Seventeen Buddhist organisations have come out strongly against all major political parties for not giving prominence in their election manifestos to problems faced by Buddhists, particularly external threats from what they call anti-Buddhist forces.

“Manifestos have been issued by political parties but it is unfortunate that none of them has attempted to declare their stand on the ever increasing threats to the Buddha Sasana by anti Buddhist forces,” the Joint Committee of Buddhist Organisations (JCBO) said in a statement.

The committee called on the Buddhists to use “their ‘manape’ only in favour of those Buddhist candidates who are prepared to bravely and unashamedly assure them if elected, to highlight in Parliament the challenges to Buddhism and do everything within their power to find solutions to these challenges.”