The decision by the government to withdraw military personnel from duties at Buddhist temples has been welcomed as a progressive move by K.W. Janaranjana, Editor-in-Chief of Anidda newspaper.
In a video statement on Anidda’s YouTube channel, Janaranjana emphasised that the state should no longer assign members of the armed forces to temple-related services.
“Following the end of the war, tri-forces personnel were deployed to various activities, including maintenance and support roles at temples. However, it is important to recognise that this arrangement is no longer appropriate,” he said.
He further noted that the military should focus on its core duties related to national security, while religious sites should be managed independently by relevant civilian authorities.