Whereas a society called and known as the Mahamantinda Vidyarakshaka Sabha has heretofore been established at Weliveriya in Matara for the purpose of maintaining and managing the educational institution called and known as the Mahamantinda Pirivena and the other institutions connected therewith and founded, held, or presided over, by the late Venerable Bedigama Sri Ratnapala Nayaka Thero and the late Venerable Babarende Sri Dharmawasa Nayaka Thero :

And whereas the said society has heretofore been successfully carrying out its objects and it is now desirable that the said society should be incorporated :

Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and the House of Representatives of Ceylon in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

1. This Act may be cited as the Mahamantinda Vidyarakshaka Sabha Act.

2. The persons who, at the commencement of this Act, are members of the Mahamantinda Vidyarakshaka Sabha (hereinafter referred to as" the sabha") and such other persons as are hereafter enrolled as members of the sabha shall be a body corporate (hereinafter referred to as " the corporation ") with perpetual succession, a common seal and the name "The Mahamantinda Vidyarakshaka Sabha ". The corporation may sue and be sued by that name.

3. The general, objects of the corporation shall be-

(a) the management and maintenance of the Mahamantinda Pirivena situated at Weliveriya in Matara (hereinafter referred to as "the pirivena ") and the other institutions connected therewith and founded, held, or presided over, by the late Venerable Bedigama Sri Ratnapala Nayaka Thero and the late Venerable Babarende Sri Dharmawasa Nayaka Thero;

(b) the management and maintenance of any other schools or institutions which may hereafter be established;

(c) the establishment, management and maintenance of centres for scientific and religious research;

(d) the propagation of the Buddha dhamma and the promotion of Buddhist culture; and

(e) the printing and publishing of books, journals, newspapers, and pamphlets.

4.

(1) The corporation shall have a council which shall consist of- (a) twenty life-members, and (b) eighty ordinary members elected annually in accordance with the rules for the time being of the corporation.

(2) The council shall, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1) of section 5, elect at its first meeting for each year, which shall be held on a date not less than fourteen days before the date of the annual general meeting of the corporation, the persons who shall constitute the board of management of the corporation for that year.

(3) The following shall be life-members of the council:- 1. N. W. Samarasekera, Esq., Main Street, Matara. 2. D. Wanigasekara, Esq., M.B.E., Akuressa. 3. C. A. Ariyatilaka, Esq., J.P., Matara. 4. C. Wijesinghe, Esq., O.B.E., Kamburupitiya. 5. Muhandiram A. D. S. Weerasinghe, Gabadaweediya, Matara. 6. A. Weeratunga, Esq., Walgama, Matara. 7. D. S. Gunawardhana, Esq., Matara. 8. D. Weeratunga, Esq., Proctor, S. C, Matara. 9. H. M. D. Ekanaika, Esq., Matara. 10. D. J. Kumarage, Esq., M.B.E., Matara. 11. D. E. Siriwardhana, Esq., Kotawila. 12. B. E. Samarasekera, Esq., Matara. 13. D. M. Wanigasekera, Esq., Wewahamanduwa, Matara. 14. Dr. K. E. Karunaratna, Matara. 15. T. C. D. Abeyagunawardhana, Esq., Fort, Matara. 16. M. J. Nanayakkara, Esq., Matara. 17. Kumaradasa Karunanayaka, Esq., Matara. 18. C. A. Chandrasena, Esq., Kadeweediya, Matara. 19. C. Justin Wijewardhana, Esq., Godagama, Matara. 20. D. S. A. Wickramasinghe, Esq., Uyanwatta, Matara.

(4) Wherever a vacancy occurs among the life-members of the council, the board of management of the corporation shall elect a person to fill the vacancy.

