RECONSIDER IMPEACHMENT -PRELATES
The Mahanayake Theras of the three main Nikayas have requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to reconsider the need for the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.
Malwatte Chapter Mahanayake the Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sumangala Thera, Asgiriya Chapter Mahanayake
the Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera,
Reconsider need for the impeachment motion against Chief Justice
Amarapura Nikaya Mahanayake the Ven. Dawuldena Gnanissara Thera and the Ramanna Nikaya Mahanayake the Ven. Napane Pemasiri Thera have in a letter to the President said it appeared that there was an atmosphere of crisis in the country and among the international community, centred on the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice.
“Irrespective of which is supreme out of the three entities – the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary – when it comes to safeguarding law and order of the
country it is clear to any person who respects the principles of democracy that all three institutions are not second to each other in supremacy, the four prelates said.
They said that the law was bonded with human civilisation and was for the welfare of human beings and therefore the essence of Buddhist law was to consider it as the duty to subjugate the unrighteousness and propagate righteousness by controlling behaviour of individuals and ensuring the wellbeing of society. The Mahanayakes said they considered it the supreme duty of all those who expected the well-being of humanity, to create an environment where the law could be implemented independently and impartially.
They said the Buddha when he advised Irrespective of which is supreme out of the three entities – the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary – when it comes to safeguarding law and order of the country it is clear to any person who respects the principles of democracy that all three institutions are not second to each other in supremacy. In our opinion, it is not proper to create an atmosphere of suspicion in the minds of the people, about the judiciary the Lichchavi rulers on “Saptha Aparihani Dhamma” showed as the third “Aparihani Dhamma the refraining from introducing laws which were not introduced in the past and following laws already existing without violating them; accepting old ethics of the Vajjins and following them will bring them good and they will not be harmed”.
“In accordance with the above sermon of Lord Buddha we consider it very important that decisions should be taken with the ut- most patience, highlighting justice, drawing the attention of the country, society and nation,” the Mahanayakes said.
They said history too has confirmed that when dealing with the judiciary which contributed immensely to protect the rights of all, including the common citizens of the present democratic society, action should be taken carefully and patiently without harming the trust placed by the public on the judiciary.
“Therefore in our opinion, it is not proper to create an atmosphere of suspicion in the minds of the people, about the judiciary, obstructing the creation of an environment where problems have to be solved in a spirit of unity, amid natural disasters, international interference, political, economic and social crisis,” the Mahanayakes said.