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Former foreign travel rules for Buddhist monks to be reintroduced; Mahanayakes call for stringent measures after narcotics case
View(s):By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe and Mahesh Keerthiratna
The procedure requiring Sri Lankan Buddhist monks to obtain a written recommendation, endorsed by their respective chief prelates, before traveling abroad, suspended in 2025, is to be reintroduced, the Buddha Sasana Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake said.
He said that this follows a request made by senior monks who met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake following the arrest of 22 Buddhist monks at the Bandaranaike International Airport with narcotics.
The requirement to obtain permission had been lifted in December last year.
Under the reinstated procedure, a monk intending to travel abroad must first obtain a written recommendation from the chief incumbent (Viharadhipathi) of his temple. If the monk himself is the chief incumbent, he must instead obtain a written recommendation from the Chief Sanghanayaka of his province. This recommendation is then forwarded through the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs to the relevant embassy.
The move comes as investigations and court proceedings into the case of detection of narcotics continues.
However, the Ven. Dr. Mahamithawa Pannarathana Thera, a distinguished Buddhist scholar with a doctorate in Humanitarian Services from the U.S.A and a missionary monk engaged in Dhamma propagation abroad, emphasised that whether or not monks had obtained permission from their chief prelates, drug traffickers could still exploit them to transport illicit narcotics.
He further proposed that if a monk commits such an offence, he should be presented before a court only after being stripped of his robes and dressed in ordinary civilian clothing. Otherwise, he noted, the Buddhist public would experience deep disappointment during every court hearing related to such cases.
“This situation has had a profound impact on us as Sri Lankan Buddhist monks. Sri Lanka is regarded as the foremost Theravada Buddhist country in the world. I have traveled throughout Asia as well as Europe, including England, and wherever one goes, Sri Lankan monks are held in the highest esteem. The Buddha himself taught that monks must respect the ruler, the law of the land, and the lawful authority of the state.” Ven. Dr. Pannarathana Thera highlighted.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the arrest of the monks at Katunayake and the investigations that followed, a special discussion was held on April 28, 2026, at the Presidential Secretariat under the leadership of the Maha Sangha of the three Nikayas, with the participation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Extensive discussions were held regarding the incident, the ongoing investigations, and the broader implications arising from it. Amendments to the Temple Lands Ordinance and other related legislation, as well as necessary changes to legal provisions, were also deliberated at length.
It was further discussed that the requirement for monks to obtain recommendations from their chief prelates before traveling abroad should once again be made strictly mandatory. Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi also participated in this discussion.
In connection with this incident, a joint statement was issued bearing the signatures of the chief prelates of the Malwathu, Amarapura, Siam & Asgiri which are major Buddhist chapters in Sri Lanka. They strongly emphasised that all individuals falsely posing as monks and engaging in illegal activities must be brought to justice.
“At this juncture, the urgent need has once again arisen to establish a proper mechanism to investigate and expel from the Sangha those who misuse the sanctity and identity of the Buddhist robe for unlawful activities. We repeatedly emphasise that it is absolutely essential for the state machinery to intervene swiftly and enact the necessary legal provisions for this purpose.
“Accordingly, the relevant Nikayas will, in due course, investigate all those involved in these anti-Sasana and illegal activities and take steps to expel them from the monastic order.
“Furthermore, we strongly emphasise that the security forces must act expeditiously to investigate and take legal action against the organised narcotics networks and traffickers who, through calculated and systematic means, entice young monks into such unlawful activities.
“In addition, all preceptors and senior monks must remain constantly vigilant regarding every monk under their guidance. If any monk is observed engaging in conduct contrary to the discipline of the Sasana, prompt steps must be taken to investigate the matter and to guide such young monks back toward restraint, discipline, and proper conduct.”
The statement further reiterated the collective commitment of the Maha Sangha to safeguard the integrity, dignity, and discipline of the Buddhist monastic order in Sri Lanka.
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