A Monk On The Rampage
Abdul Jabbar M Hizam
As received
A Monk On The Rampage
Ven Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero – Chief Priest Of The Dambulla Viharaya
Ven Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero
Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala
Thero, the Chief Priest at the Rangiri Dambulla Viharaya was in the forefront
in recent times leading a protest at Dambulla to relocate a mosque which
was within the sacred Vihara land, disputed by the Muslim fraternity. The
issue is yet on the boil and the government has not resolved this sensitive
stand off.
Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero is no stranger to controversy and has time and
again led protests against the administrative and political structure.
Our reporter Niranjala Ariyawansha interviewed the Chief monk. At the conclusion
of this interview Sumangala Thero warned our reporter of dire consequences
if she ever stepped foot into Dambulla.
Excerpts:
SL: You were first identified with protests against the construction of
the Kandalama Hotel. What was the final outcome of that protest?
Ven Inamaluwe: I will continue that protest as long as I live. That
is my position. I did not join that protest as a mere visitor. I joined
the protest as the President of the Kandalama Left Canal farmers society
though the media reported that I was acting as the Secretary General of
the Sangha Society.
I knew the importance of the kandalama tank and the environs, being the
leader of the farming community in addition to being a monk. It is prohibited
by law to erect any buildings near the banks of tanks. This was so from
the time of our ancient kings. The British when they were here followed
that too. We thought that a democratic government elected after independence
would also follow this.
We created public opinion against this wrongful erection. We wanted the
hotel project stopped. What did the government do? They provided Police
protection to them, down graded public opinion, denigrated us and allowed
the project to go through.
What I started off in Kandalama reflects the real situation in this country
in the name of democracy. It is a dictatorship. Democracy is only by name.
I realised that there is no ruling party that will listen to the voice
of the people as early as in 1991.
SL: Do you regret launching that
protest?
Ven IS: It is like this. What is it that a government cannot do? President
Premadasa could only not make a man, a woman. That was the power. So, to
erect a hotel is no big deal. That took place under the approval of President
Premadasa. Therefore, it showed that a government can do anything in this
country. I have realised that.
SL: You are once more in focus
for the second time when you opposed the existence of a building said to
be a mosque within the confines of land belonging to the Dambulla temple.
Will you have to backtrack on this protest too, in the future?
Ven IS: No. We learnt a lesson once. We learnt that there is no democracy
in this land. Therefore, if anyone rules oppressively and against democracy,
we will without fear of life, oppose such action.
SL: How do you think you should
oppose a regime that is not democratic?
Ven IS: We showed that recently.
SL: By resorting to violence?
Ven IS: Yes. That is partially true. We started peacefully. But people’s
feelings when aroused cannot be controlled. Look at it nationally and internationally.
What did extremist persons like Bin Laden do? They have shed blood to propagate
Islam. That is the truth.
Our people have built their hopes and dreams around Buddhist culture. They
are patient. But here that patience was set aside a little. I do not see
it as violence.
SL: Buddhist teachings promote
patience. But you lent leadership to a section of Buddhists to practice
the opposite. Why?
Ven IS: No. I do not accept that. It is the government that did such
a thing. There was a plan made 30 years ago to protect the temple and the
land surrounding it. By not implementing that plan it was the government
that pushed the people. If you say the people wanted me to do so, it is
correct For that too the government must take responsibility.
SL: Most of the people who came
for that protest were not people from Dambulla. Some charge that you brought
people from other areas?
Ven IS: Who says so? Anyone can say anything. There is an ancient saying
that when one is hungry even a monitor lizard becomes an iguana (a kabaragoya
becomes a thalagoya). Therefore whatever anyone says I will not accept
such charge.
SL: When I met you on the 30th
of last month at the Dambulla temple, you said the people of Dambulla though
from different religious persuasions lived amicably. What happened to that?
Why was this protest held in such haste?
