Sri Lanka’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, Lal Kantha, delivered a sharp and unprecedented critique of a Buddhist monk in Mihintale, accusing him of moral hypocrisy and obstruction of national education reform. Speaking at the annual Sri Lanka Agricultural College Alumni Association conference at the Asliya Golden Cassandra Hotel in Kurunegala, yesterday , 11 January, Kantha labeled the monk a “wild man” whose cursing and foul language toward Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya reveal deeper issues in the country’s religious institutions.
Kantha highlighted what he described as the sexual hypocrisy of male religious leaders, saying they focus on scrutinizing the Prime Minister’s personal life while ignoring the pressing need for educational reform. “The ones who criticize her the most are men who are mostly in religious institutions,” he said, drawing attention to their personal contradictions and moral failings. He emphasized that these attacks are disconnected from policy and serve only to undermine public trust.
The minister directly linked the monk’s behavior to societal and educational shortcomings, arguing that the state of a nation’s education can be read from the conduct of its influential figures. “Our religious institutions are mostly men. There is sexual hypocrisy. Those who promise to stay aside often talk the most about the Prime Minister, not about education,” Kantha said, calling for a focus on reform rather than personal attacks.
Observers note that Kantha’s remarks represent one of the most direct public rebukes of a Buddhist monk by a Sri Lankan government minister in recent memory. By exposing the monk’s vulgar speech and criticizing his resistance to reform, Kantha framed the issue as both a moral and political challenge to entrenched religious authority.
The minister’s comments come amid widespread controversy over recent educational reforms introduced by the government, which both the Buddhist temple and the Catholic Church have vehemently rejected. The dispute escalated after certain textbooks intended for underage students were found to recommend finding partners through gay dating websites, sparking public outrage and calls for immediate correction.
