Ranjan’s remarks - Reveal decision taken at disciplinary inquiry: Ven. Omalpe

Leading Buddhist monk Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera yesterday urged the government to reveal the decision taken after the disciplinary inquiry conducted on State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake over his controversial remarks on the Buddhist clergy.

He said it should be done to convince Buddhist people that the inquiry was conducted not as a ploy to quell mounting public protest against the minister.

The Thera said he appreciated the moves taken by the UNP to conduct a disciplinary inquiry on State Minister Ramanayake, who is alleged to have made insulting remarks against some Buddhist monks.

“We do not believe that the inquiry was conducted to suppress the mounting protest against the minister. We believe that it must have been conducted with good intentions. It can be proved only by revealing the decisions taken at the inquiry,” the Thera said.

He said the statement made by the minister as a Catholic was an obstacle to peace and reconciliation among the Buddhist and the Catholic communities and added that it was a serious matter for a minister to make such a statement. (Ajith Siriwardana)