The government has decided to enforce a rule requiring Buddhist monks travelling abroad to obtain recommendations from their senior monk, the regional Buddhist leader and the Mahanayaka Thero of their respective Nikaya before leaving the country, Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake said on Thursday.
Dissanayake said the requirement was already in law but had not been strictly implemented in recent years. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a discussion with Registrar Theros at which it was decided the rule was essential going forward. The Mahanayaka Theros have been briefed.
The decision follows the recent arrest of 22 Buddhist monks at the Bandaranaike International Airport returning from Thailand with large quantities of narcotics. Nineteen of those monks subsequently tested positive for narcotics in Judicial Medical Officer testing, and police later arrested the alleged main organiser of the network.
A separate, comprehensive discussion was held on Thursday (April 29) between Registrar Theros, the Attorney General and Buddhasasana Ministry officials on urgent amendments to the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance, The Island reported. Officials discussed proposals to vest authority for disciplinary and related actions with a committee led by the Mahanayaka Theros under Sections 41 and 42 of the Ordinance. Dissanayake said further consultations would follow before the proposed amendments are formally tabled.
The Mahanayaka Theros of the three Nikayas had earlier this week issued a joint statement condemning the conduct of monks involved in narcotics smuggling and called for stricter discipline within the Sangha.
