The general secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, attorney Sagara Kariyawasam, has written to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa asking him to intervene to secure two parliamentary debates — one on violence directed at Buddhist monks and the Buddha Sasana, and one on the sudden transfer of judges.
The letter, reported by Hiru News, says violent and derogatory acts against the Buddha Sasana and members of the Buddhist clergy have been increasing in recent times.
Kariyawasam wrote that some institutions enforcing the law are acting in disregard of the duty the Constitution places on the state to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, and said propaganda targeting monks in social media spaces sympathetic to the current government warrants serious attention.
The judicial transfers claim
On the second issue, the letter says serious concerns are emerging in society about judges being suddenly transferred after delivering decisions and orders that were unfavourable to the current government or that questioned its conduct.
Kariyawasam said explaining such incidents transparently is essential to protecting the independence of the judiciary and public confidence in it.
Timing against the Budget
The letter argues these nationally important matters should not be allowed to be buried beneath the volume of business expected during the forthcoming Budget debate, and asks the Opposition Leader to take the parliamentary and political steps needed to secure the two debates.
Not reported
The filing does not list the specific incidents of violence against monks the party is referring to, and names no judge and no transfer. It gives no date for any of the alleged incidents. There is no response from Sajith Premadasa or the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, no comment from the government, the Judicial Service Commission or the Ministry of Justice, and no indication of whether the Opposition Leader will act on the request. Hiru does not report whether the letter was also sent to the Speaker.
This report rests on a single verified newsroom. The claims above are the SLPP’s; this desk has not independently verified any of them.
Context
Relations between the government and sections of the Buddhist clergy have been strained in recent weeks. Police arrested monks conducting a satyagraha near the Ruwanweli Maha Seya in Anuradhapura after a court order, and the President has separately appointed a committee on monks in prison robes.
The Budget is due to be presented on 12 November.
