Gnanasara Thera awaits time from Prez. to present ‘One Law’ final report
- Final report signed by Presidential Task Force
- Appointment requested from President, awaiting response
BY Buddhika Samaraweera
“One Country, One Law” Presidential Task Force (PTF) Head Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera told The Morning that the said PTF’s final report has been prepared and signed by all members, and that a date and time has been requested from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for it to be presented to the latter.
“The appointment will most probably be confirmed tomorrow (29),” he said yesterday (28).
When queried regarding the conclusions of the PTF, he said that he could not comment on the matter until the report is presented to the President, and added that the President would take steps to make the report available to the public.
A 13-member Task Force was appointed by President Rajapaksa on 27 October, 2021, for the implementation of the “One Country, One Law” concept. It is Chaired by Gnanasara Thera of the Bodu Bala Sena, while Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Jeevanthie Senanayake was appointed as its Secretary. In the midst of criticism from several parties over the non-appointment of representatives from the Tamil community to the Task Force, the President appointed three members from the Tamil community to the Task Force in November 2021.
The Task Force had been instructed to submit interim reports to President Rajapaksa, while the final report was due to be submitted on or before 28 February 2022. However, since the Task Force had not prepared the final report by then, the President extended its term through a Gazette notification on 28 February 2022.
Meanwhile, commenting on the Task Force’s programme, Gnanasara Thera had recently stated that even though the said Task Force cannot make laws, it would expedite the process of bringing about legal reforms that have been delayed due to various incidents of “unscientific action and political influence” over the past.
