Speakers Call for Justice for Gnanasara Thera at Media Briefing

Several speakers at a media briefing calling for justice for Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera criticised the government’s handling of the controversy surrounding the removal of the Buddhist monk’s robe and called on the public to unite in support of Buddhist religious institutions.

Ven. Welipatha Dhammarama, secretary of the All-Island United National Reconciliation Bhikkhu Front, alleged that the government’s actions were contributing to the decline of Buddhism. He urged both laypeople and members of the clergy to stand together to protect the Buddhist Sasana and the dignity of the robe.

He said the public should not remain silent simply because an issue had not directly affected them, warning that the treatment of a junior monk or a senior prelate should concern the wider Buddhist community.

Referring to the controversy involving Gnanasara Thera, he argued that the public needed to take collective action. He also criticised political figures who, he said, had questioned the absence of organisations such as Bodu Bala Sena and Ravana Balaya from the current debate.

Dhammarama used strong language to criticise former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe, expressing dissatisfaction with the political leadership’s response to the issue.

Seepala Amarasinghe Questions Equal Application of the Law

Seepala Amarasinghe, representing Mahajana Kendraya, alleged that the controversy reflected an act of retaliation against Buddhist culture.

He questioned whether the law was being applied equally to all individuals and raised concerns about the government’s handling of cases involving different people. He also referred to comments reportedly made by former Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala about the treatment of Gnanasara Thera during an earlier period of imprisonment.

His remarks focused on concerns about equal treatment under the law and the circumstances surrounding the monk’s robe.

Call for Public Gathering

Another Mahajana Kendraya representative, Kalum Jayasumana, criticised the incident, claiming that the treatment of the monk went beyond what had occurred during the colonial period.

He appealed to Sinhala Buddhists and people from other religious communities to attend a gathering in Kadawatha the following day.

The briefing reflected growing political and public debate over the treatment of Buddhist clergy, the role of religious institutions and the application of the law in cases involving religious figures.