Previously
In the 3rd century BCE Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka by Arahant Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka. Shortly after his arrival, King Devanampiya Tissa embraced the faith, leading to Buddhism’s flourishing on the island.
However, despite being one of the oldest continuous civilisations, Buddhism experienced periods of decline, notably a significant drop in the number of fully ordained monks, which required new ordination lineages to be imported.
This decline was compounded by rising Christian missionary activity and a decrease in the respect for Buddhist monks and educational institutions. A revival emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries, spearheaded by figures like Ven. Mohottivatte Gunananda, Ven. Hikkaḍuve Sumangala, Anagārika Dharmapāla, and Henry Steel Olcott, aimed to reestablish Buddhism's influence and resist British colonial rule.
The independence achieved in 1948 was marked by the celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Buddha’s death. The religious fervor that preceded and followed the event—the Buddha Jayanti—led to the creation of new Buddhist institutions and centers of learning as well as the further entanglement of Buddhism and the state.
The Story Reverses
Although there was growth and development of the Buddhist religion on the island, it also led to ethnic tensions, a more recent one being the conflict between Sinhalese Buddhists and Sri Lankan Tamils that resulted in a civil war lasting more than twenty years from 1983 to 2009.
Although the Civil War ended in 2009, the current situation in Sri Lanka has only partially improved. A large portion of the Tamil population remains displaced. While there are fewer political and civil rights issues, instances of torture and enforced disappearances persist even in recent years.
The Sri Lankan government has alienated the Tamil minority since the civil war ended, but, more recently, it has come to disappoint its Sinhalese constituency as well. The government's actions since the end of the civil war have become increasingly undemocratic for Tamils and Sinhalese alike.
Recent Disputes and Shifts in Politics
In 2022, Sri Lanka plunged into its most severe economic crisis since gaining independence. The nation faced widespread shortages of essential goods, including fuel, leading to frequent power outages and a staggering annual inflation rate of 50%.
The scarcity of foreign currency reserves severely impacted the country's ability to import crucial resources, causing a ripple effect across various sectors.
The fuel crisis had far-reaching consequences, with prices skyrocketing and essential services like public transportation and medical vehicles struggling to operate. As the situation worsened, Sri Lanka found itself unable to purchase goods from international markets or secure additional loans due to its precarious financial position.
The economic turmoil sparked massive protests across the country, culminating in the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in June 2022. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe stepped in as acting president, declaring a nationwide state of emergency to address the crisis.
Ranil Wickremesinghe's (RW) Economic Policies
RW's manifesto is primarily aspirational, similar to most manifestos, but it also distinctively details his efforts over the past two years to stabilize the economy. He underscores the passage of 100 new laws, highlighting significant achievements in legislation related to the Central Bank, Economic Transformation, Anti-Corruption, Public Debt Management, Electricity, and Public Finance Management.
The Theravada Economy
His economic philosophy is rooted in the Theravada Trade economy, which he describes as a system based on Theravada principles that was practiced during the Kingdom of Rajarata in ancient Sri Lanka (600 BC to 1300 AD). The system's core feature was trading, with Sri Lanka serving as a key economic hub in the Indian Ocean. This focus on trade, along with other aspects of the manifesto, reflects the Social Market Economy ideology that Ranil Wickremesinghe strongly advocated during the Yahapalana government.
He reaffirms his commitment to adhering to the agreements made with the IMF, including clearing Treasury arrears within three months, refraining from printing Central Bank money, implementing cost-reflective energy pricing, funding non-commercial obligations of state-owned enterprises through Treasury transfers, and maintaining a minimum threshold for social transfer spending.
Additionally, the third monarch's duty as stated in Chakkavati Sutta mentions; unrighteous actions must be prohibited, such that there are preventive and remedial measures against exploitation, corruption, or unrest in the country. RW aims to reduce corruption risks by implementing many of the IMF’s priority recommendations on governance.
The manifesto also addresses the devolution of power and resources to regions. Referencing the Chakkavati Sutta and Digha Nikaya, he emphasizes Buddhist ethical guidance for rulers, such as providing fair protection to all groups and ensuring that all citizens can earn an honest living.
Under the Urumaya programme, RW plans to grant land ownership to 2 million people, including residents of government-owned low-income housing in Colombo. This distribution of land and property rights is seen as crucial for economic growth and mitigating issues like the fragmentation of land, which hampers agricultural productivity.
What's Next
Although Ranil Wickremesinghe's manifesto draws inspiration from Buddhist values and ethics in areas like economic reform, women's empowerment, health, and education, its true test will be in the implementation of policies for the benefit of all Sri Lankan citizens.
The 20-year civil war and its aftermath have painted an alarming picture of the country's challenges. Therefore, Buddhist ethics and principles must be properly aligned to benefit everyone, not just a particular lineage or family.
The manifesto's success will depend on how effectively it addresses the needs of all communities, including minorities and those affected by the long-standing conflict. While the Theravada economy concept and references to Buddhist teachings provide an ethical framework, the real measure of success will be in translating these ideals into inclusive and equitable policies.
Given Sri Lanka's recent economic crisis and political turmoil, the government faces the formidable task of rebuilding trust and fostering national unity. The implementation of proposed reforms, particularly in areas like anti-corruption measures, devolution of power, and land ownership, will be critical in determining whether the manifesto's Buddhist-inspired vision can truly bring about positive change for all Sri Lankans.