The Amarapura chapter of the Maha Sangha has distanced itself from the so-called “Himalayan Declaration” by the Britain-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF) and certain monks including the Anu Nayake of their chapter.
“This does not represent the position of the Amarapura chapter” the Assistant Registrar of the Assembly of Amarapura Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka has announced in an official statement.
The Deputy Head of the Ambagahapitiya Chapter, Amarapura Nikaya, Ven. Dr Madampagama Assaji Tissa Thero is a signatory to the declaration. The ‘Declaration’ was welcomed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe who said the document prepared by Tissa Thero and other monks speaks about “Preserving and promoting the pluralistic character of the country where no community feels threatened about losing its identity and pride of place”.
However, this was rejected outright by the Amarapura Chapter of the Maha Sangha. In their announcement on New Year’s Day, their Assistant Registrar Ven. Ambalangoda Sumedhananda Thero made it clear the said declaration is not recognized by them.
The declaration doesn’t speak about the alleged grave ‘war crimes’ committed by the Sri Lankan security forces and an internationally monitored accountability mechanism proposed by the UN Human Rights Commission and demanded by most of the diaspora organizations.
“Neither any discussion took place within the Amarapura Maha Sangha nor any agreement was reached regarding this ‘Himalayan Declaration’. We emphasize through this it was the individual opinion of just some Theros” his statement read.
While most of the Tamils locally and in the diaspora have rejected the document, it was accepted by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa- who led the war in 2008 and accused of being responsible for the death of at least 40,000 amongst them half of them unarmed-and some other senior monks under the banner “Sangha for a best Sri Lanka”.
After the release of the document the members of the GTF met the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapter prelates who also accepted it.
The President’s Media Division called the “Joint Himalayan Declaration” a collaborative effort between the GTF and the said Buddhist delegation, advocates for a pluralistic Sri Lanka for a pluralistic Sri Lanka that actively promotes the well-being of all its communities.
Local media say even the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has said it doesn’t have any information about the joint declaration citing the ministry officials.
Along with him Ven. Siyambalagaswewa Wimalasara Thero Chief Sanganayake of Northern & Eastern Provinces, Ven. Kithalagama Hemasara Nayake Thero, General Secretary, Siri Dharmarakshitha Chapter, Ven. Kalupahana Piyaratana Thero of Sri Saddharmawansa Chapter, Member of SL Human Rights Council 2023 chairperson of Human Development edification center, Ven. Narampanawe Dhammaloka Thero Chief Sanganayake of Central Province, Ven. Walatara Sobitha Anunayake Thero, Sri Sadhammawansa Chapter and Ven. Prof. Pallekande Rathnasara Thero, Acting Mahanayake of Vajirawansa Chapter was signatories to the declaration.
