The mastermind, Ranmuthugala Amithananda Thero, is also revealing old deeds.

Is there any social shock greater than a group of individuals, clad in robes to protect the pristine vision of the Buddha, falling into the dark abyss of drug trafficking?

Twenty-two robed individuals who brought a consignment of Kush and Hash drugs, weighing over 110 kilograms and worth millions of rupees, into Sri Lanka have now been apprehended by the law and are undergoing questioning under a seven-day detention order. Amithananda of Ranmuthugala Temple, considered the main suspect, was also arrested yesterday in the Gampaha area, and this entire operation was orchestrated by a small group consisting of him and two other monks.

The most tragic aspect of this incident is that many of those involved are young monks aged between 19 and 28. Amithananda and other traffickers meticulously planned through WhatsApp groups and took innocent young monks residing in remote areas on luxurious foreign trips to Bangkok, Thailand. There, they were provided with all necessary comforts, and at the last moment, 22 bags containing these drugs were handed to them to bring back to Sri Lanka. Amithananda was ready to receive the drug consignment outside the airport with a van, but the conspiracy was thwarted by the intervention of an alert police officer.

This is not a one-off, random incident. Investigating officers have now confirmed that this same group had previously used 12 monks on two occasions to bring drugs from Bangkok. The drugs brought in this manner were handed over to a house in the Athurugiriya area, and the Anti-Narcotics Bureau is currently inspecting that house. It is very clear that these traffickers have shamelessly exploited the deep respect and lenient checks shown towards Buddhist monks at the airport and by security forces in a Buddhist country like Sri Lanka, to achieve their objectives.

What is the true tragedy behind some monks getting involved in such a massive crime for a paltry sum like eighty thousand rupees? On the other hand, how did these young monks travel abroad without the proper permission of a chief monk from any sect or temple, which is a serious problem. Although some parties try to portray this as a deliberately laid trap, it is not practical for no suspicion to arise when 22 identical bags are brought in at once. Therefore, who the real masterminds and the main drug purchasers are remains a mystery.

If the invisible hand of this drug trafficking, which destroys society under the guise of the sacred robe, is not severed, tomorrow we will lose not only the future of the country but also the supreme respect held for thousands of virtuous and true monks.