Permission sought to sue Ashraff

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 January 2000, 16:56 GMT]
The Attorney General's permission has been sought to commence prosecution against Minister cum poet M. H. M. Ashraff allegedly for his comments on Lord Buddha and Buddhism in his Book of Poems.

The letter sent by attorney at law Nalinda Indatissa on instruction by his client Dr. Piyatissa Dissanayake stated that the comments made by the Minister in his book 'Nan Enum Nee' under the caption 'Lord Buddha and the Poet' were made with the malicious intention of outraging the feelings of persons following the preaching of Lord Buddha.

The letter sought sanction under section 135(1) (e) of the code of Criminal Procedure Act no 15 of 1979 to commence prosecution against the Minister under section 291 B of the Penal Code.