Gnanasara Thero promises inclusive process through ‘One Country, One Law’ Task Force

Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero addresses journalists at a briefing organised by the Presidential Media Centre

• Attempts to dispel fears over his appointment to head Presidential Task Force
• Assures no need for any community to fear his appointment
• Says successive governments since independence have failed to build Lankan identity

Controversial monk Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero yesterday sought to dispel fears over his recent appointment as the Chairperson of a Presidential Task Force to formulate laws to suit the ‘One Country, One Law’ concept, pledging the process would be inclusive, and called on all sections of the public to support its work.

“A lot of opinions have been expressed about my appointment as the Chairman of the Task Force, but few are speaking about the prevalence of laws in the country which are not applied equally to all citizens,” Gnanasara Thero told journalists at a briefing organised by the Presidential Media Centre (PMC).

The Thero said there was no need for any community to fear his appointment. “Successive governments have failed to build a Sri Lankan identity since independence, which is why the President has had to set up such a task force. Our objective is not to divide people but bring them together,” he said.

He said the Task Force would act according to a core policy framework and it would ensure that no citizen would be subjected to any difference or discrimination before the law on the basis of their race, religion, caste, or any other factor.

He also dismissed the allegations levelled against him by political opponents saying they had failed to put the country on the right track. 

“Look at our education system. It is segregated and divides people. A Muslim child who lives next to Ananda College cannot get admission to this school while a Sinhala child who lives next to Zahira College cannot enter that school. This shows that the foundation itself is faulty. This is what we have to change,” he added.

Gnanasara Thero, who attended the press briefing along with another member of the Task Force, Prof. Sumedha Siriwardana, said their responsibility was to create one nation where all citizens could get together under one flag and live under one law.

He said that the youth of this country had suffered the most due to racial, religious and provincial divisions and said they would be given a special place in this process, adding that all young people representing universities, higher education institutions and various organisations were invited to submit their ideas and suggestions to the Task Force.

He also said it was important to ensure that the youth of the country did not suffer in the future like they had done in the past.