President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that most non-Buddhists were conducting their religious activities in places, which belonged to Buddhist temples or sacred lands.

“The Venerable Buddhist priests have given these lands to non-Buddhists because Buddhism teaches us to give donations. We are ready to donate at any time as Buddhists. The Maha Sanga and all Buddhists are free of no racialism and regionalism,” the president said, addressing an event at the Balapokuna Temple in Kirulapone.

The president’s office in a statement quoting the president also said, “When we go to some temples we can see a diminishing number of benefactors. I think this is mainly because people think of their economy.”

He further said the reason for reducing the contributors at the temples was that the hereditary people in the areas had left the area and settled down in other places without thinking of their ancestor’s properties. “Our nation, country and religion will be saved when the people discontinue this migration. Now the time has come to hold these types of ceremonies without fear and suspicion as already we have ended the thirty year era of terrorism. Now it is time for people of all races and religions to live together. We have no racialism,” the president said.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)