Ven IS: Who says it was in haste? That is what the media has concocted.
We have over a period of time informed the President and the Minister in
charge. But they were silent.When the working class ask for higher wages
by filling out a form for that purpose, does it happen? No. They have to
strike.That is our country.The super democracy you talk of will not work
in this country.If one were to win any rights in this country, it could
be only through protests. That’s the truth. No one can say that it’s
a lie. The people of this country have resorted to protests to win their
rights. We live in a country where even a letter written to a department
goes without acknowledgement.Therefore the people have to resort to these
kind of things.
SL: You say that this protest
was not done in haste and that it is justified. The Buddhists have a limit
to their patience. The government made them impatient, and the government
is responsible for it. Then you say how Bin Laden acted violently to spread
Islam. Do you then believe that blood should be shed in the name of religion?
Ven IS: Yes, what you say is true and the government must take responsibility.
But on the 20th there was no blood shed.
SL: Yes, but on the 20th you
said publicly, ‘today we came with the Buddhist flag in hand. But the
next time it would be different’. So, the next time if it progresses to
religious disharmony and bloodshed, would you take responsibility?
Ven IS: The responsibility for that should be taken by the inactive
ruling class of this country. The Muslim leaders of their government are
spreading falsehoods about this mosque. They must know that the Prime Minister
has made a decision on this. The Prime Minister is the second citizen in
this country. He is also the Minister of Buddhist Affairs. Therefore, he
has expressed the government’s view. So, can others who have now aligned
with the government or even the cabinet minister who is representing Dambulla
go against that?
The government minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoone says that the mosque
will not be removed. The prime Minister says it will be removed. Minister
Rauf Hakeem says it will remain. This shows that the government is divided.
It also shows that there are people within this government who are bigger
than the Prime Minister. How can that be? What has happened to collective
responsibility within the cabinet and the government? Therefore we urge
the President to take a decision against these in-disciplined political
braggarts.
SL: When you speak of collective
responsibility of the Cabinet, I would like to remind you that in Sri Lanka
we have a multi religious, multi cultural and multi ethnic society.
Ven IS: What nonsense.You are speaking of a nonsensical theory. This
country has fourteen million buddhists.How many muslims are there? For
example in Thailand, the majority are Buddhists. In Myanmar too Buddhists
are in the majority. Catholics are a majority at the Vatican. Therefore,
we say that the Vatican is a Catholic State. Similarly in the middle east
many countries have a Muslim majority. Therefore we call them Islamic States.
SL: That is not what I meant.
When a society consists of multi religious people practicing different
faiths, should they not have equal rights?
Ven IS: Are you trying to wrest away our Buddhist rights? We have respected
all. What we have here is none of that. It is about protecting the Buddhist
legacy against the wresting of it. There is no need for talking nonsense
here. We are fighting to save the 2300 year old Buddhist heritage that
is ours! They in turn are trying to wrest away our heritage. Therefore
it would be good for all to understand that reality. I am vocal to protect
that right and not to wrest away someone else’s right or property. It
is the Islamists who are trying something else here. That cannot be allowed.
We never went to Iraq or the middle east to wrest the rights of Islamists?
This is robbery. You tell the whole country of this position clearly.
SL: So whilst fighting to protect
one’s right you violate another’s right?
Ven IS: Are you trying to trample the rights of the Buddhists?
SL: No. They say that the Mosque
was there from 1962.
Ven IS: I will speak to you as a person possessing a third eye. I speak
of what is happening globally. I am comparing what happens globally. Globally,
Islam is on the rise. Some so called Sinhalese lend a hand (gotta allanawa)
to them. I ask you also not to do so.
SL: Would you say there is Muslim
fundamentalism growing across the world? As against Buddhist fundamentalism
growing here?
There is no such thing. Others may have such intentions. I cannot condone
nor certify that. I am not like that.
