Chairman of the National Movement for the Protection of the Nation, Venerable Elle Gunawansa Thera, has called for a Cabinet reshuffle, urging that Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya be removed from the post of Minister of Education.
The appeal was made in a memorandum addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
In the memorandum, the Thera warned that the education reforms being advanced under the Prime Minister’s leadership pose a serious threat to the country, its people, and the Buddha Sasana. He said the proposals reflect an arbitrary approach that places the nation and its social fabric at risk.
He further argued that the consequences of what he described as an ignorant government, lacking concern for the public and the country, would result in severe harm to both the nation and its citizens.
The Thera also criticised the absence of transparency in the reform process, noting that the views of Buddhist monks, clergy of other religions, teachers, and education experts had not been sought.
Accordingly, the memorandum states that the process adopted to introduce the reforms is fundamentally flawed and therefore lacks legitimacy.
Venerable Elle Gunawansa Thera said that, in keeping with his historical responsibility as a Buddhist monk, he expects President Dissanayake, as Head of State, to take prompt action to protect the country, its people, and the Buddha Sasana from what he described as a looming threat.
