The Chairman of the Motherland Protection Organization, Venerable Murutthettuwe Ananda Thero, announced that a Maha Sangha conference will take place on the 20th of this month in front of the Buddhist Maha Sammelan, Colombo 07, to confront perceived threats against the Sambuddha Sasana, the Maha Sangha, Buddhists, and the country’s culture and civilization. The announcement was made during a media briefing at Narahenpita Abhayaramaya, attended by Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thero, former DIG Chandra Vakishtha, and Mahendra Jayasekara, Chairman of the Colombo Youth Buddhist Association.
Venerable Murutthettuwe Ananda Thero emphasized that the conference is strictly non-political and not aimed at flattering any politician. Instead, it is intended to protect race, religion, culture, and Buddhist monks from what he described as mounting threats from MPs, social media activists, and certain robed monks. The Thero urged that the country should be governed according to the Dasaraja Dhamma, pledging that any political leader who respects these principles would receive the support of the Maha Sangha. The conference is open to politicians, including ministers Anura and Namal, opposition leader Sajith, as well as civil society members who wish to participate.
Venerable Thero highlighted that historically, since the Bandaranaike era in 1956, the country’s leaders have heeded the guidance and blessings of the Maha Sangha. However, he stated that recent threats necessitate a renewed collective response. He confirmed that political party leaders and Mahanayake Theros have been invited, and he intends to collaborate in the future with leaders who uphold the Pansils and govern according to Dasaraja Dhamma. He also addressed social media narratives attempting to portray the conference as an act of racism or religious extremism.
Speaking at the briefing, Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thero noted that thirty Mahanayake Theros, sixty-four Anunayakes, and thirty-two secretaries representing the three main Buddhist sects have been invited. While he could not confirm the exact number of monks who will attend, the scale of invitations indicates that this Maha Sangha conference will be a significant religious assembly, drawing attention to the ongoing debates over Buddhism and cultural preservation in Sri Lanka.