The Rangiri Dambulla Viharaya has a history of 2300 years and is a highly
venerated Viharaya. Even UNESCO has named it as a historical site in the
world. That has been done because the Buddhists protected it. Now, Islamists
(Thambis) are trying to creep into this. For those islamists (Thambis)
and those who are propping them (Gotta Allana Aya) this may be good. But
I say it is because of the Buddhists who protected this Dambulla Viharaya
that the villages around this site came into being. Not bacause of a church
or mosque. We have a history. What history does the muslims have with Dambulla?
They can do anything in their regions. I will not speak of history here.
But, I am a monk who has studied history and archaeology for my degree.
I have studied the history of Sri Lanka well.
The Muslims came to Sri Lanka by sail boats to trade in groceries. Only
males came. Some of them settled down permanently in countries like Sri
Lanka, India and the Maldives.
During the reign of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe there was a saying ‘ let
us just have a bit of land to look after,’ by them. Having come like visitors
they robbed the Sinhala and Tamil women. They fooled our Sinhala and Tamil
women and married them. Now this purdah that the Muslims wear to cover
their faces? It’s a plan by those men who came to rob women. They used
it in every country. It has now become a religious practice. It’s however
not a real religious practice. It’s a caddish ploy to rob women. If I
am to say in proper Sinhala (Sudda Sinhalenma Kiyanawa nam , oka thamai
mata kiyanna thiyennay.) That is all what I have to say about it.
SL: As a person who believes
in globalisation do you accept the theory of a purist race?
Ven IS: You are perfectly right. I do accept globalisation. Similarly
I believe that there is a Sinhala race without mixed blood. I do believe
that I am such a person myself. So, if anyone says that there is no pure
race, like you, if one speaks of reason, I think they are of mixed blood.
I mean there must be some kind of mix. They must have a name like Thambi
Mudiyanselage in their birth certificate.
SL: Buddhist sermons are based
on equality. But in Sri Lanka the clergy has split into different sects.
Do you believe in the theory of sects?
Ven IS: I do not accept the need for sects. But even during the time
of Buddha there were varying groups of monks. But Buddha did not prevent
that. During Lord Buddhas first sermon monk Punna did not attend. Those
monks who participated wanted monk Punna to accept that sermon. The monk
answered,’ I have heard Buddha’s sermons before. I accept them. You accept
it too’. Three months after Buddha achieved enlightenment, there were
groups with varying views. These groups were there from that time and progressed
thereon to date.
SL: The sects in Sri Lanka are
based on caste. Is the caste system in line with Buddhas teachings?
Ven IS: I do not endorse that. I do not accept the sects based on a
caste system at all.
SL: You belong to the Siyam Sect.
You propagated another group called the Rangiri Dambullu Sect. What was
the basis for that?
Ven IS: To tell the truth I followed the principal you spoke of. Buddha
from birth did not accept a caste system. We based it on that presumption
and rejected the caste system and opened the doors to anyone from any background
or any sect to be ordained.
SL: But on the 23rd when a discussion
was held at the Rangiri Dambulla Viharaya the Asgiriya Chief Prelate who
is from the Siyam Sect participated?
Ven IS: Yes. He is our Chief Priest. But other monks attended as well.
SL: What is the quarrel between
you and Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon?
Ven IS: He first entered parliament as an MP in 1993 or 1994. Prior
to that he was a policeman. His father was T. B. Tennekoon. A very humble,
and good Buddhist. Janaka Bandara got his votes because of his father.
On an election platform with tears in his eyes he said what his father
had told him from his death bed, “My dear son, being a policeman wouldn’t
do. Please go to Dambulla and start from where I stopped”. The people
were fooled and voted for him.
The first thing he did after becoming an MP was to open a tavern in Dambulla
town. The people protested by closing down shops, hoisting black flags
and going in a procession. Janaka used his thugs and attacked the protesters.
They pulled down buddhist flags and trampelled them.The police did nothing.
