MIGETTUWATTE SUMITHA THERA ARRESTED BY THE CID

Galle’s Chief Sangha Nayaka Thera had been arrested by the CID

Inguruwa Bandarigoda Incumbent Asgiri Chapter of Galle district Sangha Nayaka Migettuwatte Ven.Sumitta Thera was arrested today by the CID for giving custody for a group of bandits who have done murders and also who have been involved in rapes.
The recent cause for this arrest had been the robbery of a jewelry shop at Aluthgama, Moragalla. It was reported that Sumitta thera had helped these robbers to escape and he had also offered them safe custody at the temple.
No one will believe that Ven. Sumitta thera who is famous for his virtue. Sumitta thera often preaches about simplicity in life. The following article is an interview that was given to ‘Dinamina’ newspaper by him:
Ven. thera there is a difference between the old and the modern societies. Isn’t it?
“People live with needs. What has happened is that those needs have become luxurious ones. Specially, they are spending more than what they earn. Lives have become complex. Simplicity is not there in those lives. In the modern society, people are doing everything on a materialistic basis. Even after stealing, they have only build up materialistic values. Many thieves have been created after seeing the materials in the world. A person who lives simply will have fewer enemies. This doesn’t mean that we have to go back to the ancient times. Whatever we show the world should be healthy to the society”.

What are the factors that make our lives so complex?
“The basic factor here is that people are going away from the religion. We cannot justify it in any way. There is a religion which guides every one. We should not leave it or frame it only to our birth certificate.”

Monks are in charge of all the Buddhists who love around world. Don’t you think that they too have a responsibility towards this mission?
“Vinayo nama Sasanassa ayu are the words of Buddha. It can be simply interpreted as “The life expectancy of the Sasana would be discipline”.  Discipline decides how long sasana would live. Therefore, the Buddhist monks have a responsibility in protecting both the sasana and the society.”