PIRIVENA EDUCATION

(a) to bhikkhus ; and

(b) to male lay pupils over fourteen years of age who are desirous of following a course of studies imparted in a Pirivena and who wish to receive their education in a Buddhist environment.

(a) to foster an interest among bhikkhus in the protection and progress of the threefold Susanne namely, Pariyatti, Patipaththi, Pativedha;

(b) to foster discipline, knowledge in the Tripitaka and devotion to Dhamma among bhikkhus in order to maintain the order of bhikkhus descending from the lineage of Sariputtra and Moggallana Maha Theras;

(c) to give a training in practical knowledge, necessary for the Dhamma dutha activities in Sri Lanka and abroad and in other services appropriate to bhikkhus; and

(d) to provide facilities for bhikkhus to acquire a thorough knowledge in various subjects and languages including Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist Culture, Buddhist History, Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit-

(1) There shall be established a Board to be called the Pirivena Education (hereinafter referred to as the Board,’ ” Board”) consisting of the following members:-

(2) The members of the Board shall at the first meeting of the Board elect from among its members a bhikkhu to be the Chairman of the Board.

(3) The Director in charge of Pirivena Education shall be the Secretary of the Board.

(4) The Chairman shall preside at the meeting of the Board. In the absence of the Chairman at any meeting of the Board, the members of the Board shall elect from among themselves a bhikkhu to preside at that meeting,

(5) A person shall be disqualified for being nominated or being a member of the Board if he-

(6) Every member of the Board nominated by the Minister under paragraph (g) or paragraph (h) of subsection (1) (hereinafter referred to as ” nominated member “) shall subject to the provisions of subsections (7), (8) and (9), hold office for a period of three years from the date of nomination and shall be eligible for renomination: Provided, however, that a person who is nominated in place of a nominated member who resigns or dies or otherwise vacates office shall, unless he earlier resigns, dies or otherwise vacates office, hold office for the unexpired part of the term of office of the member whom he succeeds.

(7) Any nominated member may resign his office by letter in that behalf addressed to the Minister.

(8) The Minister may remove from office any nominated member without assigning any reason therefor.

(9) Any nominated member shall vacate office if he absents himself without the permission of the Chairman from three consecutive meetings of the Board.

(10) Where any member of the Board becomes by reason of illness or other infirmity or absence from Sri Lanka temporarily unable to perform the duties of his office then-

(11) The members of the Board shall not be entitled to any remuneration as members of the Board :

Provided, however, that the Minister may, in consultation with the Minister in charge of the subject of Finance, pay an allowance to such members if he considers it expedient so to do.

(12) Six members of the Board shall form the quorum for any meeting of the Board;

Provided, however, that where there has been no quorum for two consecutive meetings of the Board, it shall be lawful for the Chairman to discharge any function of the Board which he considers urgent and necessary without the approval of the Board and such function shall be deemed to have been discharged with the approval of the Board.

(13) The Board shall meet at least once in every three months.

(14) The Chairman shall convene a special meeting of the Board on a written request made by not less than four members of the Board.

(15) The Board may act notwithstanding any vacancy among its members and any decision of the Board shall not be invalid by reason only of the fact that there is a vacancy in the membership of the Board.

(16) The procedure for the transaction of business of the Board shall be determined in accordance with the rules made by the Board under this Act.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act or any regulations made thereunder, the Board shall exercise, perform and discharge the following powers, duties and functions:-

(2) Where the Director-General refers any matter to the Board for inquiry or report, the Director-General as a member of the Board shall not take part in any deliberations in respect of that inquiry or report.

(3) The Director-General shall be the chief executive authority of the Board,

(1) The Board may in accordance with rules made in that behalf appoint committees from among its members for the purpose of conducting inquiries or investigations on any matter that may come up before the Board for inquiry.

(2) The Board may co-opt any person or persons not being a member or members of the Board subject to the approval of the Minister, to any such committees of the Board for the purpose of any inquiry or investigation.

(a) Mulika Pirivenas;

(b) Maha Pirivenas;

(c) Pirivena Vidyayathana.

(1) Classes from Pirivena Grade I to Pirivena Grade V shall be conducted in a Mulika Pirivena.

