The Acting Commissioner General of Prisons has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification amending the Standing Orders of the Department of Prisons outlining the procedures to be followed regarding the removal of robes when imprisoning a Buddhist monk.

According to the Gazette notification, new Standing Order 356A has been inserted immediately after Standing Order 356 which says  “356A. Where a Buddhist monk is imprisoned, the Commissioner of Prisons shall consult the Department of Buddhist Affairs regarding the removal of the robes worn by such monk at the time of imprisonment and the Department of Buddhist Affairs shall inform the relevant Nikhaya or Chapter of the same, and shall notify of the actions of the Nikhaya or Chapter regarding the removal of such robes to the Commissioner of Prisons within ten days. Where no response regarding the actions to be taken is so informed, the Commissioner of Prisons may take necessary action in accordance with the relevant provisions.The standing order 550 has been amended pertaining to the P.rison clothing which says a Buddhist monk is taken out of prison in the capacity of a prisoner, such prisoner shall be allowed to wear the robes worn by him at the time of imprisonment.

It says when the relevant Nikaya or Chapter to which such prisoner belongs has not permitted such prisoner to wear robes, the Commissioner of Prisons shall take necessary action in accordance with the relevant provisions and the Commissioner of Prisons shall within seven working days from the date of imprisonment of such prisoner, require the Department of Buddhist Affairs to seek the required approval from the relevant Nikhaya or Chapter.