The President further said that to achieve this goal what is more important is to, everyone fulfills their respective duties with an understanding of creating a disciplined society rather than constitutional efforts. He made these remarks during a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday (03) about the steps that should be taken to prevent school children withdrawing from Dhamma education as a result of private tuition classes.
President Sirisena expressing his views said that the Maha Sangha and other religious leaders and intellectuals made representations to him regarding this for quite some time. President Sirisena said that even though at present there are many programmes have been implemented at the provincial council level regarding conducting private tuition classes on Sundays, there is a need for an island wide common programme in this regard and said that in the near future, he will discuss this issue with the teachers who hold tuition classes on Sundays, and expects to make a strong request to them in this regard.
Thereafter, the President stated that he would look into the possibility of imposing statutory rules in relation to making Dhamma education compulsory. Meanwhile the President, who pointed out the importance of implementing different programmes which motivate the children in gaining knowledge of religion, guided the officers about the programs to be conducted to develop the quality of the religious education and to develop the facilities to Daham Pasal. During this meeting, discussions were held on the programs to be conducted to motivate the teachers of Daham Pasal. President Sirisena said that it is the religious education that gives birth to a person filled with knowledge and discipline. He said that it is due to the lack of religious knowledge within the young generation that creates a malefic society filled with violence and negligence of parents and elders.
The Mahasangha, who presented their ideas, said that even though this topic was discussed with government officials for more than four or five decades nobody intervened on this. The Mahasangha appreciated the effort and concern made by President Maithripala Sirisena as the leader who values a society with ethics and discipline.
Prof. Ven. Nabiriththankadawala Gnanarathana Thero and other members of the Mahasangha, other religious leaders, Ministers Wijeydasa Rajapakshe, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, John Amaratunga, D.M. Swaminathan, M.H.A.Haleem, Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, and other ministers and governors, chief ministers of ministries, Secretary of Ministry of Buddhasasana Chandraprema Gamage and secretaries of ministries and government officers were present in this event.
