ANTI- BUDDHISTS APPROACH IN CONDUCTING LEGAL AFFAIRS

Pevindi Handa accuses AG’S Department

Pevindi Handa (Voice of Bhikkhus), an organization of Buddhist monks, yesterday accused the Attorney General’s Department of taking an anti-buddhists approach in conducting legal affairs.

In a letter addressed to the Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya, Ven. Muruttettuwe Ananda Thera and Ven. Gombaddala Damitha Thera said the Yahapalana government was only hounding political opponents since it assumed office.

They said though they brought this to the notice of the authorities concerned, it had fallen on deaf ears.

“In short, a number of Buddhist monks have been put behind bars. Alongside, a large number of war heroes who resurrected the country from terrorism had been subjected to the same with your connivance. You served indictments against an eminent monk on charges of rearing an elephant. Was it taken due to your compassion towards

A number of Buddhist monks have been put behind bars. Alongside, a large number of war heroes

that elephant calf? Or else, was it due to the fact that this monk took his open stand on common issues concerning the country? You should tab your conscience and ask it,” they wrote to the Attorney General.

They said, for the first time after the colonial era, the establishment had taken a harsh stand on the Mahasanga.

During the term of the former Attorney General, indictments had been prepared served on charges of distribution of almanacs to Divineguma beneficiaries. Legally, it is warranted for the Attorney General to give his written authority to serve such indictments.

Yet, they said the former Attorney General declined to do so. The two Theras said the current Attorney General acted to serve indictments afresh in this regard.