Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya called on the Mahanayakas of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters today to urge them to take steps to prevent places of religious worship from being used to hold political meetings and promot candidates during the upcoming parliamentary election.
Mr Deshapriya told the Mahanayaka Theras that though election laws clearly prohibited such practices, there had been numerous occasions where candidates and parties had been promoted at places of religious worship under the guise of organizing Bodhi Poojas, alms givings and holy mass.
While stressing that the practice was not limited to Buddhist temples, Mr Deshapriya told the prelates that he was first bringing the matter to their attention as Buddhist made up the majority of the country's population. He said he would be taking steps to brief leaders of other religions about the matter as well.
Text and Pix by Nadeeka Daya Bandara
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