(5) The following ordinary members of the council shall, unless they cease to hold office earlier, hold office as such members from the date of commencement of this Act until the election of the ordinary members of the council for the next succeeding year and shall be eligible for re-election as ordinary members of the council:- 1. H. W. Amarasuriya, Esq., Galle. 2. D. P. Atapattu, Esq., Proctor, S. C, Tangalla. 3. D. D. Abhayagunaratna, Esq., Malimbada. 4. D. C. Abeywickrama, Esq., Kongala, Hakmana. 5. Muhandiram P. F. Abeywickrama, Morawaka. 6. Muhandiram H. R. Amaradasa, Dikwella. 7. D. F. Abeywardhana, Esq., Main Street, Matara. 8. D. D. D. Abeygunawardhana, Esq., Kanattegoda, Matara. 9. D. T. A. Amarakoon, Esq., Notary Public, Matara. 10. D. S. Amaratunga, Esq., Walgama, Matara. 11. D. A. N. Bamunusinghe, Esq., Walasgala. 12. D. Sepala Dahanayaka, Esq., Godapitiya, Akuressa. 13. D. D. Dahanayaka, Esq., Hittatiya, Matara. 14. J. D. Davith Appuhamy, Esq., Meddewatta, Matara. 15. H. R. Dissanayaka, Esq., Hakuruwela, Weeraketiya. 16. Arthur Dissanayake, Esq., Hunnadeniya, Dikwella. 17. B. R. Dissanayaka, Esq.," Senanee", Magalle, Galle. 18. D. H. W. W. Dissanayake, Esq., Pitadeniya, Dikwella. 19. C. A. Dharmapala, Esq., M. P., Matara. 20. H. P. D. C. Dharmadasa, Esq., Gabadaweediya, Matara. 21. D. A. Francisco, Esq., Matara. 22. D. H. Galagama, Esq., Mandaduwa, Weeraketiya. 23. Albert P. W. Gunasekera, Esq., 24. Muhandiram A. W. Gunasekera, Malimbada. 25. HemachandaraW. Gunasekera, Esq., Proctor, S. C, Weligama. 26. B. S. Gunasekera, Esq., Wattala. 27. David Gunaratna, Esq., Wehella. 28. M. K. S. de Silva, Esq. 29. Chandrasena Gunawardhana, Esq., Weliweriya. 30. D. A. Gunawardhana, Esq., Godagama. 31. C. A. Harischandra, Esq., Matara. 32. S. Hettige Esq., J.P., Mulatiyana. 33. S. K. G. Jayawardhana, Esq., Fort, Matara. 34. E. M. W. Jayasooriya, Esq., Proctor, S.C., Matara. 35. P. L. Jinadasa, Esq., Andaradeniya, Deniyaya. 36. D. P. Attapattu, Esq., Matara. 37. D. A. Rajapakse, Esq., Palawella. 38. Leyiris Kumarapperuma, Esq., Walgama. 39. Richard Kulatunga, Esq., Proctor, S.C., Matara. 40. D. S. Y. Kulatunga, Esq., Pallawela. 41. A. S. Y. Kulatunga, Esq., Kottagoda. 42. D. F. N. Kuruppu, Esq., Naimbala. 43. W. U. Liyanage, Esq., Weliweriya. 44. D. A. Manamperi, Esq., Madiha. 45. C. Manamperi, Esq., Nakulugamuwa. 46. S. Masakorala, Esq., Matara. 47. D. G. J. Mahanama, Esq., Matara. 48. S. Meemaduma, Esq., Matara. 49. R. D. S. Mohotti, Esq., Hittatiya. 50. M. E. Nanayakkara, Esq., Proctor, S.C., Matara. 51. B. R. Wijesekera, Esq., Deniyaya. 52. V. G. W. Ratnayake, Esq., M.P., Deniyaya. 53. D. M. Ratnayake, Esq., Akuressa. 54. D. P. Ranasinghe, Esq., Mulatiyana. 55. D. J. J. Ranatunga, Esq., Kadawedduwa. 56. C. J. Ranatunga, Esq., Advocate, Kamburupitiya. 57. D. A. Rajapaksa, Esq., M.P., Weeraketiya. 58. D. A. Rajapaksa, Esq., " Lumbini", Rahula Road, Matara. 59. D. J. Ranaweera, Esq., Yatiyana. 60. D. D. S. Rupasinghe, Esq., Walpola, Matara. 61. D. C. Wanigasekera, Esq., Akuressa. 62. K. D. Wijesekera, Esq., Hakmana. 63. E. P. Wijetunga, Esq., Proctor, S. C, Matara. 64. Lionel Wijetunga, Esq., Elgiriya. 65. D. C. A. Wickramasinghe, Esq., Weliweriya. 66. J. W. Wickramasinghe, Esq., Proctor, S. C, Matara. 67. T. S. Wickramaratna, Esq., Kamburupitiya. 68. George Weeratunga, Esq., Proctor, S. C, Tangalla. 69. D. S. Weeratunga, Esq., Madiha. 70. Piyadasa Weeratunga, Esq., Madiha. 71. K. G. J. Weerasinghe, Esq., Gabadaweediya. 72. K. G. K. Wedahita, Esq., Walgama. 73. D. Samarakoon, Esq., Kotte. 74. Fred Samarakoon, Esq., Matara. 75. Muhandiram L. D. Sedara, Kamburupitiya. 76. R. P. Simon, Esq., Matara. 77. C. A. Edward de Silva, Esq., Wattala. 78. Henry R. de Silva, Esq., Gabadaweediya, Matara. 79. W. T. de Silva, Esq., Walpola, Matara. 80. M. D. Yapa, Esq., J.P., Waralla.

