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| Friday, 10 September 2004 |
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| Govt will not abolish Poya holiday Minister of Cultural and National Heritage Vijitha Herath yesterday said the Government will not abolish the Full Moon Poya Holiday. He was replying to a question raised in Parliament by Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)'s Acting Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Udawe Dhammaloka Thera who made a statement referring to an alleged proposal of the Government to abolish the holiday on Full Moon Poya Day. "There is no such proposal to abolish the holiday on Full Moon Poya Day", said Minister Herath stressing that the Government has no intention to do so. "Besides, our Government has taken steps to stop all tuition and private classes for students upto Ordinary Level (O/L) on Sundays to enable those students belonging to any religion to attend Sunday religious schools," said the Minister. He said this step would enable students from any religion to obtain further knowledge on the religion. "Also, our Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar had already submitted a proposal to the United Nations to make Vesak Full Moon Poya Day an international holiday", he added. In his statement, Ven. Dhammaloka Thera said a Government member had made a remark that poya holiday would be abolished. Minister Herath also condemned a Hollywood movie which had used the image of the Buddha in a disgraceful manner. Drawing the attention of the House towards a latest film titled "Hollywood Buddha", Minister Herath told Parliament that all should join together to protest against and condemn the film. "Already, Buddhists in Thailand have launched a protest against this film", said Minister Herath adding that he would be taking measures to lodge a protest against this film. The Minister said he was expecting to lodge his protest to the USA through the US Embassy in Sri Lanka and to urge for action against this kind of films which caused sacrilege other religions. |
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