To protect Buddhism, Malwatte Mahanayake calls for detailed identity cards for monks

The Malwatte Chapter Mahanayake, the Venerable Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddartha Sumangala Thera, has reiterated his call to the Government to issue foolproof and detailed identity cards for monks, explaining that they are necessary to prevent rogues masquerading as monks from bringing Buddhism into disrepute.

He told the Sunday Times that he and other Mahanayakes had sent a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena last month, calling for the issue of detailed identity cards so that they could not be forged by bogus monks.

The Mahanayake said the Maha Vihares issued identity cards but not all monks had obtained these identity cards. He said there had been many cases where men in robes had carried out nefarious activities by carrying bogus identity cards.

The letter to the President was also signed by the Asgiriya Mahanayaka the Ven. Warakagoda Sri Ganarathana Thera, the Amarapura Mahanayaka the Ven. Kotugoda Sri Dhammawasa Thera and Sri Ramannya Nikaya Mahanayaka the Ven. Napane Sri Pemasiri.

The Malwatte Mahanayaka said the new identification cards to be issued to monks, including disciple monks, should contain details such as their date of ordination, their superiors, the national identity card number (if available) and the address of the temple.

In their letter to the President, the Mahanayakes have said that monks acting against the interests of Buddhism should be expelled from the order to protect Buddhism.

They pointed out that there are persons dressed in robes acting against the interests of Buddhism and even begging on roads, thereby bringing Buddhism into disrepute. Their conduct has hurt not only the Buddhists but also non-Buddhists.

The Mahanayakes stressed the need for preserving the good name of Buddhism.

A Buddha Sasana Ministry spokesman said the letter had been referred to them and the ministry had written back to the Mahanayaka Theras, seeking guidance and clarification with regard to the format and the method to be used in issuing the new identity cards.