EDITORIAL:Sri Lanka - Having genuine inquiries into killings may make Buddha Jayanthi a meaningful event


Unfortunately Sri Lanka’s tradition of inquiring into killings has suffered greatly due to political interference with the administration of justice. Uninvestigated murders can now be countered in the tens of thousands. Something has gone deeply wrong in the Dharmadeepa.

(May 17, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The first Buddhist precept is not to kill. Therefore there may not be any better way to celebrate the Jayanthi than to take meaningful steps to stop killings. The world knows no better method of trying to stop killings than to ensure genuine inquiries into killings under the provisions of law.

Unfortunately Sri Lanka’s tradition of inquiring into killings has suffered greatly due to political interference with the administration of justice. Uninvestigated murders can now be countered in the tens of thousands. Something has gone deeply wrong in the Dharmadeepa. One Dutch film producer who made a documentary on the killings in Sri Lanka in the late eighties titled his production 'Murder Land'. Now, the United Nations has also called on Sri Lanka to ensure genuine inquiries into alleged violations of humanitarian law.

Can a nation that does not inquire into alleged killings, big or small celebrate the Jayanthi meaningfully or truthfully? Can the Thorana, and Dansalas, Dana to monks to wipe away our responsibilities for these killings.

How to chant Panadipata etc—when we deny the most basic precept of law as well as religions.

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