PM to present new bill on religious freedom

Kapila Somaratne

PANADURA: Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said the implementation of the recommendations of the Buddhist commission report was under consideration. But there are obstacles the government has to overcome to implement it as the Sri Lanka constitution guarantees freedom to embrace a religion of one's choice. However he was considering tabling a bill in parliament in respect of some of the recommendations found in the Buddhist commission report.

Addressing a Daham Hamuwa at Vivekanandaramaya Bandiya temple at Wekada, Panadura recently, the Prime Minister pointed out that bill needs 2/3 majority for its approval. He laid the foundation stone to construct the three storeyed building for the Sunday school and vocational institute.

Prime Minister said during the period of Sinhalese Kings a concrete relationship existed between the temples and the public. Today it does not exist.

It is important to rebuild the rapport between the temple and the public to develop a peaceful society.

Wickremanayake said the new bill will consider all the recommendations of the Buddhist Commission. Most students attend private tuition classes on Sunday, and as a result it is difficulty to operate Sunday schools. The Mahasanga want laws to prevent tuition on Sundays.

This is difficult to do. Even the attorney general had advised him over the difficulty of implementing certain recommendations of the Buddhist Commission and the closing of private tuition classes on Sunday. The only remedy is for parent to advise their children to attend Sunday schools and refrain from private tuition on Sundays.

Wickremanayake paid tribute to the Mahasanga for building the character of children to reflect Buddhas teaching. Jathika Helaurumaya Parliamentarian Venerable Athuraliye Rathana thera said members of the clergy entered parliament to win the demands of the Buddhists in our country.

All the governments since 1948 deprived the rights of Buddhists and the Mahasanga in our country. If Mahasanga did not come forward the entire country would become corrupt. Drug traffickers influence certain politicians in the country. Mahasanga had requested most governments to enforce law to close down private tuition classes on Sundays because it is difficult to operate Sunday schools in temples.

Illicit liquor dens are increasing in the country and policemen protect these businessmen. The law should be strictly implemented to eradicate illicit liquor and drugs.

Venerable Thera said the sole aim of the Jathika Helaurumaya is to build characters of the younger generation in a way that they will become good Buddhists following the Panchaseelaya. Nihal Jinasena Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs and Venerable Rajakeeya Panditha Rekawa Gunasiri Thera, Mahanayake of Matara Saddaramarikaya addressed the meeting.