Recognising the invaluable social discipline rendered by Sri Lanka's religious leaders

In countries like Sri Lanka, with a history stretching back millennia, the true bedrock of social stability and order lies in the unpaid, pervasive service of its religious leaders The reality is that a significant volume of wrongdoing, including crimes against women and children and endemic minor corruption, remains stubbornly unreported Religious leaders, be they Buddhist monks (Bhikkhus), Hindu priests (Kurukkals), Islamic clergy (Ulama), or Christian pastors, are widely respected figures of integrity and moral authority

- By Maj. Gen. Dr. Boniface Perera

In the complex tapestry of modern nation-states, governance is often viewed through the narrow lens of policy, legislation, and enforcement agencies. Yet, in countries like Sri Lanka, with a history stretching back millennia, the true bedrock of social stability and order lies not in the paid bureaucracy, but in the unpaid, pervasive service of its religious leaders. This extensive, voluntary network of moral guidance spanning Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, and Christian faiths acts as a critical, unpriced pillar that keeps the social fabric whole, preventing a descent into unmanageable crime that no government treasury could ever afford to police.

The sheer scale of this contribution is illuminated when juxtaposed with the nation's crime statistics.

With a population of approximately 21.8 million, the Department of Census and Statistics records the annual grave crimes (homicide, rape, robbery) in 2023 at 44,939, While this figure, and the incarceration rate (which shows only about 0.17% of the population currently in jail), might suggest a relatively low level of overt criminality, it is a profoundly misleading measure.

The reality is that a significant volume of wrongdoing, including crimes against women and children and endemic minor corruption, remains stubbornly unreported. Furthermore, as per Department of Prison, in 2024 convicted admission numbers indicated as 47783 and un-convicted as 135550. This statistics suggests that the majority of the prison population comprises of unconvicted individuals awaiting trial, pointing to a justice system struggling with its caseload. In this context of stretched resources and hidden societal ills, the vast majority of the population the 99% who are not incarcerated and who do not feature in crime reports are held in check by a force far older and subtler than the penal code: the fear and habit of moral righteousness instilled by their religious teachings.