This time around, I examine the manner in which Buddha first came to Sri Lanka and encountered the non-Aryan Tamilian inhabitants. Called demons in Dharmapala’s description of them in 1908, they were according to the Dipavamsa, Lanka’s first inhabitants.
My article explores, according to the ancient texts, how the Buddha overcame the Demons. The manner in which he did so, that I explore in my article, is justified in the ancient texts by the fact that the Demons were impervious to the Truth and the Dhamma, and that accordingly, they posed a threat to the Buddha Sasana.
My article was written after listening to the President’s comments on television recently, that Sri Lanka was a country that had witnessed the visitation of the Buddha. Through my article, I explore the possible reasons as to why he said this, and why now.
My reasoning leads me to the conclusion that the historical anchors of the President’s Chintanaya, as brought out by statements such as the above, constitute a thinly veiled justification for any measures necessary, including that which is extra-judiciary and violent, to preserve what he and his government thinks is the Truth.
I will explore this issue further in future submissions, but for now, read my article here. My article is in Sinhala.
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