President gives committee two weeks to review prison rules for Buddhist monks

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the appointment of a committee to review existing laws governing the treatment of Buddhist monks while in prison and when they are taken outside prison, and to propose amendments, new standing orders and regulations.

The committee will comprise representatives from the Attorney General’s Department, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Administration, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, prison officials and the Commissioner General of Prisons.

The President said the committee has been given two weeks to study the existing provisions and submit recommendations. Any provisions affecting Buddhist monks will be reviewed in consultation with the Maha Sangha and amended accordingly.

President Dissanayake made the remarks during a special meeting with members of the Maha Sangha at the Presidential Secretariat today (Oct. 8), following concerns over the treatment of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera while being taken to court from prison.

Explaining the existing legal framework, the President said prison administration is governed by the Prisons Ordinance enacted in 1877, along with regulations and standing orders introduced under it. He noted that the current framework primarily addresses prisoners generally, with limited provisions specifically concerning Buddhist monks.

He said the issue particularly arises when monks serving prison sentences are taken outside the prison, as they become visible to the media and the public. The President acknowledged that the recent incident had caused concern among Buddhists and the Maha Sangha.

President Dissanayake stressed that if existing laws are outdated, they should be amended through the proper legislative process rather than by issuing instructions for individual cases.

“The law should not become my law based on my preference,” he said, stressing that his personal wishes should not replace the law.

He further said the new rules should apply to the prison system as a whole rather than being designed for a particular monk, and should address both how monks are treated while in custody and how they are taken outside prison.

The meeting was attended by senior members of the Maha Sangha representing the Siyam, Amarapura and Ramanna Nikayas, along with Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi and Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara. (Newswire)

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