Bills postponed at request of Mahanayakes: President

President Maithripala Sirisena speaking at the opening of the Sambuddha Jayanthi Commemoration Centre in Kurukele, Peradeniya yesterday, stressed that the presentation of the Buddhist Temporalities (Amendment) Bill and the Theravada Kathikawath Bill in Parliament was postponed at the request of the Mahanayakes of the three chapters, and added that the government would always act according to the advice of the Maha Sangha.

The Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Most Ven Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana, the Anunayake of the Malwatte Chapter, the Ven Divulkumbure Wimaladamma Thera and the Maha Sangha were present at the event, together with Central Province Governor Niluka Ekanayake,CP Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake and former prime minister D.M. Jayarathne. The President added, “I informed the Minister of Buddha Sasana that the presentation of these bills in parliament should be postponed, as we felt that we should obtain the advice and ideas of the Mahanayakes. We were concerned that a debate or any confrontation with the Sangha should be avoided and postponed the presentation of these bills indefinitely”

The chief prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Most Ven Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera thanked the President, the Prime Minister and the government for settling this issue amicably, by not presenting the two bills in parliament.

The Anunayake Of the Malwatte Chapter, the Ven Divulkumbure Wimaladamma Thera also praised the government for refraining from presentating the two bills without the concurrence of the Mahanayakes.