Colombo, Oct. 14 (Daily Mirror) - The special committee appointed to review and update the rules, regulations and standing orders under the Prisons Ordinance has submitted its interim report to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The report was handed over this morning (14) at the Presidential Secretariat by committee chairperson Prince Senadheera, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
The committee was appointed following a discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and members of the Maha Sangha representing the three Buddhist Nikayas on October 8. It was tasked with examining the relevant provisions and submitting proposals to amend the existing regulations and standing orders within two weeks.
According to the President’s Media Division, the interim report contains revised proposals concerning regulations governing the imprisonment of Buddhist monks and other religious clergy.
The committee’s review is aimed at updating the existing rules and procedures under the Prisons Ordinance in relation to the imprisonment of members of the clergy. The proposals will be considered by the relevant authorities as part of the process of reviewing the regulations.
Committee members Piyumanthi Peiris, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration; Wasantha Ariyaratne, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; R. M. G. Senaratne, Commissioner-General of Buddhist Affairs; and A. C. Gajanayake, a Commissioner of the Department of Prisons, were also present at the handover.