Pastor Jerome will be prosecuted – Minister

• Ministry lodges formal complaint with IGP against him   
• The Minister said Pastor Jerome’s remarks amounted to creating religious disharmony

By Kelum Bandara  

Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake said yesterday that a formal complaint was lodged with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) against Pastor Jerome who misrepresented facts against the Buddha and Buddhism. 

Pastor Jerome is in trouble following a video in which he made some controversial remarks on the Buddha.  In his video, Jerome claimed that in a Buddhist’s mind, they never hear the love of Buddha as their focus is enlightenment. “But to be enlightened you need light. The name Buddha itself means enlightened one.  So what is greater, light or enlightenment? Jesus said I am the light of the world. So I tell you now, Jesus didn’t say I am the enlightened one. 

No, Jesus came from a different wavelength. Jesus said I am the light. So I submit to you, the Buddha was looking for light. Buddha was actually looking for Jesus.”  
Minister Wickramanayake told Daily Mirror that the controversial pastor would be prosecuted in terms of the Constitution and the Penal Code since his remarks amounted to creating religious disharmony.   “He should be prosecuted and will be prosecuted,” he said.   

However, he declined to comment further citing the matter was lying with the law.   

• The controversial pastor would be prosecuted in terms of the Constitution and the Penal Code since his remarks amounted to creating religious disharmony