Sri Lanka, Oct. 14 -- Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K. D. Lalkantha has said that while individuals who commit offences should be punished under the law, the Buddhist robe itself should not be treated as being at fault for an individual's wrongdoing.

"I personally do not like punishing the robe. The robe was punished even during the colonial era. Our Buddhist monks were shot dead while wearing the robe. I do not like that. Just because an individual commits a wrongdoing, the robe itself is not at fault. According to the law, it is fair to punish the person, not the robe," he said.

Commenting on Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, Minister Lalkantha said the monk was a frie...