5.

(1) Subject to such rules as may be made under section 11, the affairs of the corporation shall be managed by a board of management consisting of fifteen life- members and ten ordinary members of the council.

(2) The board of management shall elect from its own members the following office- bearers of the corporation:- (a) the president, (b) four vice-presidents, (c) an honorary treasurer, and (d) two honorary joint secretaries.

(3) The office-bearers of the corporation shall, unless they cease to hold office earlier, hold office from the date of their election until the election of the office-bearers for the next succeeding year.

6.

(1) The following persons shall be members of the advisory board corporation:- 1. Venerable K. Sri Pannasara Nayaka Thero, Principal, Vidyalankara Pirivena. 2. Rev. W. Sumangala Nayaka Thero, Puranaviharaya, Hatagala. 3. Rev. Sri Saranankara Nayaka Thero, Walasgala. 4. Rev. W. Sri Jinaratana Nayaka Thero, Tenumpota, Dikwella. 5. Rev. K. Sri Sanghananda Nayaka Thero, Pallawela. 6. Rev. P. Dhammaratana Thero, Murutamure, Hakmana. 7. Rev. P. Sri Rewata Nayaka Thero, Weherahena, Makavita. 8. Rev. K. Sri Sumanatissa Nayaka Thero, Kasagala Viharaya, Weeraketiya. 9. Rev. G. Sri Indasara Nayaka Thero, Tissamaharamaya. 10. Rev. G. Dhammadhara Thero, Denagama, Hakmana. 11. The Principal of the Vidyalankara Pirivena, Peliyagoda.

(2) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the advisory board, the board of management shall elect a person to fill the vacancy.

7.

(1) If there is a suitable and qualified bhikkhu who is in the line of pupillary succession to the late Venerable Bedigama Sri Ratnapala Nayaka Thero or the late Venerable Babarende Sri Dharmawasa Nayaka Thero, such bhikkhu shall be appointed to the post of principal of the pirivena. In the absence of such a bhikkhu, an elderly bhikkhu in the line of such pupillary succession shall be appointed director of the pirivena. The director of the pirivena shall appoint, with the approval of the board of management, a qualified and competent bhikkhu to the post of principal, and shall be generally responsible for the proper administration of the pirivena.

(2) The bhikkhus in the line of such pupillary succession as is referred to in subsection (1) shall have the right to reside in the pirivena, and shall be subject to the disciplinary rules of the pirivena:

Provided, however, that if any such bhikkhu behaves in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the pirivena, his conduct shall be examined by a body consisting of not less than five members of the advisory board and of the members of the board of management, and if he is found guilty of having behaved in such manner, he shall be ejected from the pirivena.

8.

(1) The annual general meeting of the corporation shall be held in the month of January, and the reports of the board of management and of the honorary treasurer shall be submitted for consideration at such meeting.

(2) The honorary secretary shall convene a special general meeting at the request of the president or the board of management or upon the written requisition of not less than twenty-five members of the corporation.

(3) At least ten days' notice shall be given of any general meeting, and twenty-five members shall constitute the quorum for such meeting.

(4) The board of management shall meet at least once in three months.

(5) At least ten days' notice shall be given of any meeting of the board of management, and seven members shall constitute the quorum for such meeting.

9. The corporation may acquire and hold any movable or immovable property by right of purchase, exchange, grant, gift, testamentary disposition or otherwise, and may sell, mortgage, lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of any movable or immovable property of the corporation.

10. The corporation may invest its funds on any securities on which trustees are required by the Trusts Ordinance to invest trust money.

11 It shall be lawful for the corporation, at any meeting specially called for that purpose and by a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting at such meeting, to make such rules not inconsistent with this Act as the corporation may deem expedient for all or any of the following purposes:-

(a) the limitation of membership and the fixing of the membership fee;

(b) the election of members;

(c) the removal of members from the roll;

(d) the election of office-bearers and an auditor, and the determination of their duties;

(e) the election of the ordinary members of the council and of the board of management, and the determination of the duties of the members of the board of management;

(f) the appointment of a director or principal of the pirivena, and the determination of the duties and the term of office of such director or principal;

(g) the procedure to be followed in the transaction of business of the corporation, the board of management and the advisory board;

(h) the custody of the seal of the corporation; and

(i) the general administration of the affairs of the corporation.

12. The seal of the corporation shall not be affixed to any instrument whatsoever except in the presence of the president and one other member of the board of management who shall sign their names on the instrument in token of their presence, and such signing shall be independent of the signing of any person as a witness.

13. Nothing in this Act contained shall prejudice or affect the rights of the Republic, or of any body politic or corporate, or of any other persons, except such as are mentioned in this Act and those claiming by, from, or under them.