(2) A Mulika Pirivena shall be a residential educational institution providing classes for bhikkhus resident in the Mulika Pirivena:

Provided that male lay pupils may be allowed to attend classes in a Mulika Pirivena.

(3) In the curriculum of a Mulika Pirivena the teaching of the traditional Pirivena curriculum and the training of bhikkhus according to the vinaya rules shall be given a foremost place.

(4) The Commissioner of Examinations on the advice of the Board may, at the end of the course of studies in a Mulika Pirivena, hold an examination for pupils of a Mulika Pirivena.

(1) Classes for the examinations held by the Oriental Studies Society and for any other examinations with a similar curriculum approved by the Board shall be conducted in a Maha Pirivena.

(2) A bhikkhu who has passed the examination held at the end of the course of studies in a Mulika Pirivena or any other examination of a similar standard recognized by the Board may be admitted to a Maha Pirivena:

Provided that male lay pupils who have passed the examinations referred to in the preceding provisions of this subsection may be admitted to a Maha Pirivena.

(1) Classes for the examinations held by the oriental Studies Society or by the Department of Examinations or by any University recognized by the Board shall be conducted in a Pirivena Vidyayathanaya.

(2) Bhikkhus who have passed the examination held at the end of the course of studies in a Mulika Pirivena and male lay pupils who have passed the Grade VIII examination in a Government School may be admitted to a Pirivena Vidyayathanaya.

(1) A Mulika Pirivena and a Maha Pirivena may be held within the same premises and under the same management.

(2) A Pirivena Vidyayathanaya shall not be held within the premises of a Mulika Pirivena or a Maha Pirivena or under the same management as a Mulika Pirivena or a Maha Pirivena.

(a) teaching in Pirivenas;

(b) the propagation of the Buddha Dhamma and Buddhist Culture and the promotion of the Buddhist way of life;

(c) social service;

(d) the practice of Buddhist meditation;

(e) the acquisition of the knowledge of the Buddha Dhamma and the Vinaya; and

(f) the teaching of Buddhism.

(1) Subject to the genera! direction and control of the Minister, the Director- General shall be responsible for the administration of this Act.

(2) There shall be appointed other officers of the Department of Education to assist the Director-General in the exercise, performance and discharge of his powers, duties and functions under this Act.

(3) The Director-General may, on application made in that behalf, in consultation with the Board register a Pirivena that conforms to the requirements of this Act or regulations made thereunder.

(4) Any Pirivena registered under this Act or deemed to be registered under this Act shall be eligible for a grant from State funds in accordance with this Act or any regulations made thereunder.

(1) Where a Pirivena is a Mulika Pirivena or a Maha Pirivena or a Pirivena Vidyayathanaya, the Viharadhipathi of the temple to which the land on which the Pirivena is situated belongs shall be appointed as the Manager of that Pirivena if the Viharadhipathi consents to that appointment.

(2) Where the Viharadhipathi does not consent to his appointment under subsection (1), another bhikkhu shall be appointed as the Manager of that Pirivena on the recommendation of the Viharadhipathi, if the Director-General is satisfied that the bhikkhu is suitable for the appointment.

(3) Where the Director-General is not satisfied that the bhikkhu who is recommended by a Viharadhipathi is suitable for appointment as the Manager, the Director-General may appoint a suitable bhikkhu as the Manager of that Pirivena.

(4) A bhikkhu shall not be appointed as a Manager of more than one Pirivena: Provided that where a Mulika Pirivena and a Maha Pirivena are situated within the same premises the same bhikkhu may be appointed as Manager of both those pirivenas.

(5) Where a bhikkhu is a Viharadhipathi of more than one temple and two or more Pirivenas are situated on the lands belonging to those temples (except in the circumstances set out in the proviso to subsection (4) ), the Viharadhipathi may elect to be appointed as the Manager of any one of those Pirivenas and the Viharadhipathi may, with the concurrence of the Board, nominate a bhikkhu for appointment as Manager of any one of those other Pirivenas.

