Clergy in politics: Ranil meets JHU

3 July 2012 01:20 pm

Opposition United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has held talks with the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on the private member’s motion to be tabled in Parliament by UNP front-liner Wijedasa Rajapakse.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said the motion sought to ban the clergy of all religions from taking part in active politics.
Mr. Attanayake said at Monday’s meeting, the JHU delegation led by Minister Patali Chmipka Ranawaka had requested that the motion be reconsidered and not tabled in Parliament.
However, the UNP delegation led by Mr. Wickremesinghe had told the JHU that the UNP would take a decision on the matter when the Bill is taken up for debate.
Mr. Attanayake said the UNP said members had a right to present a private member’s motion and as such would not stop Mr. Rajapaksa from presenting the motion. (Yohan Perera)