Why? Because he was also in the police. I complained about this to the
then President Chandrika. She closed the tavern immediately. We had problems
with each other from then. As at now he is angry with me as a monk who
went above him.
SL: Are you also angry with him?
Ven IS: Oh what anger do I have? I must have a preference vote to get
angry. I was never a friend of his. Before I complained to President Chandrika
I spoke to him on the phone and asked, “ you said that you would start
your politics from where your father stopped. Is this where your father
stopped?”. He replied, “I will act according to the wishes of the people”.
I asked, ‘ now Dambulla is self sufficient, only a place to have a tot
is needed. Is this what the people want?”. He got angry and slammed the
phone down. From there we worked to preserve the buddhist legacy. He was
angry at that and has tried to take revenge since then. It’s only a dream.
SL: The people in Dambulla accuse
you of giving away land belonging to the temple over their heads to others
by charging LKR 100,000 for it.
Ven IS: This is not something I take for myself. The lands belonging
to the Dambulla Viharaya is governed by the Buddhist tempolarities Act.
The Buddhist Commissioner has a system to grant land. According to that
a charge is made to register. These lands cannot be sold to anyone. If
the lessee does not need it then it must revert back to the temple. People
do not follow that but sell it to others. For all of such acts we charge.
They must pay 30% to the temple. It’s not to me. We issue a receipt. The
government audits them. Whilst you charge the Dambulla temple could you
as a media person check on the lands belonging to the Dalada Maligawa too
and how much is charged?”
SL: The buddhist tempolarities
Act is not divine? Why cannot it be amended to allow people to benefit?
Ven IS: It’s a law. Do you say that all laws should be amended to
suit the people? That Act is there to preserve and safeguard temple lands.
SL: The populations grows day
by day. But land does not. Shouldn’t those people have right to land?
Ven IS: You speak on the basis of human needs. I need to ask you a
question. The government means, the people. Can the people enter any government
land by force? Please answer me.
SL: Since you ask me I will answer.
I do not think that the government means the people. The government is
separate and the people are separate. But the government has created a
view that the government is the people. Unfortunately the people have accepted
that.
Ven IS: Right. You are absolutely right. If that is so, can the people
enter a land belonging to the government? They cannot.
SL: Cannot that be changed?
Ven IS: That is called a wanting of a super human rights and a super
democracy. But the reality is not that.
SL: You said before that this
protest was based on the needs of people. Do you think you would be precipitating
the buddhists to go beyond their tolerance levels and are you not provoking
them?
Ven IS: I reject that.
SL: You are a dominating person?
Ven IS: Yes. I am a dominating person. I accept that with all humility.
Without being so these temples cannot be improved.
SL: There is a big difference
between the laity and clergy. There are differences of opinion between
the laity which results in fights, quarrels etc. It’s the clergy that
act as a buffer to settle these disputes. As a leading buddhist monk you
say “ Yes, I am dominating”. How then can you bring the laity towards
reconciliation?
Ven IS: I do not know how you describe a dominant person. I describe
it as follows, i. e.: There can be only one officer in overall charge of
an army. If everyone gives orders can one fight a war? Similarly a country
cannot be developed if one were to bow down to everyone.
SL: I described dominance as
an attribute which brings others under a person’s total control.
Ven IS: That does not concern me. Remember one thing. I am also a media
person. I also have a media organisation. I know a great deal about the
media. When you question me as a media person I too answer as a media person.
Please remember that you have boundaries as a media person.
SL: But I am speaking to Inamaluwe
Sumangala Chief priest and the line of the interview was what I felt was
necessary to ask after talking to you. I feel that there is not much difference
between you and a lay person.
Ven IS: Make a decision based on your mental capacity. Do not try to
teach me the difference between a lay person and clergy. What you said
was the worst insult one could make to me. Do not try to be too smart lady.
You (thamusay) can record if you want. Do not waste my time.
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