Reportedly, 22 young Buddhist monks from temples across Sri Lanka were sponsored a 4-day trip to Thailand by a businessman. On returning from their trip and landing at Sri Lanka, they were arrested for allegedly smuggling ‘kush,’ a powerful and potent plant-based strain of cannabis. Custom officers found 110 kg hidden in the false walls of baggage and the monks were handed over to the police. The news is shocking since no one would expect monks to smuggle drugs. Perhaps this was the reason and modus operandi used by the businessman or whoever, to have turned the monks into ‘mules,’ to smuggle cannabis. Instead of achieving a spiritual awakening, unfortunately the youngsters got trapped in worldly ways for no fault of theirs. Perhaps it would be prudent if the heads of religious institutions be wary if someone sponsors a trip. They could inform the funders to donate the money instead of offering sojourns to countries, and the money could be used in a befitting manner.
