CBK calls for urgent reform drive in Buddha Sasana

Colombo, May 27 (Daily Mirror) - Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has called for urgent reforms within the Buddhist monastic order, warning that the Buddha Sasana is facing increasingly serious challenges that require a structured and long-term response.

In a detailed statement addressed to the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas, Kumaratunga stressed the need for a broad internal dialogue on the current state of the Sasana and the underlying causes of its ongoing crisis.

She noted that since Independence, there had been instances where certain groups benefiting from internal crises within the Sasana had allegedly worked to prevent meaningful reforms from taking place.

The former President warned that the Buddha Sasana is now facing what she described as more serious challenges than in previous periods, making reform efforts increasingly urgent.

She highlighted that addressing only isolated incidents as they arise, or attempting to suppress them from becoming public, would not resolve the deeper structural issues. Instead, she said such approaches risk concealing the real crisis rather than solving it.

Kumaratunga further called for the initiation of a broad internal discussion aimed at identifying the root causes of the problems and developing both short-term and long-term solutions.

She urged the Buddhist leadership to consider convening a Dhamma Sangayana (Buddhist Council) as a means of safeguarding the long-term continuity and stability of the Buddha Sasana.

She also said that she is prepared to work with a group of senior lay Buddhist leaders to help organise and facilitate the proposed initiative.