Driving licences and occult practices taboo ....

Driving licences and occult practices taboo ....

for monks in future!

Chief Organiser of the government Party and Minister of Mass Communication Gayantha Karunatillaka yesterday (12) forwarded a

Bill of the Theravadi Ecclesiastical Code to be registered which included clauses authorising punishment for engaging in occult practises and conducting such activities.

It is stated in the Bill that engaging in commercial or trade activities, acquiring a driving licence and driving, engaging in fields such as educational, social service or religious activities other than some occupation related to the government or private sector is prohibited for tri-sectarian monks. Apart from this, engaging in some activity which is considered unclean for a Buddhist monk and in activities of engaging in acts contradictory to the Buddhist clergy is to be considered as a punishable offence.

Clauses have been included in the Bill whereby a monk who violates rules laid down in the Ecclesiastical Code would be produced for an enquiry before the executive committee of the sangha and is to be fined.