The government is lying about the robes of monks who are imprisoned.

Professor G.L. Peiris states that the government is engaging in further deception by claiming following the appointment of a committee to recommend procedures for transporting religious leaders, including monks, outside the prison that monks would be permitted to wear their robes while being taken out.

The United National Party (UNP) highlighted this in a statement, citing remarks made by Professor G.L. Peiris, who serves as the Convener of the Joint Opposition. The statement issued by the UNP is presented below:

Professor G.L. Peiris, Convener of the Joint Opposition, had previously clearly pointed out that the appointment of a committee to make recommendations regarding the attire to be worn by incarcerated religious leaders particularly Buddhist monks when being taken outside is a complete charade, and that there is no need whatsoever for such a committee.

All necessary procedures regarding this matter are already clearly outlined in the Standing Orders of the Department of Prisons.

Standing Order 550 of the Prisons Ordinance states the following in this regard:

“A convicted prisoner being produced before a court pursuant to a court order or for other legal proceedings shall not be presented to the court in the prison uniform (prisoner’s attire).”

“He shall be permitted to wear civil attire consistent with what he was accustomed to wearing while living in society prior to imprisonment (or attire appropriate to his cultural or religious background).” Appointing a committee to make recommendations on this matter despite clear, direct guidelines already existing in the Department of Prisons' standing orders is a dishonest attempt to deliberately sweep the issue under the rug and drag it out further. The United National Party strongly condemns this move by the government.

Furthermore, the government should now approach the Mahanayake Thero and the Sangha Sabha of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha of the Siam Maha Nikaya to apologize regarding the stripping of Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero’s robes.