The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a political party led by Buddhist monks, has announced that it will push for a new Act that would give religious organisations greater flexibility under the law on the subject of noise pollution.
Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Patali Champika Ranawaka, told The Sunday Times yesterday that work on the drafting of the new Act would begin as soon as an ongoing case pending in the Supreme Court regarding sound pollution was concluded.
Minister Ranawaka said the ministry had received a number of complaints from religious organisations, mostly from temples and mosques, claiming that police officers had been excessive in their actions to implement the interim court order. He said the Act would consider various points made on religious grounds and seek to provide for some relaxation of the law in respect of the noise pollution ruling.
“Instead of issuing warnings, some police officers have taken immediate action based on one or two individual complaints,” the minister said. “The police should try to be persuasive in dealing with religious institutions on the subject of loudspeakers” he said.
JHU parliamentarian Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera said it was time to introduce a new Act that would not stifle religious practices in the country.
Respect judiciary: Mahanayake
The Asgiriya Chapter Mahanayake, Ven. Udagama Shri Buddharakkhitha Thera, yesterday declared that Buddhist monks too should respect the judiciary just like any other citizen.
He said the act of showing respect to the judiciary did not mean being subservient to a judge as an individual but to the supremacy of judiciary.
Speaking at a function in Kandy, the Mahanayaka said, “Buddhist monks, including chief incumbents, have no special law. The law is not changed for Lord Buddha. Not only must we respect that law, but we must also abide by it.” |
The Supreme Court had earlier issued restrictions on the use of loudspeakers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Last week, Ven. Pannala Pannaloka, chief incumbent of the Welikadawatte temple in Welikada, was charged in the Magistrate’s Court for violating the
Supreme Court order on noise pollution. Residents had complained to the police about being disturbed by loudspeakers on the temple premises. The monk has been remanded for failing to appear in court as ordered.
On Friday, a motion for bail for the remanded monk was turned down by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva after a group of monks, in a show of solidarity with the remanded monk, failed to show respect to the court by refusing to stand up when the judges arrived in the courtroom.
The case will be taken up for hearing on September 15.
Meanwhile, a group of Buddhist monks says it will launch a campaign to protest against restrictions on the use of loudspeakers at night at places of religious worship.
“Buddhist monks all over the country will be protesting about the inconvenience they face because of restrictions on loudspeakers”, said Ven. Galabodaatte Gnannissara Thera, director of the National Centre for Monitoring Religious Conversions.
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