Features

Gross groveling to a politician and delaying a most deserving Bhikkhu

Published

3 years ago

2023/06/11

I am well aware that this utterly disgraceful fiasco I mean to write about has been exposed more than a week ago and many know the full story. I also know that the Ajahn Brahm Society of Sri Lanka (ABS) will disapprove of my exposing Sri Lanka’s collective disgrace yet again; but I just have to write about it so we don’t typically forget such and conveniently wipe out the shame of it. It is merciful Ajahn Brahm will not see this as it is rumoured he phoned the SL President to not punish anyone.

MTV Channel news in both languages also relayed a message from him in which he said there was no necessity to conduct an inquiry into the incident, leave alone punish people. “Instead the Sri Lankan government can conduct an inquiry on how they can have a better country with more forgiveness.” He also said mistakes will be made. So here for me is the crux of the matter. A mistake was made at Katunayaka Airport that caused him to miss his flight and delayed him by 12 hours. Unlike us Sri Lankans to whom time does not seem to matter and we take delays and standing around almost as a given, foreigners – even monks – have busy schedules and keep to them.

My last Sunday’s column was one of admiration, praise and gratitude to Ajahn Brahm and those who organized and facilitated his very busy nine days in the Island, helping us to better understand the Dhamma and also meditate. I am going against his and the Buddha’s teaching of being mindful and forgiving. But I am unable to put the shame and yes anger, aside. As a persistent woman, I will have my way and write about the BIA debacle.

What I read in a newspaper item was this: “Despite initial reports that Ven. Ajahn Brahm had been delayed at the BIA due to the presence of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardane at the

airport, sources clarified that the delay was due to Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. …. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had left the VIP lounge with an airport official. The airport official had then forgotten to assist the thera. The thera had been kept waiting for 12 hours.

“Meanwhile, the Presidential Secretariat has sought a report from Airport and Aviation (Sri Lanka) Ltd, (AASL), for delaying Singapore bound Ven Ajahn Brahmavamso at the BIA for 12 hours reportedly due to the negligence of airport officials, official sources said.” “We will handle the incident officially as a minister was also involved and will make a statement to the media in a few days, an AASL official said.”

And the statement, dated 1 June 2023 issued from Colombo, went thus: “Sri Lankan Airlines would like to clarify that a story currently circulating on social media about the airline mishandling the travel of Ven Ajahn Brahm is completely false. The Ven Ajahn Brahm was booked on a different airline when the unfortunate delay occurred at the BIA in the early hours of 31 May 2023. Sri Lankan Airlines, however, promptly stepped up and went beyond to help Ven Ajahn Brahm find an alternative flight. SL Airlines therefore reiterated that the Ven Thero was not originally booked to travel to Bangkok.”

Gaping holes could be picked in the statement. The announcement to be valid and accepted should have given at least bare details of the ‘different airline’ that Ajahn Brahm was supposed to have taken and what his destination was. Also the official report states that “a story currently circulating on social media about the airline mishandling the travel of Ven Ajahn Brahm is completely false.” Note that please. Now it is known that airport officials came to the VIP lounge and conducted Nimal Siripala de Silva to the plane that was being boarded and grossly overlooked conducting the Ven Thera to the same plane on which he was booked to travel.

Maybe there was no tom tom beating procession escorting the Minister of Aviation but we can be sure there was plenty obeisance and groveling before him. That is the way of this country and its officials. It was said by Ajahn Brahm that noting the time, he enquired about his flight and then an official conducted him, only to find the doors of the plane he should have been taken to much earlier, closed. Hence his having to wait 12 hours at the airport with, we are sure, a disruption to his travel plan to Australia where his busy schedule too would have been disrupted.

To add insult to injury, I heard on MTV news on Monday June 5, the Head of the Airport and Aviation (Sri Lanka) Ltd, make an announcement about this incident. Not a word of apology to the monk; at least I heard none. The entire gist of his pronouncement was that the delay was NOT due to PM Dinesh G’s travel to Bangkok.

Then two women fed me more info. Nimal Siripala de Silva had arrived with a larger entourage to travel to Bkk, so to accommodate the Minister, Ajahn Brahm’s booked seat was pilfered, one said. The second commented that before plane doors are closed, seats are checked and if a passenger or passengers is/are missing the airport is contacted from the plane. Ajahn B’s seat was occupied, apparently!

