Buddhist titles and presidential hopefuls

The title bestowed on Sajith Premadasa comes at a time when Sri Lankans are at a crucial juncture where they have to think of their next president or leader. pic by Pradeep pathirana

The Buddhist clergy has time and again bestowed politicians with titles underscoring the fact that the relationship between lawmakers and the temple should continue. Just days ago State Minister of Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Sajith Premadasa was bestowed with the title ‘Sasana Deepana Abhimani Sri Lanka Jana Ranjana’ by the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter the Most Ven. Thibattuwawe Sidhartha Sri Sumangala Thera. 

Politicians tend to forget their roots and beginnings when they rise in status. If there is to be some control on them it is sure to come from those clad in saffron robes. Even such a powerful charismatic leader like former President Mahinda Rajapaksa moved closely with ‘the temple’ and often made references to Buddhist monks at any gathering he spoke at. We remember Rajapaksa turning to Buddhist priests in the audience and asking for their approval to the contents in his speech by saying ‘Ape hamuduruwane’. 

• The Buddhist clergy can influence whom we vote for during elections
• Gotabaya Rajapaksa is another politician who has the fullest backing of the Buddhist order
• Premadasa’s big challenge and the final frontier he has to conquer is the race for the presidency

The Constitution of Sri Lanka grants permission only to a Buddhist to be the head of state. This condition alone makes it compulsory for the first citizen of the country to be greatly influenced by the Buddhist order. 

In this context we see that there could be repercussions if President Maithripala Sirisena carries out the death penalty on drug traffickers. Will Sirisena be the first Sri Lanka president to see during his tenure a person being sent to the gallows? However the Buddhist clergy have not been vocal on bringing back the death penalty. 

Whether we like it or not the Buddhist clergy can influence whom we vote for during elections. We saw this clearly during the time of the late Ven. Sobitha Thera who turned the tables on President Rajapaksa through his National Movement for Social Justice. 

It’s good that the Buddhist clergy has some control over politicians. Even Premier Wckremesinghe, unlike in the past, has observed that a politician’s journey is smooth when it receives the blessings of the maha sanga. 

We remember Rajapaksa turning to Buddhist priests in the audience and asking for their approval to the contents in his speech by saying ‘Ape hamuduruwane’

Come 2020 we head into many elections. As of now among the present likely presidential hopefuls, only Sajith Premadasa and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya have been honoured with titles by the Malwatte Chapter. Is this an indication to the general public that voters should exercise their franchise on either of the two and no one else? 

Big Challenge

Sajith Premadasa has had a close relationship with the temple. He has been in touch with the Buddhist order through his programmes where he has built Chaitiyas at temples. Recently he launched the ‘Sasana Aruna’ Programme to mark his late father’s 94th ‘Birth anniversary’. The Buddhist clergy would prefer an individual who knows his responsibilities towards the temple rather than a lawmaker who is greatly influenced by Western thinking and is a ceremonial Buddhist. 

One of the criteria Premadasa met for the title was the fact that he has been ‘committed to the people of the country’. Also considered for the title were his dedication to the Buddha Sasana, culture and heritage of Sri Lanka. His ‘Shelter for all’ programme has attracted much ‘flowers’ despite a disgruntled few throwing brickbats at him stating that these houses have not been given free and the recipients have to pay for them in installments. 

But Premadasa’s big challenge and the final frontier he has to conquer is the race for the presidency. For the past many years he has had the backing of the UNP voters and this new title now gives him enough encouragement to take the bold step and be the candidate from the Green Party. Any reluctance on the part of Premadasa in coming forward could spell doom for the UNP and also for himself. This is because the UNP’s opponent at the next presidential elections is likely to be Gotabaya Rajapaksa; another politician who has the fullest backing of the Buddhist order. 

But a fact that may stand in the way of Premadasa is that during his time as a politician he has given away materialistic things to the less affluent. We didn’t see many enterprising business projects initiated by him. On the contrary the ambitious Gotabaya Rajapaksa has moved with the business community through his ‘Viyath Maga’ and ‘Eliya’ Programmes. The only feather missing in Gotabaya’s cap is a title from the ‘Maha Sanga’ which is conferred on those who serve the Buddhist order and work towards the cause of Buddhism. 

The only feather missing in Gotabaya’s cap is a title from the ‘Maha Sanga’ which is conferred on those who serve the Buddhist order and work towards the cause of Buddhism

The title bestowed on Premadasa comes at a time when Sri Lankans are at a crucial juncture where they have to think of their next president or leader. A title for Premadasa is the Buddhist orders way of saying ‘We endorse this man’s candidacy’. The Buddhist clergy has done the same with Jayasuriya; in case he decides to contest the presidency. 

But in this dark age of ‘Kali Yuga’-where people have little or no time for religion-people would work on Poya Days to earn those extra green notes and strengthen the family budget. In this context one might see a smile on Gotabaya’s face because he knows that people would endorse his candidacy at an election with or without a title from Buddhism’s highest order because he breathes out an air which promises business development if not spiritual development.