July 10, Colombo: A television debate is scheduled to be held today between a Sinhala Buddhist political party of Sri Lanka and the Chairman of Sri Lanka Bar Association (SLBA) over Buddhist monks and other clergy engaging in politics.

The debate is held between the leader of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero and the SLBA Chairman, President Counsel Wijedasa Rajapakse, MP of opposition United National Party (UNP).

MP Rajapakse, a lawyer by profession, has brought forward a private member proposal to the parliament to ban the clergy from contesting elections in Sri Lanka.

However, the JHU which has a representation of Buddhist monks in various public councils vehemently protest the proposal and they have campaigned against it.

The JHU says the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the leaders of the parties of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance have expressed support to defeat the proposal.

The television debate will be aired by Derana TV from local time 9:45 p.m. onward.