Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has openly admitted to the “collapse” of the country’s social structure and systemic corruption across public institutions but pointed to Buddhism as “the foundation for a disciplined and culturally sophisticated nation”.
Speaking at the National Poson Festival at Mihintale, the president acknowledged a litany of illegal activities involving key government departments.
"However, today that social structure has collapsed. Some members of the police have reached a point where they protect criminals. Certain officers at the Department of Immigration and Emigration are issuing travel documents illegally. Underworld figures have been granted passports. Some officials at the Department of Prisons have unlawfully released inmates. Even within the Department of Motor Traffic, some officers are engaged in illegal activities," he said.
"Citizens do not view these institutions with confidence or peace of mind. Therefore, a well-disciplined civic programme must be established to foster a sense of civic responsibility among the people. The Buddhist philosophy can provide essential guidance in this regard."
His comments come amid renewed scrutiny over presidential pardons, after he further admitted that prisoners had been unlawfully released by Department of Prisons officials, a process which ultimately requires the president’s signature.
During the event, held under the theme “May the world be enlightened by the teachings of the Buddha”, Dissanayake reflected on what he described as Buddhism’s civilisational role in shaping Sri Lankan society.
"Any nation needs a strong foundation to rise. For the Sri Lankan people, that strong foundation has been provided through the philosophy of the Buddha," he stated.
"In a society devoid of education, we cannot expect empowered citizens. More than two thousand years ago, it was Buddhism that introduced a transformative change in education to this country. By transforming temples into centres of learning — Pirivenas — Buddhism played a vital role in imparting not only spiritual guidance but also knowledge to the people. It paved the way for a well-disciplined and cultured social structure. For this immense contribution, the great monastic leaders who served this country throughout its 2,500-year history deserve the nation’s utmost respect and gratitude."
He further claimed that the arrival of Arahant Mahinda Thero marked a “civilisational turning point”, and questioned how the Poson Festival could be celebrated meaningfully without recognising Mihintale’s significance.
"The spiritual and cultural heritage linked to Mihintale must be preserved and passed on to future generations, a responsibility the State must not ignore," he said. "Only citizens who are spiritually and culturally grounded, who remain connected to the earth and their heritage, could truly uphold this responsibility, not those disconnected from reality."
Dissanayake added that the government has initiated a programme to restore and redevelop the city of Anuradhapura “in a manner that reinstates its former glory.”
"The foundation for our country becoming a centre of Theravada Buddhist philosophy and tradition was established with the arrival of Anubudu Mihindu Thero in Sri Lanka. This remarkable event, which sparked spiritual enlightenment alongside social transformation, went beyond mere religious significance and enabled the development of more advanced frameworks across all aspects of our nation including cultural, social and political spheres," he said.
The president concluded by emphasising the need to “re-establish that society on Sri Lankan soil”, and to build a “modern, cultured state” rooted in “new ethical, social and environmental principles.”
His remarks come as the Sri Lankan state continues to engage in constructing Buddhist structures across the Tamil North-East, in what Tamils have called an ongoing pattern of Sinhala-Buddhist colonialism.