Here is a world renowned and universally respected monk receiving piffling attention at our premier airport when all officials are duty bound and morally obliged to treat everyone with utmost courtesy and unfailing service. Due to two political bosses passing through and the customary abjectness of our people, a holy person who had given of himself to fulfill a crowded schedule of religious service to us, was neglected, overlooked and thwarted in his booked flight. Further, he had to while away half a day merely because of the carelessness, or misdeed, of officials.

Others’ opinion

For interest’s sake I googled opinions on Ven Ajahn Brahm since we admire him greatly and I wished to access other comments, if given. Here are three references I culled: “Ajahn Brahm co-founded (with Ajahn Jagaro) Bodhinyana Monastery in Serpentine. He literally contributed to the building of this monastery as he built most of the structures with his own hands alongside his fellow monastics.”

“He is an authentic master on the more cheerful end of the spectrum.”

“I owe him a huge debt of gratitude. He helped me discover Buddhism.”

“He seems to be the sort of monk I would enjoy a beer with.” (!)

“I have been following Ajahn Brahm since 2004. His kindness and wisdom really shaped my perspective on life and my practice. I love, appreciate and respect him. He is doing so much good for the world and for Buddhism.”

“I applaud his bravery in ordaining bhikkhunis even at personal cost.”

The first bhikkhuni Ajahn Brahm ordained

Ayya Vayama, who was a ten preceptor under Ayya Khema at Parappuduwa Nuns’ Island which a few of us would visit frequently, became a much respected friend of mine. She would stay with me when she needed to get her visa extended in Colombo and then later whenever she visited SL from the UK or Perth. Most unfortunately she came down with a neurological disorder after she was a recognized teaching/meditating Bhikkhuni. The last time she visited SL, she was wheel chaired by her caring friend, Bhikkhuni Seri. We kept in touch via email until she died on November 20, 2021. She was the first ten preceptor given higher ordination by Ajahn Brahm.

Here below is her account of how she was almost forced (with a broad smile of course) to take over the supervision of the construction of a nuns’ monastery in Perth and be its head, by Ajahn Brahm through the Society he headed.

“I write as the senior Nun of the yet to be built Nuns’ Monastery, having recently accepted the invitation of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia… Though I am still a nun without a nunnery in the material sense, my heart is full of joy and gratitude for the work that has already been done on this project by so many ….offered funds for the Society to purchase the 583 acres of bushland at Gidgegannup. As an ongoing reminder of its true purpose, we have named it Dhammasara – the Heartwood of the Dhamma, a synonym for Nibbana, after a simile used by the Buddha. So, Dhammasara will be a place to practice for the attainment of Nibbana, It will primarily be for Theravadin Nuns and women who want to train to become Nuns…

I ordained as a ten preceptor nun in Sri Lanka in 1985 with Ven Piyaratana, the Chief Monk of Polgasduwa Island Hermitage, as my Preceptor, and Ven Ayya Khema as my Teacher.

I lived at Parappuduwa Nuns’ island and in several towns in the south of the country during my ten years in Sri Lanka. At the invitation of Ven Ajahn Sumedho, I spent a year at Amaravati, his monastery in England. In 1997, I returned to Australia. My deepest aspiration for this life is to attain Nibbana, and to assist others towards fulfilling their potential. So being part of this project also allowing me to express my life’s purpose, I feel immensely blessed.”

I must add here that until Dhammasara was part completed and other women moved in, Ajahn Vayama lived all alone in the vast acreage of woodland in Gidgegannup, her home a caravan.

In Sri Lanka

I have written about Ajahn Brahm earlier, and in one of those I mentioned some of our monks who have done much more than Ajahn Brahm to get us Buddhists on the correct path, teaching the pure Theravada Dhamma. We revere them and bless them all for the service they rendered to Buddhism and thus to us trying to follow the Buddha’s Teaching. Remembered by me are Ven Theros Narada, Piyadassi, Madihe Pannasiha, (Prof) Dhammavihari, Mettavihari, Vajiraramaye Nanasiha, Thalalle Chandakitti and the forest residing Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva and Damita who translated excellently Ajahn Brahm’s answers at the BMICH.

We hope they have always been treated with due respect by the government and govt officials. We are certain people respect them; and their silvath reputations are totally unblemished by the misbehavior of certain persons donning yellow robes for convenience /clout or to please big wigs. Our Sangha is truly a continuation of the Sangha the Buddha founded six centuries ago.

All News Advertisement

Up Next

Four Quad countries, France and UAE to join hands in two naval exercises to project dominance in Indo-Pacific

Don't Miss

How did we become a lawless State?

