Mihintale monk's 'Harini Appa' speech that drew criticism Text

About 11 days ago, the Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, Most Venerable Walawahangunawewe Dhammaratana Thero, made a statement on YouTube, mercilessly condemning Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya with obscene language. Critical responses to this speech were published in recent days, and when Minister Lal Kantha spoke about it, it was hinted that this monk was referred to as 'the savage of Mihintale'.Currently, these statements have caused a great stir. Below is the complete text transcript of the Mihintale Thero's critical statement.

"May the Triple Gem bless you! Happy New Year!

Now is the time when the people of our country must prepare to make their country prosperous. For the country to be prosperous, for the country to be made prosperous, all those in the country who love children, who love religion and dharma, must awaken for this cause. The time has now come.

I say that because a year ago, that is, in 2024, we warned about this new government. Several of our venerable monks made statements about this. They have been recorded. Watch them re-broadcast. We spoke then about the aim and objective of this secular state.

The aim and objective of this government is to introduce these distorted sexual activities to all the people, all religions, and all children in this country. We mentioned this in 2024. At that time, we were accused in various ways. It's okay, we informed the people of the country by stating everything as it truly was. We spoke then about the fate they would face if legal power was given to these people. Now, everything we said is being proven with examples, as clear as day.

These are not the burning issues of this country. It must be specifically mentioned, 'homosexual' or 'gay' as it is called. In English, men are called 'gay', and women are called 'lesbian'. We have no problem with that. We have no discrimination or issue regarding their rights. That is their right. We have no problem with them doing it in any way, distorted or normal, according to their mental state.

However, their aim is to forcibly introduce such sexual activities into this country. Are these necessary in schools? We know that there used to be a subject called 'Health Science'. At that time, all these things were included in Health Science. Later, these became separate subjects. I will say this in Sinhala, as the raw truth. In previous governments too, there were 'stone masons' (ගල් බාස්ලා - a derogatory term for gay men). There were skilled 'stone masons' who could cut any stone, who could exist with a chisel, representing the government and opposition in parliament. Similarly, there were many who ran 'hoppers shops' (ආප්ප කඩ - another derogatory term). So, there's no problem with that, it's their right. But the problem is bringing these into children's education.

Don't play with the country's education policy. I remember a long time ago, a decision given by our former Chief Justice, Mrs. Shirani Bandaranayake, regarding children in grades 12 or 13. On that day, Education Secretary Gotabhaya Jayaratne and his group played a game with the children. Afterwards, professional activists and people who love the country united and filed a case in the Supreme Court. I was also in the Supreme Court at that time. She stated, "Don't play with the school children." These young children are the future of the country. It was because Mrs. Shirani Bandaranayake gave that decision that people without any qualifications were brought into parliament and efforts were made to remove her.

Now it's going the same way. It's on the same track. But the previous ones were a bit better; there's nothing to gain from these people. The wrong people have been placed in these subjects and these ministries.

Let me give the best example about the Ministry of Buddha Sasana. By now, the letterhead of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana should also be removed. The minister is now saying that there is no such thing. So, remove 'Ministry of Buddha Sasana' and put 'Religious Affairs'. There are several problems here. The secretary has sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating that from January 1st, our Bhikkhus and Sil Mathas (nuns) do not need a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Religious Affairs to obtain visas. It seems facilities have been provided to obtain visas.

Look at the danger of this. As Bhikkhus, we have Nikayas (sects), factions, and Sangha headquarters. Four Most Venerable Mahanayaka Theros reside in this country. Previously, when we needed to obtain visas to go abroad, we would take a recommendation letter from them and go to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana. Then, the secretary there would give a recommendation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying, "Issue visas to these monks, the recommendation from the Mahanayaka Thero has been received."

But now I will read the letter sent by the Ministry. Subject: Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. It states: "Honorable Monks, Nuns, hitherto, the Ministry has issued recommendation letters to embassies for personal foreign travel for Buddhist monks and nuns in this country. However, under the common procedure applicable to all other religious clergy and the general public, all embassies have been informed to issue visas to Buddhist monks and nuns without a recommendation letter. This has been communicated to me by letter No. PR/22/CP/ORT/2025 from the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. Accordingly, from January 1, 2026, recommendation letters for obtaining visas will not be issued to embassies, and we respectfully inform that visa applications can be made under the existing common procedure." (Signed: M. Nalika P. Gunaratne, Additional Secretary - Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs)

Here, sir, what happens now is that anyone can get a passport illegally, wear a robe illegally, and go wearing any kind of robe without a recommendation. Such things happen in this country. This is being done to break the power of the Mahanayaka Theros. It needs to be brought to the attention of our Most Venerable and Sacred Mahanayaka Theros, that this is the officially granted power that is being taken away from you.

