Buddhism's status maintained - Government reassures monks

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 July 2000, 21:04 GMT]
Professor G.L.Peiris, Minister of Constitutional Affairs, met the Mahanayaka Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters in Kandy on Saturday morning.The Minister told the Mahanayaka Theras that the clause on Buddhism in the constitution would not be revoked under any circumstances. The government does not intend to implement the new constitution with only the approval of Parliament. The government would obtain the approval of the public including the Maha Sangha for the new constitution, he said.

The Minister expressed confidence that the new constitution would receive a two-third majority in the parliament when it is tabled before the general election. He stressed that the government's political proposals would safeguard equal rights to all communities without jeopardizing the rights of Sinhala or any other community.

He informed the two Mahanayaka Theras that a free and fair election would be held after the dissolution of the parliament on August 24 this year.

The Mahanayaka Theras of the two chapters later told the Minister that they would make their statement after a proper study of the proposals as they were yet to receive a detailed report on the political proposals.

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