“Secularism, when imposed as political fashion, is not progress—it is betrayal. Sri Lanka’s Constitution does not ask for neutrality toward Buddhism; it demands reverence, protection, and priority. To sideline the Buddha Sasana is to fracture the soul of the nation. Any appointment that ignores this duty is not just unlawful—it is a rupture in our civilizational trust.
When a non-Buddhist is appointed to Buddhist affairs, the loud congratulations from non-Buddhist circles—and the bullying of Sinhala Buddhists who question it—reveal not unity, but a concealed agenda. These are not neutral gestures; they signal a deeper attempt to displace the guardianship enshrined in our Constitution.
Article 9 of the Constitution places Buddhism in Pramukasthānaya—a position of foremost reverence. It is not merely a legal clause, but a civilizational vow: that those entrusted with the Buddha Sasana must engage with it through Thun Sithinma—body, speech, and mind—in sincere worship and adherence to the Dhamma.
Sinhala Buddhists carry not just a right, but a sacred inheritance—to pressure the government to assign only those who truly honor the Buddha, follow his advice, and bow to him with full devotion. Such appointments are not just administrative decisions; they are reflections of our national pride, and must be fulfilled through one of our own—someone who embodies that heritage with dignity.”
— Palitha Ariyarathna