These things are being done from January 1st, not by the sole decision of the secretary; it is the government, including the President or Harini Amarasuriya, who are doing these. A secretary cannot make sole decisions. Now a secretary is trying to resign after getting into trouble. In the past, two secretaries were jailed for 'distributing white cloths' and 'distributing sil' (precepts). In the end, officials are sacrificed, like "water flows to the lowest point."

The people of our country, the fourfold assembly of Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, Upasakas, and Upasikas, must understand this. There is no problem with party or color differences; at this moment, just remember "my children, our children."

After these incidents, various accusations were leveled against our Mahanayaka Theros as well. But they acted when necessary. The four Mahanayaka Theros united and sent a letter to the President. At that time, the President was not in the country. Later, at a ceremony at Asgiri Maha Viharaya, in the presence of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the President said, "Such a thing will not happen." However, what was said is exactly what has happened.

To the President, I say, these are actions that bring misfortune. Develop some discipline, some order. Don't be a puppet in the hands of some 'snake charmer' (කූතාඩියෙක්ගේ - a derogatory term) elsewhere. The snake charmers are on the side; it's the snake, mongoose, and monkey there that dance. Don't you dance in that manner.

In our lifetime, we have seen how the very earth shook for such lies. When we talk about the indirect destruction these people are doing to the Buddha Sasana, some will awaken, some will scold us. That's not a problem. The President deceived the Sacred Tooth Relic even yesterday. He received the blessings of the Mahanayaka Theros. But all this is false. These people operate on the principle of "Buddha's rays in the mouth - venison in the stomach" (Hakkē Budu Ras - Bokkē Daḍamas - hypocrisy).

When the mothers come out, they will be ready to surround and chase these people away. One person is destroying education in this country, another is destroying the Buddha Sasana. The Buddha Sasana is not even receiving 'stepmotherly treatment'; it's worse than that.

Every ruler who came after independence listened to some extent. But these people don't listen. They are stubborn. They are trying to lead the country astray.

To all mothers and fathers in the country, those who voted and those who didn't, I say, these people must be defeated in the upcoming elections. Winning the budget means taking this country into darkness, into an abyss, and into sexual perversion. This is just one subject; there are about 12 to 14 other subjects. Look at what's in these books. These people's desire is for a girl child to sleep with another girl child, and a boy child to sleep with another boy child (Harini's desire).

Mother, Father, this will create a generation addicted to drugs and rampant with sexually transmitted diseases. These people want to turn this into a 'Zombie Land', a zombie country. Their hope is to create children without religion and without a nation.

We informed them. Education reforms cannot be done as desired by 'stone masons' or 'hoppers shop owners'. What do young children in grade 6 know? When children are told to go to websites and look, today's children are becoming mentally ill. Just the other day, parents called me and said they had to take their children to mental health doctors.

There are 365 more days. Who is responsible for this? We went with the wave and gave power to terrorists. There are many accused individuals in the Ministry of Education, political parties, and the JVP (Jathika Jana Balawegaya - National People's Power). This whole bunch is destroying the country. We said from the beginning that religion is over, and the country is over. The Prime Minister says she doesn't know, the secretary goes to the Criminal Investigation Department, the President says something else.

To the people of the country, I say, these people must be completely driven out. Otherwise, by 2027, a segment called 'non-religious' will emerge. These people are planning to reduce Buddhism to 50% and remove the clause in the constitution that protects Buddhism. This is a work orchestrated by the 'snake charmer' (කූතාඩියා) abroad, at the behest of the diaspora and NGOs. The snake is here. It strikes and bites whenever it wants.

Our Mahanayaka Theros, do not be deceived by these people. With your permission, do not let them come. They must be beaten and driven out. It's just like Prabhakaran; peace talks don't work. In the end, it was finished with war. What couldn't be done in 88/89, and 71, they are now trying to do legally.

Dear countrymen, rise up! It doesn't matter if you wear rags, just rise up. Even if you beg for food, even if your underwear has holes, it doesn't matter, rise up against this hateful rule. These people are trying to fulfill their hatred.

Think about the tragic fate that is about to befall Buddhism, the Sinhala nation, and young children. These people don't know how to educate or govern the country. There are mothers without children, fathers without children, women without husbands; they cause no harm. But it's the same for this group who gained power; they don't understand the value of children. Harini wants to legalize the homosexual and 'hoppers shop' culture.

Therefore, those 'hoppers shops' should be closed, and the old, moral education system should be brought back. University lecturers helped these people thinking it would be good for the country. But we said from the beginning that their aim was to implement a secular and homosexual agenda.

Now the dowry has been given. Whether to carry it on their shoulders or put it down and beat these people away, the people of the country must decide."