Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa says that decisions on whether Buddhist monks imprisoned for various offences should be allowed to continue wearing their robes should be made by their respective monastic orders (Nikayas), rather than prison authorities.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing held today (13), the Minister said the government intends to introduce a procedure to consult the relevant Nikayas in such situations.

He explained that, if a similar situation arises in the future, the relevant monastic order will be informed, while the government will seek guidance from the four Mahanayaka Theras of the three Nikayas through the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs.

“We are of the position that the decision as to whether a Buddhist monk who is imprisoned should continue wearing the robe or not should be made not by the prison authorities, but by the respective Nikaya to which that monk belongs,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Minister Jayatissa also responded to allegations raised by former MP Udaya Gammanpila concerning an incident allegedly involving Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera’s robes during his imprisonment.

At a media briefing held yesterday (12), Gammanpila alleged that a prison officer had used a mobile phone to allow a senior government official to watch the removal of Gnanasara Thera’s robes.

Responding to a journalist’s question regarding the allegation, Minister Jayatissa said the matter was serious and could not be taken lightly.

He stated that an investigation would be conducted into Gammanpila’s claims once the Department of Prisons lodges a complaint with the Sri Lanka Police.

The Minister said the investigation would seek to establish whether such an incident had occurred and, if so, how it had taken place.

He further stated that Gammanpila would be expected to disclose all information relating to what he had witnessed, heard or been told during the investigation. (Newswire)

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A probe is to be launched into the recent incident where the Avukana Buddha statue had been adorned with a robe.

It was reported that Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickremanayake has ordered a systematic probe into the incident.

According to the Department of Archaeology, it is a punishable offence to alter the existing character of a statue of archaeological value.

The Avukana Buddha statue built during the Anuradhapura era has a special place among the “Standing Buddha Statues” in Sri Lanka and as per history, King Dhatusena created this statue in the 5th century A.D.

A probe has been ordered after pictures emerged on social media of a group attempting to adorn a robe on the Avukana Buddha statue which is worshipped by both local and foreign devotees. (NewsWire)

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