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Buddhist leaders called on all members of parliament yesterday not to support the proposed constitution and vowed to mount a countrywide campaign to make the public aware about what they described as a threat to Buddhism. They demanded an immediate response from the government for dropping Article 9 which safeguards Buddhism as the state religion in the present Constitution. Addressing a press conference yesterday the President of the Jathika Sangha Sabha, Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera said the Government and the UNP had discussed the draft constitution with all other parties including some foreign ambassadors, but they are so far keeping it away from Buddhists who represent 70 percent of the population. He also said that neither the government nor the opposition has denied this. "Thus, it is obvious that the exposure by the media is true," he said. "Buddhism was granted the foremost place and special protection of the government since the religion was introduced to this country during the era of King Devanampiyatissa". "Buddhist's place was not questioned by the Britishers who ruled the country from 1815. They protected and respected the highest symbol of Buddhism, the Tooth Relic," he added. "Now the two present leaders want to pacify the Tamil terrorists who demand a separate homeland, and are agreeing to remove Article 9 from the proposed constitution". National Joint Committee (NJC) General Secretary Dr. Piyasena Dissanayake said a conference of Maha Sangha has been called on August 1, which will be attended by the Mahanayakes to discuss the matter further. He also said that the NJC would send a letter to all Sinhala Parliamentarians appealing to them to vote against the draft constitution bill in Parliament.
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