Prime Minister promises to ensure no State interference in religious matters

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says that he would submit a new proposal to prevent State interference in religious matters when drafting the new Constitution. 

The Prime Minister said this at the opening of the Weli Maluwa at Ruwan Weliseya in Anuradhapura over the weekend, explained that he would propose a clause to prevent Government interference with the internal matters of the three main Buddhist Chapters.

“I will come up with a proposal to include a clause in the Constitution that the Government cannot get involved in deciding on the matters relating to the three Nikayas followed by Sri Lankan Buddhists.”

The Premier said that those who ruled the country in the past have recognised the responsibility of the Government to safeguard Buddhism in the Constitution.

Drawing parallels between King Mahasen, where the Maha Vihara in Anuradhapura was led to ruin, and the leaders of the previous regime, Wickremesinghe said that space for such interference should be prevented in the future.  

“However, this tradition was broken by the rulers of this country around five years ago. The Mahanayake was threatened by them as he allowed one of their opponents to hold a Pooja at the Dalada Maligawa. They threatened to break the Malwatte Chapter and set up another Chapter,” he said.

“They went to the extent of constructing a Stupa taller than Ruwan Weliseya in Anuradhapura, which is not possible as per traditions, norms and beliefs. These rulers are bound by tradition to tender an apology to the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter.”

He said he would bring in a clause to the new Constitution under which Government intervention in deciding on the composition of the three chapters would be prohibited.