A delegation of international human rights organizations arrived in Kandy yesterday (12) and called on the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thero, the Chief Prelate of the Malwatta Maha Viharaya Chapter. At that time, the Thero expressed his views on the government’s attempt to extend the retirement age of judges and the related constitutional amendment.
The Thero said that it is regrettable that no response has been received so far regarding the letter sent to the President expressing their opinion on the constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of court judges.
The Maha Thero said that it is a tradition since ancient times for the Trinitarian Maha Thero to advise the rulers of the country on various issues and matters in terms of meaning and Dhamma, and that it is a common practice to send letters of acknowledgement to the Thero in both oral and written notifications.
The Maha Thero, who expressed his views on the problems in the education sector and the crises faced by the farming community, also drew attention to the problems that have arisen regarding the substandard Atapirikara available in the market.
“If the Maha Nayaka Theros send a letter to the President or the rulers of the state, why else would they send a reply that the letter was received? There has been no reply to the letter sent by the Trinika Maha Nayakas regarding the issue of the retirement age of these judges. At least we have not been informed whether the letter was received.
Whenever there is a problem in the country, it has been a tradition since the days of the king for the Maha Sangha to preach the Dhamma to the rulers of the state in a meaningful way. Giving advice and advice is something we normally do. But what is happening now is also a problem for us. We have seen some MPs and ministers even saying in Parliament that the President has not received a letter from the Maha Nayakas,” the Thero said.