The monks have expressed their views on the statement made by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath regarding allowing nurses to wear the hijab while on duty.
Accordingly, if Muslim religious nurses are allowed to report to duty wearing the hijab, then they should be allowed to wear the ”lamasari” to show their identity as Buddhist nurses, Venerable Bengamuwe Nalaka Thero, Secretary of the Patriotic Bhikkhu Front and Chairman of the National Organizations Alliance, told the media.
The Thero stated that he deplored the statement made by Minister Vijitha Herath during a discussion with the Muslim business community that there was no obstacle for Muslim nurses to wear the hijab to work.
The Venerable Thero further said that the discussions being held by the ministers of the current government to change the country’s history, culture, hospital system, uniforms, education and everything that has been going on for years after coming to power for five years by the people’s vote have now become a source of ridicule for the people.
Also, the fact that the Minister of Foreign Affairs went to represent the health sector when there was a Minister in charge of the health sector was “like the story of a donkey going to do the dog’s work,” the Venerable Thero further said.
At a time when the country’s national security has reached zero, and in a context where a human being has been murdered even in the official room, such statements made by ministers are similar to the “parable of Nero playing the harp while Rome was burning,” Bengamuwe Nalaka Thero said.
Meanwhile, Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero said that it is a good deed for Muslim girls to come to the nursing service even wearing the hijab.
The Venerable further emphasized that only the burqa and niqab, which are full-face covering garments, should be opposed.