A Sinhala Buddhist monk and head of the hardline Ravana Balaya organisation, Iththa Kande Saddhatissa, has launched a public attack on the National People’s Power (NPP) government over the appointment of Muneer Mulaffer as the new Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs, describing the move as an attempt to “hurt the Sinhala-Buddhist people.”
In a video published by the Daily Mirror, Saddhatissa announced to an audience that a “Muslim” had been appointed as the new deputy minister. He then played a video of a man speaking during the 2022 Aragalaya protests and falsely claimed it was Mulaffer, alleging that his involvement in the anti-government demonstrations was the reason for his appointment.
During his address, the monk contrasted the current government’s approach with that of previous administrations. He noted that under Mahinda Rajapaksa, the ministry was known as the Ministry of Buddhasasana, and criticised later governments for changing its name to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. He accused the NPP of removing the emphasis on Buddhism altogether.
While telling the audience to “treat him well”, Saddhatissa claimed that the appointment was deliberately designed to offend Sinhala-Buddhists.
“We have no problem about his religion or nationality, treat him well. However, we should be selective in how we treat him. He could have been given another ministry but this was done to hurt the Sinhala-Buddhist people,” he said.
The monk went on to condemn the NPP government’s use of English in official communication, criticising ministers who he claimed were neglecting Sinhala.
“Certain people who were shouting in Parliament and opposing policing are trying to bring the same back. So, brothers and sisters, this is not an easy task for us. Yesterday, I saw another mistake was made and I thought they will make it right, but they responded in English! Can’t they be without speaking in English? Or is it an illness?” he said.
Saddhatissa heads Ravana Balaya, a Sinhala-Buddhist supremacist organisation known for its involvement in anti-Muslim and anti-Tamil campaigns. The group has previously been linked to violent nationalist movements and has often aligned itself with the political establishment in defending Sinhala-Buddhist dominance.
