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Message: <blockquote data-quote="netlife007" data-source="post: 16946247" data-attributes="member: 79514">[FONT=&quot]UNDERMINING  BUDDHISTS[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]In the early decades  of the 19th century, the Christian influence was dominant in the country,  especially in Colombo. Conversion of Buddhists to Christianity was a common  practice during this period. Many converted for personal material benefits and  also adopted Christian names. The British administration accorded greater  opportunities for Christians to progress in life, with better education and  better employment opportunities. [/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Christian  missionaries envisaged that the most effective way of converting Buddhists was  through church-based schools. The British colonial administration encouraged and  assisted this venture. The Missionaries enjoyed absolute freedom to propagate  Christianity by opening schools throughout the country. Buddhist children  attending these schools had bible lessons as a component of their school  curriculum. They were also exposed to various Christian rituals, festivities and  activities held in the church associated with the school. Both children and  their parents were exposed to the special privileges and opportunities available  for the school’s Christian children, especially for those intending to pursue  higher studies or seeking employment in the public service. Inevitably, many  Buddhist students eventually embraced Christianity in later life.[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]By the third decade  of the 19th century, there were more Christian missionary schools in the  country, assisted by the British administration, as compared to Buddhist schools  and pirivena schools combined which had negligible assistance from government.  There were government Sinhala medium schools which were used primarily by the  Buddhists, but none were established in the Kandyan provinces which were almost  exclusively traditional Buddhist areas. [/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]ENGLISH AS MEDIUM OF  INSTRUCTION[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]In 1832, the British  administration made English the medium of instruction in all government schools  which led to the closure of all government Sinhala medium schools used by  Buddhist children. They opened English medium schools in urban centres in  Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Chilaw and Jaffna districts.  At this time,  the British established the Colombo Academy or the present Royal College with  the primary objective of producing English teachers for the new schools. The  establishment of Catholic and Christian Missionary schools in the English medium  also increased rapidly during this time, with assistance from the colonial  administration.[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]As far as  opportunities for better employment, especially in the public sector, English  education was an essential requirement.  Also, Christians were  accorded preferential treatment when it came to higher learning and better  employment. It is reported that owing to the establishment of English schools  and the preferential treatment accorded to those with English education and of  Christian faith, the tendency was for many thousands of Sinhala Buddhists  children who attended English medium schools to become Christians. As a counter  measure, the initiative of Buddhist scholar monks, several Buddhist schools were  started in different places in the country but they were faced with severe  challenges. It is reported that in 1870, there were only two Buddhist schools in  the country, in Panadura and Dodanduwa with an attendance of 246 children as  against 805 Christian schools with an attendance of 78,086 children.[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]The intensity of  conversion activities was such that in 1850, James de Alwis, Sinhala scholar,  lawyer and theologian said that "before the end of the century Buddhism would  disappear from Ceylon". The Christian churches carried out a widespread campaign  of propagating Christianity and discrediting and humiliating Buddhist teachings.  It was customary for Christian priests to deliver public talks undermining  Buddhism, which were openly insulting, abusive and vituperative. [/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT]</blockquote>

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