Buddhist Chief Prelates of Sri Lanka urge President to call for the withdrawal of impeachment motion

The Buddhist Mahanayaka Theros (Chief Prelates) representing all sects in Sri Lanka have in writing called President Mahinda Rajapaksa to withdraw the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayke. In a letter to the President the Chief Prelates have set out the reasons for their call to withdraw the motion. The prelates have pointed out that that the impeachment motion should be withdrawn, taking into consideration the recent recommendation of the Supreme Court, to avoid the breakdown in law and deterioration of society as a result of the impeachment motion. "This will be beneficial to the country," they have stated. The Mahanayake theros have noted that the Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary can perform an immense service to maintain morals, law and peace in any civilized democratic society. "It should be based on law, justice, patience and fairness. In order to achieve this end, it is not proper to resort to actions which will generate an apprehension with regard to the judiciary and the judges. It will be harmful than beneficial. It is certain to affect the honor and the trust that the judiciary of Sri Lanka had up to now in the world," the letter said. The Chief Prelates have further noted, the "Majority of the people think that the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice will lead to a disenchantment about all branches of the judiciary. Therefore the government should think patiently about the ill effect of the prevailing attempt of the Legislature Executive and the Judiciary to go above the other and take steps to safe guard the independence of the judiciary and solidify the feelings of justice in the minds of the people. By the display of just behavior of the government it will definitely generate a feeling of satisfaction in the minds of the people." Two Chief Prelates of Siyam Nikaya, Malwatte Chapter Maha Nayake Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sumangala Thera, and Maha Nayake of Asgiriya Chapter Chief Prelate Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera, Chief Prelate of Amarapura Nikaya Ven. Dawuldena Gnanissara Thera and the Ramanna Nikaya Chief Prelate Ven. Napana Pemasiri Thera have signed the letter. The following is the text of the letter: Importance of avoiding apprehension in the minds of the people in dispensing law and justice in a Democratic Society Sri Lanka is an island which won the eulogy "Daham Divayina" from time immemorial and was praised here and abroad. But society at present is full of grave crimes such as murders, rape, robberies, arson, abductions, bribery, drug trafficking and child abuse; committed with craving and hatred. Almost every day these are reported in the media. These pernicious acts imply the lack of security and value of human life. There is more room for deterioration of human values, in the absence of equilibrium between the materialistic spiritual and ethical development and apprehension with regard to the equity in law. If there is a collapse in law and order it is rather difficult to rise up as a righteous nation. If we are to re-kindle the fast vanishing human values in our country, we must make the man a humanist, who respects human values. Teaching of Lord Buddha elucidates that the selfish craving , ignorance, hatred, lead to the destruction of human society. We can establish peace and happiness in our country by following Buddha's teaching and propagating and practicing patience and loving kindness. Many lessons can be learnt by the ruler and the subject if they follow the "Chakkavathi Sihanada" Sutra, the discourse by Lord Buddha and take refuge in the teachings of the Buddha. The time has come for all social institutions including the government to work together to bring this society out of this mire taking into consideration the saying of the Buddha, "To be born as a human is arduous and rare". The legislature, Executive and the Judiciary can perform an immense service to maintain morals, law and peace in any civilized democratic society. It should be based on law, justice, patience and fairness. In order to achieve this end, it is not proper to resort to actions which will generate an apprehension with regard to the judiciary and the judges. It will be harmful than beneficial. It is certain to affect the honour and the trust that the judiciary of Sri Lanka had up to now in the world. Majority of the people think that the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice will lead to a disenchantment about all branches of the judiciary. Therefore the government should think patiently about the ill effect of the prevailing attempt of the Legislature Executive and the Judiciary to go above the other and take steps to safe guard the independence of the judiciary and solidify the feelings of justice in the minds of the people. By the display of just behaviour of the government it will definitely generate a feeling of satisfaction in the minds of the people. It is possible to get humans to respect law and traditions by acting according to human ethics without scorn. Therefore to avoid the breakdown in law and deterioration of society as a result of the impeachment motion we kindly request that the impeachment motion be withdrawn, taking into consideration the recent recommendation of the Supreme Court. This will be beneficial to the country. May you have the refuge of the Triple Gem!