Minister of Buddhasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayaka will present a Memorandum to the Cabinet for its approval to make Dhamma education compulsory for students. This proposal will be made by the Minister to coincide with the Vesak Festival 2023.
Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Somaratne Vidanapathirana said that students who shun Sunday Dhamma schools will be directed to attend Dhamma schools regularly. All Divisional Secretaries would be appointed to coordinate this program under the guidance of the Chief Incumbents of Buddhist temples and the chief priests of places of worship.
He said the crime rate had gone up due to lack of moral values. This can be overcome by instilling noble human values through Dhamma education in the tender minds of students. Many drug and liquor addicts have also been reported among the senior students of leading schools during the recent past. Most of these students had links to crime-related incidents and some students have become suspects in thefts of vehicles, mobile phones and laptops.
“All Dhamma school teachers will be equipped with meditation skills, preaching and practical lessons of religious values to implement the program successfully countrywide in the near future. About 6,800 Sunday Dhamma school teachers will be trained by the Ministry of Buddhasana,” he added.