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(Lanka-e-News-27.June.2014, 10.30PM) Nava sama samaja party (NSSP) leader Dr. Wickremebahu Karunaratne made a most cordial invitation to open the eyes of Galagoda Aththe Thero. If Galagoda Aththe truly wants to rescue Buddhism Dr. Bahu asked him to join Dr. Bahu and stage a ‘sit in’ on the road in protest against the night car race to be held in the city where the Dalada Maligawa is situated and considered as a holy place where the tooth relic is.The NSSP leader made this invitation as it is the sane thing to do by true followers of pristine Buddhism against the night race which is being exalted and going to be enjoyed by corrupt Buddhist followers .
Dr. Wickremebahu went on to comment as follows :
''Kandy , the most holy and biggest city in this country that is reputed for its Buddha dhamma as taught by Lord Buddha is being brought to disrepute with all the international crooks , rascals and scoundrels organizing themselves to witness this race which is a disgrace to Buddhism. This event will be tantamount to desecrating the holy city and profaning true Buddhist traditions.
Mind you this has been organized by the ‘Royal house’ itself . It is the sons of the ‘Royal family’ who have arranged this ‘grand Tamasha.’ They do lip service to the Dhamma but in action they disparage true Buddhism. Talk is cheap. Therefore the more they talk about Buddhism without practicing it , they are cheapening Buddhism. These groups who pose and parade as true Buddhists are in the very name of Buddhism getting ready to pollute the sacred area and degrade Buddhism.
The Ven. Mahanayakes said , they would not allow this event to take place in Kandy.. Car racing is not a Sri Lankan tradition. Yet , pressures have been exerted to allow this time only. But , even the Ven. Mahanayakes have been shunted aside to have this race this time. The ‘Royal sons’ say this is the first and last time they are going to have this Tamasha .
Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the world recognize Sri Lanka as the country where the Dalada maligawa is and the sacred tooth relic.
What these material pleasure seeking ‘sellers of religion’ are vehemently insisting is : it is alright soiling the religion and corrupting the Buddhist tenets just once. ‘Thereafter we shall perform pilgrimages.’ This is what they are trying to convey through the Ven. Mahanayakes , that is , degrading the religion once is not objectionable. Indeed , not only the monks in the holy city and Buddhist organizations , but even religious dignitaries of other religions have frowned upon this. One Muslim Minister said , “this is like holding races in the holy city of Mecca”
Even previously I asserted the only way to halt this sacrilegious activity is by the monks taking to the streets in protest if they are truly and sincerely following the religion. Vehicles are not going to run over the monks. Hence , I am advising Ven. Galagoda Aththe Thero who is making loud and proud announcements from roof tops , if he is prepared to take to the streets to safeguard Buddhism , he has now got the golden opportunity to prove his mettle practically unless of course he is contented with only lip service and hypocrisy. Now is the time for him to come out and use his might to stop the deplorable car race. Therefore come and rally round us and halt this. You don’t need to bring weapons , clubs and rods . Just come. If you just come and take part in the ‘sit in’, that will suffice , in which case the cars cannot run. That is all Galagoda Aththe has to do, instead of going on a marauding and murderous spree with weapons and rods to demolish and burn houses of innocent Muslims. By destroying homes , you cannot save Buddhism. But if you heed what we are urging , certainly you can save Buddhism and yourself . If you are ready , just tell us , we shall all join to stop this race which is a disgrace to Buddhism , and to you too if you are still left with any grace after the Alutgama violence.
Might I reiterate ,this is a good opportunity for us to work together and set an example with a view to rescuing the Buddha dhamma . ''
