New Buddhasasana Minister promises reforms shortly

By Dasun Edirisinghe-September 7, 2015

New laws would soon be introduced for the betterment of Buddha Sasana, newly appointed Justice and Buddhasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday. He also hold the Justice portfolio.

After assuming duties at the Buddhasasana Ministry in the presence of President Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Housing and Construction Sajith Premadasa and Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Media Gayantha Karunathilake, Rajapakshe said that amendments to the old Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance of 1931 (Vihara Gam Devala Act) had already been approved by the Cabinet.

The Minister said that a new Bill on Bhikku Discipline had already been drafted and approved by the Cabinet. The government had also prepared the Buddhist Publication Regulatory Act, he added.

"We will present the new Bills and amendments to the Temple and Devala Lands Act to Parliament shortly," Rajapakshe said.

He said that an International Buddhist Sangayana (Council) would be held in Sri Lanka with the participation of representatives from other countries in 2018. The governmetn also expected to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Anagarika Dharmapala on a grand scale, he said.

The construction of the Mahaweli Maha Seya at Kotmale and Vidyalankara International Buddhist Centre would be completed and opened shortly, Rajapakshe said.

There were thousands of Buddhist temples in remote areas without even basic facilities for monks and the ministry expected to rectify those serious shortcomings, he said.

Minister Rajapakshe said that Daham Schools would be developed.

"About 43% of prisoners are serving sentences for narcotic related offences," Rajapakshe said, adding that Daham schools would help build a better society.