can he take the space of that UNP fellow who kicked the bucket in Singapore a few days ago? There are many other dinasaurs in the National List who can make way for the Ven Galgoda.
Excellent suggestion by Chandini.
The leader of the Bodhu Bala Sena is an excellent pick for the ailing Foreign Affairs Ministry which has been in the doldrums ever since Rohitha Bogollagama departed.