About 200 people have submitted their opinions on proposed amendments to the monastic law to restructure the Sangha Supreme Council to the website of the Office of the Council of State, said Prime Minister’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuwattana on Monday.
The Council of State has invited monks and members of the public to submit their opinions on the matter to the council through its website www.krisdika.go.th since June 20 until June 27.
The opinions were discussed at a meeting on Monday of the Council of State. Also present at the meeting with Mr Suwaphan, Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-ngam, Phra Phrommuni, assistant abbot of Wat Ratbophit and secretary to the Supreme Patriach, National Office of Buddhism director Pol Lt-Col Pongporn Pramsaneh and Phra Phrombandhit, a member of the Sangha Supreme Council.
Mr Suwaphan said the Council of State would screen the received opinions and picked those which are suitable to be considered with the draft amendments.
He said he could not disclose the details yet until the proposed amendments were drafted into a draft bill and submitted to the cabinet for consideration.
The proposed amendments seek to abolish the ex-officio memberships in the Sangha Supreme Council which were reserved for senior monks with the rank of Somdet Phra Rachakhana. It also seeks to empower His Majesty the King to appoint members of the council.
