Because at a time when the Sinhalese had degenerated into sloth and complacency, and totally given up fighting the gargantuan might of the colonizer, succumbing to their pressures with passive submission; when a strong missionary influence was attempting to turn the Buddhist island into its Christian faith; when many were converting for material gain and making it a status symbol, while Buddhists were made to feel second rate, Dharmapala came forward alone; roaring like an enraged lion to convulse his people to get up and give up their imbecilic fear of the ‘white man’. Read more...