Two of Sri Lanka’s three main Buddhist Sects said yesterday (16) that they will not participate at an official level in the upcoming Sangha conference organised by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, citing the absence of formal invitations.

Siam Sect Asgiri Chapter Supreme Sangha Council Secretary, Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera told The Daily Morning the Sect had not received an invitation to the conference. “We cannot decide on participation without a formal invitation. However, individual monks may attend,” he said.

Similarly, the Amarapura Sect’s Secretary, Ven. Balapitiya Siri Seevali Thera, speaking to The Daily Morning, said there has been no official invitation extended to their Sect either. “There has not been an official invitation. If we are to attend at an official level, the Mahanayaka (Chief Prelate) of the respective Sect should attend. What we can say is that any Buddhist monk can attend, but, there will not be any official attendance.”

A Sangha conference is scheduled to be held on Friday, 20 February, at the Headquarters of the ACBC in Colombo. The event aims to bring together members of the Buddhist clergy and the lay community to discuss what the organisers describe as injustices faced by Buddhist monks, the Buddha Sasana (the doctrine), and the country at present.