Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
UNP claims NPP government pursuing anti-Buddhist agenda
The United National Party has accused the National People's Power government of adopting policies hostile to Buddhism, citing the disrobing of a prominent Buddhist activist as evidence of religious discrimination.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The UNP's chairman, Vajira Abeywardana, levelled the accusations during a press conference held at former President Ranil Wickremesinghe's Flower Road office on Wednesday. The opposition party said the NPP administration was indirectly implementing policies that undermine Buddhist interests and values in the country.
Abeywardana, a former minister and parliamentarian, pointed to the disrobing of Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), as a concrete example of what he characterised as religiously discriminatory action by the current government. The UNP used the occasion to formally articulate its position on the matter to media representatives.
The incident has become a focal point for political debate over religious freedom and state policy toward Buddhist institutions. The UNP's statement underscores growing tensions between the opposition and the NPP administration on questions affecting Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority and their concerns regarding governance and religious protection.