Bill to stop monks from becoming MPs

Friday, 01 June 2012 00:01

United National Party (UNP) front-liner Wijedasa Rajapakse yesterday submitted a Private Member’s Bill asking that Sri Lanka’s Constitution be amended to prevent a priest of any religion becoming a member of parliament.

Mr. Rajapaksa said this Act may be called the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. “The Article 91 of the Constitution be amended by adding the Article 91 (H) Priest of any religion,” it said. The Bill also mentioned that the, ‘Amendment shall come into operation soon after the expiry or the dissolution of the 17th Parliament.’

Mr. Rajapakse said he had decided to bring this amendment for the purpose of maintaining and preserving religious dignity and holiness of all religions.