The draft bill presented in the Parliament in a bid register and formulate the ‘Theravada Bhikkhu Dialogue’ act is a timely requirement, the Chief Prelate of the Asgiri Chapter of the Siam Sect Most Venerable Galagama Sri Aththadassi Thero says.

The observation was made in a statement issued on Tuesday (26).

Aththadassi Thero pointed out the formulation of the new act was a long awaited breakthrough solution which the Sanaga Nayaka thero of the Tri Nikayas asked the previous Governments to bring forward.

However, the Thero also went on to say there is a panic that is affecting both the lay people and monks due to the manner in which the media had reported about it.

Aththadassi Thero in the statement further added the sole purpose of the act will be to neither control nor regulate the activities of Buddhist monks, but to utilize it for the sake of the Buddha Sasana.

President Maithripala Sirisena has also said that the government will not take steps to pass the ‘Theravada Bhikkhu Dialogue’ act as an Emergency Act, but will adopt it with the blessings of the Maha Sangha. 

Expressing his views regarding the dialogue, he said it is only a proposal and it should be passed in the Parliament after making the necessary changes. The draft bill has been presented to introduce the dialogue to monitor and take disciplinary action against monks who break ‘Vinaya’ rules.