(6) Where a Viharadhipathi of a temple is a minor or suffers from any mental or physical disability, the Director-General shall, after consulting the Dayakha Sabha of the temple and the Board, appoint a suitable bhikkhu to act as Manager of any Pirivena situated on any land belonging to that temple, until the Viharadhipathi attains majority or recovers from such disability.

(7) Where there is a dispute to the office of a Viharadhipathi of a temple the Director-General shall, after consulting the Board, make a temporary appointment as Manager of any Pirivena situated on any land belonging to that temple until that dispute is determined.

(1) A bhikkhu who holds any paid office under the Republic shall not appointed as a Manager of a Pirivena.

(2) Where a Viharadhipathi of a temple is a holder of a paid office under the Republic, he shall, for the purpose of section 20, be deemed to have not consented to his appointment as a Manager of a Pirivena and accordingly subsections (2) and (3) of that section shall apply to the appointment of a manager of a Pirivena referred to in that section.

(a) to provide suitable and adequate accommodation, furniture, equipment, sanitary and other facilities for the Pirivena as may be required by the Director-General;

(b) to maintain such educational and cultural standards in the Pirivena as may be prescribed;

(c) to appoint or discontinue subject to the approval of the Board the Principal and teachers of the Pirivena;

(d) to utilize in the best interest of the Pirivena the grant paid out of State funds in respect of the Pirivena;

(e) to be responsible for the general administration and proper maintenance of the Pirivena;

(f) to ensure that the staff of the Pirivena carries out the functions and duties assigned to such staff and complies with such instructions as may be issued by the Director-General from time to time; and

(g) to recommend a suitable person acceptable to the Board and the Director-General to act as Manager where the Manager is unable to perform his duties by reason of illness or absence from Sri Lanka or for any other cause.

(a) he is a bhikkhu who has received Upasampada not less than five years prior to the date of appointment; and

(b) he-

Provided that a bhikkhu who was a Principal of a Pirivena on the day immediately preceding the appointed date may, notwithstanding paragraph (b) continue as Principal of that Pirivena.

(1) A person shall not be eligible for appointment as a teacher of a Pirivena unless he is a bhikkhu:

Provided, however, that where a bhikkhu is not available for appointment as a teacher in respect of such subjects as may be specified by the Director-General, a qualified layman may be appointed as a teacher of a Pirivena.

(2) The minimum educational qualifications for teachers of Pirivenas shall be as prescribed and different qualifications may be prescribed in respect of different subjects.

(3) A bhikkhu appointed as a teacher to a Pirivena shall be paid a monthly stipend and it shall be paid to a ‘Kepakaru’ nominated by the teacher: Provided, however, that a bhikkhu who was a full-time Pirivena teacher on the day immediately preceding the appointed date may continue to draw his salary.

(4) A layman appointed as a teacher of a Pirivena shall be paid such salary, in accordance with the qualifications held by him, as may be prescribed and such salary may be paid direct to him.

(5) The Board shall maintain for the purposes of this Act a Register of Pirivena Teachers which shall include teachers and Principals of all registered Pirivenas.

(1) All matters connected with the conditions of service including the procedure in respect of appointments, dismissals and disciplinary control of teachers and principals, and the payment of salaries shall be as prescribed.

(2) Only male persons shall be eligible for appointment to the staff of a Pirivena either as a teacher or otherwise.

(1) The Minister may, with the concurrence of the Board, make regulations for all matters in respect of which regulations are authorized or required to be made under this Act.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by subsection (1), the Minister may with the concurrence of the Board make regulations in respect of all or any of the following matters:-

(3) Every regulation made by the Minister under this Act shall be published in the Gazette and shall come into operation on the date of the publication or on such later date as may be specified in the regulation.

(4) Every regulation made by the Minister shall, as soon as convenient after the date of its publication, be brought before Parliament for approval. Any regulation which is not so approved shall be deemed to be rescinded as from the date of disapproval but without prejudice to anything previously done thereunder.

(5) Notification of the date on which any regulation is so deemed to be rescinded shall be published in the Gazette.

(a) an educational institution receiving a grant from State funds under section 32 and managed by a bhikkhu and having for its aims and objects the aims and objects specified in sections 2 and 3 ; or

(b) a Pirivena Training Institute established under section 13 ;