The Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi - Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, the answer is as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) The Buddhist Temporalities (Amendment) Act, No. 34 of 2013, is an amendment to the Viharas and Devalagam Ordinance, No. 19 of 1931. The 2013 Act does not specify “sacred place” land extents. However, under the 1931 Ordinance, a large extent of lands and properties belonging to sacred places exists. Such lands are attached to 12,971 sacred places islandwide. Information on the extents is held by the chief incumbents and trustees of the respective sacred places.

¶ 03 (ii) By obtaining the land on lease/rent from the sacred place.

¶ 04 (iii) Section 26 of the Viharas and Devalagam Ordinance, No. 19 of 1931, states that mortgaging, selling, or otherwise alienating immovable property belonging to a sacred place is not valid or lawful. However, under Section 29(1), a trustee or the governing chief incumbent monk may, for a rent he considers reasonable, lease all or some of the lands belonging to his sacred place. The law does not provide for sub-leasing to a third party.

¶ 05 (iv) It can be done under the procedure referred to in (iii).

¶ 06 (v) Not applicable.

¶ 07 (vi) Any sale or transfer done contrary to the provisions of the law is invalid.

¶ 08 (vii) Actions are taken in accordance with the provisions of the Viharas and Devalagam Ordinance, No. 19 of 1931.

¶ 09 (viii) Not applicable.

¶ 10 (b) Not applicable.