JHU
wants Buddhism as ‘State Religion’
By Santhush Fernando
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) wants the government
to amend the Constitution to make Buddhism Sri Lanka's State Religion.
JHU leader Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera handed over a draft bill
to the Secretary General of Parliament last week.
The
Bill seeks to amend Article 9 of the Constitution which stipulates
that, "The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give Buddhism the foremost
place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect
and foster the Buddha Sasana…"
JHU
sources said the draft bill proposes to make Buddhism the "State
Religion", taking into consideration the recommendations of
the Presidential Commission on Buddha Sasana.
The
Commission proposed that "Buddhism is fitting to be recognized
as the State Religion of Sri Lanka, as 70 percent of the population
is Buddhist." A JHU spokesman said since Article 83 (a) of
the Constitution stipulated that any Bill to amend Article 9, has
to be passed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament and by the people
at a referendum, the JHU was prepared to go before the people for
a mandate.
He
said as the present interpretation of Article 9 was "ambiguous
and vague" and as there was no interpretation of what was meant
by "foremost place", it thus had no "value".
Once
Buddhism was made the State Religion the Government could follow
practices and traditions followed by other countries and also international
norms, said the spokesman. He added that however this would not
hinder any other religion from enjoying the rights granted by Articles
10 and 14(1)(e), which stipulates that "every person is entitled
to freedom of … religion, including the freedom to have or
to adopt a religion or belief of his choice" and that "Every
citizen is entitled to the freedom… to manifest, his religion
or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching".
The
move has been necessitated as Sri Lanka has upheld Theravada Buddhism
continuously for more than two millennia, the spokesman said. |