§ SIR JOHN KENNAWAYI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the purport of the "Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance" lately passed through the Legislative Council of Ceylon by Sir A. Gordon; does it involve in any form the endowment of the Buddhist religion; and, is 98 an ordinance of this character subject to the approval of the Secretary of State?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe purport of the Ordinance is to vest the property belonging to the Buddhist temples in trustees appointed by and acting under the control of district committees elected by the Buddhist householders in the district, the object being to ensure that the revenues of the temples are applied to their proper purposes. The Ordinance does not involve the endowment of the Buddhist religion. The draft of the Ordinance was approved by the Secretary of State before it was introduced in the Legislative Council and the Ordinance has been confirmed and allowed by the Queen.
§ SIR J. KENNAWAYIs not the Ordinance a distinct departure from the principle of non-interference on the part of the Local Government with Buddhist affairs?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSI think not, Sir.