Merv says no to monks

1 August 2010 02:39 am

By Jamila Najmuddin

Deputy Highways Minister Mervyn Silva says Buddhist monks should not enter Parliament as, in his opinion, by doing so the monks lose the respect given to the clergy.

The controversial Deputy Minister, in an interview with Daily Mirror online, opined that he did not oppose sports and film stars entering Parliament even without being involved in politics or having any political background.

However he says he is “disappointment” to see Buddhist monks in Parliament noting that while one usually stands up and bows down while speaking to a monk, in Parliament that does not happen and that puts the monk on par with an ordinary person. (Daily Mirror online)