Click to comment

Features

The hard challenge of clinching a political settlement in the Middle East

Published

23 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Bruised hearts: Displaced Palestinian civilians in the Gaza.(Photo by Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Despite some sections of the Trump administration persisting with the view that the possibility could not be entirely ruled out of there being a diplomatic solution to the current US-Iran hostilities in West Asia, the skeptic could not be blamed for thinking otherwise. The intensity, scale and frequency of the tit-for-tat strikes by the antagonists over the past few days against selected military targets and civilian infrastructure in particular in West Asia make the adoption of this stance excusable.

The continuing hostilities render the mentioning of the MOU signed between the warring parties in mid-June a laughable matter. While it could very well be that the foes are wishing privately for a cessation of hostilities before long, what seems to be uppermost on their minds right now is to negotiate with each other from a position of strength. This strategy compels them to incapacitate each other militarily to the extent possible, lest they have to concede too much to each other during negotiations. Hence the stepped-up hostilities.

However, even on the question of there being a negotiated political settlement in the West Asian theatre in the longer term, the skeptic could come to be seen as scoring over the optimist. Developments on the ground account for this.

At the time of writing Israel’s Netanyahu government is going ahead in fairly care-free fashion with the establishment of more Jewish settlements in the Gaza and the West Bank, and it’s all happening under the apparently complacent gaze of the US. In fact, some quarters estimate that Israel is in control of some 65% of the Gaza Strip. Ethnic cleansing, that is, is being drastically stepped-up.

Accordingly, in terms of the power relations of West Asia, the world is almost back to the status quo of the late forties of the last century when the state of Israel was established and the Palestinians were reduced to a microscopic minority in the land they came to inhabit. Therefore, even the impartial observer would be compelled to ask: ‘Will a negotiated peace be ever possible in the Middle East?’

The humanist in the observer would prefer to answer this question in the affirmative and it is indeed the ideal stance to adopt considering the staggering human and material costs of the conflict. But the way ahead to peace could be expected to be highly hazardous and arduous. Among other odds, it would also prove an uphill endeavour to win minds and hearts.

The US’ Trump administration would need to be counted out in this pursuit. This is on account of the fact that it has been far too wayward in its management of West Asian affairs in particular over the past couple of years. Given its unpredictable character it is a matter for conjecture whether it could be counted on to live up to its commitments.

Moreover, Israel could be expected to ‘go it alone’ in the Middle East regardless of whether US help is coming or otherwise. It has indicated as much in recent times and Israel could be doubted on this score only at the doubter’s peril. Because time and again Israel has demonstrated that it could steadfastly defend its interests even single-handedly in the Middle East. History bears this out.

However, a durable alliance with the US would stand Israel in good stead. On the matter of military and intelligence assistance, for example, the US’s help proved invaluable for Israel in the past and going forward this is bound to be so as well. Moreover, it is unlikely that the Trump administration would give up on Israel, considering that a strong Israel is crucial for the furtherance of the US’ strategic and economic interests in West Asia.

But whether the above factors would have a considerable bearing on the question of working out a durable solution to the West Asian tangle is an entirely different matter. Israel, as in the case of the Palestinian enclaves, is acutely security conscious and would need to satisfy itself fully that it could live in a security environment that would guarantee its complete safety, going forward.

The Middle East is badly in need of another peace effort on the lines of the Oslo Accords of the mid-nineties that brought the key actors together and helped hammer out a solution that addressed some of their notable concerns. To be sure, that process did not prove to be the ideal answer to the tangle, but it yielded some respite to the region and drove home that one-time sworn foes could indeed negotiate with a degree of success. The West Bank authority, although falling short of fulfilling some key Palestinian aspirations, is testimony that a degree of success is possible if the intent is right.

Given the current realities of West Asia, peace-making is bound to be an uphill challenge. The violence faced in recent times by the Palestinian community, in particular, has been nothing less than mind-numbing. Merciless has been the violence visited on them by the Israeli side. In such circumstances, durable peace in the region could smack of an idealist’s dream.

Nevertheless, there needs to be urgently, a meeting of minds over the divides. The US would need to be counted out as an honest broker in bringing the sides together but the rest of the West would do well to step up to the challenge.

In this exercise the onus would be on the world’s democracies to take the initiative and doggedly stay the course. An acceptable combination would be the EU and the UN. Given their credentials, the main sides in West Asia ought to find them the least controversial.

Even if the relevant institutional and political arrangements could be shored up to take a reconciliation process forward, winning hearts and minds for the peace drive would prove a grueling challenge. Over the past few years in particular tens of thousands of hearts and minds on both sides of the divide have been bruised badly in the runaway murderous violence that has come to define the Middle East.

