The Silent Positives of the Sanga Samuluwa As a Christian who values building strong relationships with both clergy and laity across different faiths, I hold deep respect for interreligious harmony. To me, violent or unruly behavior — regardless of the faith it comes from — is incompatible with the spirit of true religion. It is from this perspective that I reflect on the recent Sanga Samuluwa held last week at the ACBC in Colombo 7, under the leadership of Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero. The gathering was expected to draw a large number of Buddhist monks. Instead, the depleted attendance revealed something far more significant: a quiet but powerful statement about the state of the Sangha today. Silent Dissent Speaks Volumes The absence of the majority of monks was no accident. It was a deliberate act of dissent, a refusal to endorse divisive rhetoric that blames other religions for Buddhism’s challenges. Their non-participation was a conscious choice to distance themsel...