Bhikkunis in the country have been denied their fundamental rights and they have not been issued their identity cards, Buddhist Cultural Centre Director Ven Kirama Wimalajothi thera said.

The thera was addressing a press conference at the Sri Sambuddhtva Jayanthi Mandiraya in Colombo.

The thera said; "Bhikkunis are requesting the government to take action to issue identity cards for them as soon as possible. Without identity cards the bhikkuni educational institutions do not allow them to gain entrance, the thera said.

'Even though a very small segment of bhikkus are protesting, 90 percent of bhikkus agree with the Mehena system.

'Therefore, the Bhikkuni community has decided to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa if authorities will not take action to accept their request, the thera said. Around 800 Bhikunis were ordained for the first time in 1995. At present, there are 1,500 ordained bhikkunis countrywide, the Thera said.

Courtesy: DailyNews

Posted on Friday, February 03, 2012 @ 12:04:30 LKT by SaNDuN

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