These badly scarred personalities would need to experience healing without much delay. It is therefore a multi-faceted challenge that is at hand. Since wide-ranging expertise would be needed in the healing process, people’s participation in peace-making, ranging over the divides, would need to be made a durable reality. It will be a time for enthroning humanity and ensuring the rejection of all forms of violence and coercion.

Features

Amazing Thailand …right here in Colombo

Published

23 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

For many Sri Lankans, Thailand is the go-to holiday — beaches, temples, food, and that famous warm hospitality.

In fact, I’ve been to Amazing Thailand 24 times myself, and was honoured with the Friends of Thailand International Media Award by the Tourism Authority of Thailand for promoting Thai tourism.

The good news I have for you today is that you don’t even need a passport to get a taste of Amazing Thailand.

The Royal Thai Embassy, in Colombo, is bringing a vibrant slice of Thailand, to the city of Colombo, with Thai Festival 2026 — a cultural experience like never before.

Whether you are an avid enthusiast of Thai culture, a total novice, or simply just interested in exploring foreign cultures, Thai Festival 2026 is going to be the perfect opportunity for you to get more than just a glimpse into one of the most celebrated cultural heritages in South East Asia. And ENTRANCE IS FREE.

The festival will be held on the 1st and 2nd of August, 2026, at Siam Nivasa, 43, C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 7, and the East Parking Area, of the Colombo Municipal Council, from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Both days will be full of live entertainment, and dispersed throughout with Thai cultural displays, including exhilarating traditional dance performances and breathtaking Muay Thai demonstrations.

Exploring art and craft specific to Thailand, tasting irresistible authentic Thai cuisine, and playing arcade games, are just a few more fun-filled events available for visitors at the festival premises.

An array of Thai products will also be available for purchase.

While at the festival, you will find Sri Lankan Alumni from Thai universities sharing their experiences with you and willing to answer any questions you might have, related to studying abroad in Thailand.

You can also register for the Muay Thai workshop that will be happening on the 7th and 8th of August, 2026, in Colombo.

Irresistible authentic Thai cuisine

Visitors can also stand a chance to win traditional Thai souvenirs, get exclusive photo opportunities, and, the big one — to enter the raffle draw, at the end of each day, for the grand prize of an all-inclusive round trip to Thailand.

Be sure to avail yourself of this exceptional opportunity and add a cultural spin to your weekend.

To keep up with the latest updates on Thai Festival 2026, head over to the Thai Festival official social media pages.

The Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo official webpage:

https://colombo.thaiembassy.org

Official social media:

Facebook: @RTEColombo

Instagram: @thaiembassysrilanka

Thai Festival official social media:

Facebook: Thai Festival in Colombo

Instagram: @thaifestival_colombo

TikTok: @thaifestival.incolombo

Features

Thicker, stronger hair …

Published

23 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hair fall, in this heat, can be so frustrating, and noticing a thin patch is even more worrying. The good news is … yes, with a little care and kitchen ingredients, you can nourish your scalp and support healthy regrowth.

Try these four easy home remedies … even our grandmothers trusted:

* Coconut Oil and Curry Leaves Tonic:

Warm 04 tablespoons of coconut oil, with a handful of curry leaves, till the leaves turn black. Cool, strain, and massage into scalp 02-03 times a week. Leave for 01 hour, or overnight.

Why:

Coconut oil deeply nourishes, while curry leaves help strengthen roots and add shine.

* Onion Juice for Spot Treatment:

With cotton, dab the juice of 01 small onion, directly on the thin/bald patches. Leave for 20-30 minutes, and then wash with a mild shampoo. Use twice a week.

Why:

Rich in sulfur, onion juice helps boost blood circulation to the scalp.

* Aloe Vera and Castor Oil Mask:

Mix 02 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel and 01 tablespoon castor oil and apply to the scalp, focusing on thinning areas. Leave for 45 minutes, and then rinse with cool water.

Why:

Aloe vera soothes the scalp, while castor oil coats hair to make it look thicker.

* Fenugreek and Curd Strengthening Pack:

You will need 02 tablespoons fenugreek seeds, soaked overnight, and 02 tablespoons plain curd.

Grind to a paste, apply to scalp for 30 minutes, and then wash.

Why:

Fenugreek strengthens strands and reduces breakage.

Extra Tips for Healthy Hair:

Avoid tight hairstyles that pull on the scalp.

Eat iron and protein rich foods: greens, dhal, eggs, fish.

Use lukewarm water, not hot.

Be gentle when brushing and drying.