The Hon. Chathura Galappaththi

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, at the time of adjournment I move the following proposal:

¶ 02 “As a country with a proud 2,500-year history, and with a Constitution that mandates nurturing Buddhism while respecting other religions, I draw the attention of this Hon. House to an injustice caused to women within this legal background. Chief among these is the denial of voting rights to female Divisional Secretaries in the electoral areas empowered to participate in the election of the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Further, attention should be paid to the tenure of office of the Diyawadana Nilame and the number of terms.

¶ 03 Therefore, when selecting administrators for such sacred institutions, not only the law but also the cultural factors beyond it must receive special attention, and with the blessings of the Chief Prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters, I propose that necessary legal amendments be brought in line with present needs.”

¶ 04 Hon. Presiding Member, this week we have spoken much about women. The election to choose the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa is scheduled for the first week of next month. I submit this not for the imminent poll, but to reform future elections. Section 40 of the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance, No. 19 of 1931, sets out those entitled to vote in the election of the Diyawadana Nilame. Under this law, not only the Dalada Maligawa but also other sacred places—such as Ruhunu Kataragama Devale, Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devale and Devinuwara Sri Vishnu Maha Devale—exclude women from voting in the election of Basnayake Nilames.

¶ 05 Historically, however, women have been central: Princess Hemamala brought the Sacred Tooth Relic to Sri Lanka concealed in her hair; Sanghamitta Theri brought the Sri Maha Bodhi. Thus, women played pivotal roles in bringing the Tooth Relic and the Bodhi. Why then deny them the vote now? This stems from a pre-1948 colonial-era law. Some who do not properly understand Buddhist doctrine and culture wrongly blame Buddhism for denying women the vote; that is incorrect—it is due to a pre-independence law. Today, out of 176 Divisional Secretaries in Sri Lanka entitled to vote for the Diyawadana Nilame election, about 100 are women who are thereby disenfranchised. The number of female Divisional Secretaries has rapidly increased and will grow further; therefore, this reform will become even more necessary.

¶ 06 Similarly, at other shrines: in Ruhunu Kataragama Devale, where the deity is venerated along with consorts Thevani and Sri Valli Matha, female Divisional Secretaries are still denied voting rights. At Devinuwara Sri Vishnu Maha Devale, Hindu literature uses “Krishna” as another name of Vishnu, and the Bhagavata’s Radha-Krishna lore is of immense literary value; if such feminine-central narratives are revered, why deny female Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladhari women the right to vote in the Basnayake Nilame elections?

¶ 07 We must remember: we are not electing deities but Basnayake Nilames—human administrators. I believe women must be accorded their rightful place.

¶ 08 We should also recall the 25 January 1998 terrorist bombing near the Dalada Maligawa, where a young woman police constable, No. 1176 Geethani Jayawardena, by her swift decision prevented the armed terrorists from entering the Temple and committing a greater atrocity. Thus, women have protected the Tooth Relic as well.

¶ 09 Article 12(1) and 12(2) of the Constitution guarantee equality. The civil service duty lists do not differentiate Sri Lanka Administrative Service officers by sex. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights similarly guarantees equality. Buddhism too accords women equal and rightful place; compared to the context of that era, Buddhism brought revolutionary freedom for women—spiritually, socially and intellectually—establishing the Bhikkhuni Order and recognizing women’s wisdom and capability.

¶ 10 Although the 1931 Ordinance has been amended six times, its Section 40 still excludes women’s voting rights. I do not raise this merely to enter Hansard or the media, but to realize the true Buddhist vision in practice: to amend the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance to allow women to vote in elections of the Diyawadana Nilame and other Basnayake Nilames. I trust the subject Minister will act expeditiously.

¶ 11 Thank you.