A special committee appointed to review and update prison regulations governing Buddhist monks and other religious clergy has officially presented its interim report to Secretary to the President Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. The document was handed over at the Presidential Secretariat on the morning of October 14 by the committee’s Chairperson, Prince Senadheera, who serves as the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
The review committee was formed following formal deliberations held on October 8 between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and members of the Maha Sangha representing Sri Lanka’s three Buddhist Nikayas. In the wake of these discussions, the panel was tasked with examining existing rules, standing orders, and regulatory frameworks established under the Prisons Ordinance to formulate comprehensive amendment proposals within a two-week timeline.
Key Developments
- The committee submitted revised recommendations outlining specific guidelines for the imprisonment and treatment of Buddhist monks and clergy from other religious denominations.
- The interim report follows an October 8 meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Maha Sangha representing the three Buddhist Nikayas.
- The review examined standing orders and legal procedures under the Prisons Ordinance to ensure appropriate institutional handling of clergy members.
- The report was submitted within the designated two-week timeframe set for the preliminary findings.
Several key committee members were present during the submission at the Presidential Secretariat, including Piyumanthi Peiris, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration; Wasantha Ariyaratne, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; R. M. G. Senaratne, Commissioner-General of Buddhist Affairs; and A. C. Gajanayake, Commissioner of the Department of Prisons.