Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera yesterday urged the Northern Province Governor to take legal action against Provincial Education Minister S. Sarveshwaran for refusing to hoist the national flag at a function at the Perakum Maha Vidyalaya in Irattaperiyakulam where he took part in recently.
Sobhitha Thera said Sarveshwaran’s action violated the Constitution and requested the Governor to remove Sarveshwaran from his post following an inquiry into the event.
The Thera stated that as a public representative, Sarveshwaran is under oath of office to perform duties and discharge functions in accordance with the Constitution and defend it. Refusing to hoist the flag of the country is a breach of the oath, Sobhitha Thera said.
The Provincial Minister's action cannot be condoned since it promotes the anti-government, separatist Eelam ideology. It calls for separating the country.” the Thera said. “His action will corrupt schoolchildren and jeopardise the unitary state of the country. We demand immediate action against his conduct,” the Thera said.
"The Ramanna Nikaya condemns the incident and calls for immediate action against the provincial minister," the Thera said.