The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party has called for a public debate on a recent private member's motion seeking a constitution amendment barring religious clergy from becoming members of parliament.
Criticising the motion made by UNP member Wijedasa Rajapakse, the head of the JHU, Omalpe Sobitha Thero, said the motion was being presented to parliament 'due to a hidden agenda of tobacco and liquor shop owners and LTTE sympathizers since the Buddhist monks and the JHU members in parliament pose a threat to these elements', the Colombo Page reported.
Sobitha Thero asserted that Buddhist monks had been able to 'to get various policies implemented by the government in building the Dharmarajya concept'.
