Judiciary and Bhikkus!

– Thinakkural Editorial

(September 10, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Supreme Court order remanding a Bhikku, has sparked off a controversy. The Bikku was remanded on an order by the Supreme Court following his failure to appear in Court over a case relating to noise pollution.

When Judges of the Supreme Court – Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justice Andrew Somawansa and Justice Jagath Balapatabandi – entered the Court to hear the bail application of the said Bhikku, the members of the Buddhist clergy that were present in Court to show their solidarity with the Bhikku on remand failed to stand up and show their respect to Court.

After pointing out that this conduct was unacceptable, Court put off the hearing and ordered that the remand be extended. The Bhikkus who left Court condemned this.

Thereafter, a section of the Maha Sanga and political parties such as JHU, charged that the government was acting in a manner that causes disrespect to the Bhikkus.

President Rajapakse had to explain that they could not interfere with the judiciary and that it would lead to a collision between the Judiciary and the Executive.

Heads of the Malwatta and the Asgirya Chapter explained that all citizens must respect the law and the buddhist clergy, too, must respect the law. Large sections of the people have condemned the conduct of the Bhikkus. The Bhikku has been released. Yet, at a Press briefing, some have condemned the Supreme Court.

What ever it is, following the prominence given to Buddhism in the Constitution, certain Bhikkus seem to challenge the rule of law.

(An English translation of the Editorial in Thinakkural, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo.) - Sri Lanka Guardian