President meets Mahanayake Theras

Pledges new commission, committee to study concerns over Constitution reforms and SAITM

President Maithripala Sirisena informed the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas and other Sangha Sabhas last evening that a new commission and a special committee would be appointed to look into the proposed Constitution reforms and the SAITM university issue respectively, Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said yesterday.

The Thera said this was revealed during the discussion held between the President and the Mahanayaka Theras of the three Nikayas and other Sangha Sabhas who met last evening at the President’s House in Kandy.

A discussion was held yesterday between President Maithripala Sirisena and the Maha Sangha of the three Nikayas headed by the Chief Prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters at the official Presidential abode in Kandy at 2.00pm.

Chief Prelate of the Malwatte Chapter Most Ven.thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, Chief Prelate of Asgiriya Chapter Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathne Thera, Maha Nayake of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya Ven. Napane Premasiri Thera, the Venerable monks of the Asgiri Malwathu Karaka Sangha Sabhawa and Chief Sangha of the Sangha Sabhas attended this discussion.

Among the matters that were discussed were the SAITM private medical college, the proposed amendments to the Constitution, the Bill on missing persons, the acquisition of State conservation lands in the North and East, the destruction of Buddhist archaeological sites, and the false propaganda circulated abroad regarding the harassment caused to minority communities by Buddhists.

Speaking to the media after the meeting with the President,ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said that they were satisfied by the solutions provided by the President regarding the issues that were discussed. The thera explained that a wrong perception was being created among the people by statements of certain politicians with regards to the new Constitution as well as lapses on the part of steering committees in not obtaining the views of the public with regards to matters that were vital to their future, a matter that was dealt with at length at this discussion.

The latest discussion was a follow-up to the earlier discussion the Mahanayakas of the three Nikayas held with the President on July 4 on six main points of concern.