Suspicious factors that surface about Sobhitha Thera's sick condition ....

Suspicious factors that surface about Sobhitha Thera's sick condition ....

which went as far as the fatal pneumonia which emerged ....

after the by-pass surgery

Suspicious factors have been raised across

several media relating to the manner in which the thera's death took place after cremation of the Late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera. While these are to what extent correct is a matter of conjecture and the disadvantage that may result because of this type of dialogue on the honour of the Late thera is something that should be subjected to consideration.

Whatever it is, we present what those matters of interest are for the readers to be informed and for their enquiry. This information has been revealed by a letter writer, Sanjaya Liyanage who has forwarded to the Sunday Sathhanda. During the time Sobhitha Thero intervened in a noble manner to bring about a victory to the incumbent regime by performing a decisive share of duties in defeating the former government, an element of suspicion has been focused upon by the writer as to whether the prelate had to give up his life as a result of some form of coup. The venerable thera has for sometime been ailing with various minor illnesses including diabetes. The article mentions that the thera had taken treatment for such sicknesses and that it was in most cases from a private hospital in Colombo, the Nawaloka Hospital. After taking treatment for these illnesses though he was able to indulge in civil social activities and activities of the sasana, this worry had begun to dawn from recent times.

The thera had admitted himself to the Colombo General Hospital in the month of September mentioning about a pain which he was suffering from at the back of his body. On that occasion it was the director of that hospital, Dr. Anil Jasinghe who had accepted him to the hospital. Subsequently according to instructions given by him, Sobitha Thera was directed to Consultant Dr. Mrs. Padma Gunasekera who was a specialist in Neurology. On that occasion it was decided that what Sobitha Thera was suffering from was not from an ailment in relation to the nervous system and the thera was then directed to specialist in Cardiology, Dr. Shantha Raj. In that instance even Dr. Chaminda too had examined Sobitha Thera. After these examinations it was decided that the thera should be subjected to a heart surgery. As such the thera had admitted himself to the Central Private Hospital and it was on September 23rd or a date close to it. After being admitted in this manner it is learned that two operations were performed on the thera. It was a by-pass surgery and an operation to adjust a weak condition of the valve which conveyed blood to the left saccular gland from the left auricle of a valve in the heart. A reputed team of doctors including Heart Specialist Dr. Ajith Karunaratna, specialist in Anaesthesia, Dr. Krishantha Mendis, specialist in relation to kidneys, Dr. Rushika Lanerolle under instructions of Specialist Dr. Shantha Raj carried out these surgeries.

Subsequently the thera had left the hospital. What parties who pose a point of suspicion here is that even during that procedure of activities there, there are instances of suspicion which need to be clarified. There are several queries which they bring out in that connection. Why didn't the thera get himself admitted to the Nawaloka Hospital where he upto then took treatment from? Why were the doctors who were well informed about his health condition not consulted? Are there justified reasons for to admit him to Central Hospital instead of Nawaloka Hospital? On the other hand, based on the thera's other health conditions and the age of the thera being taken into account, why were other treatment procedures not adopted instead of banking on surgery alone? In the same way, if a serious operation was warranted, why was the thera not directed to a foreign hospital which had better facilities than here? Such questions in this case are of special significance.

In this context even Professor Dr. Carlo Fonseka too has made an emphasis to the media and in that connection he had posed a question saying that if the thera had been directed to more developed medical treatment prior to surgery and more consideration was given in this respect, the fate of the thera would have taken a different turn. Internal parties of the government who have opened up discussion in this respect have focused attention on this statement. A point that those parties bring forward in particular is, 'don't show the thera to those who are partial to Mahinda'. It is heard that some of those who wanted to accumulate plus points have taken decisions as and how they wanted.

Whatever it is, it is reported that though the thera was to be kept under vigilance of medical care during a post-surgery period after this surgery, such a procedure has not taken place as warranted. One item of news conveyed in that instance is that the thera has been released from the hospital before the required period. The other point is, that when the thera was recovering slightly, later he had removed himself from that hospital voluntarily and had admitted himself to Neville Fernando Hospital in Malabe on the invitation of Specialist Dr. Neville Fernando. It was at the time that Sobitha Thera was at Neville Fernando Hospital that former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa had visited him to inquire about the health of the thera and wished him quick recovery.

Even during the said period there are suspicious points relevant to the demise of the thera, it has come to be known. Among points brought out by such parties are as to what treatment was given to the thera at Neville Fernando Hospital. Who it was that prescribed medicines in that instance etcetera as being important points. These points are of vital importance because the thera's health condition once again turned for the worse after the period the thera received treatment at Neville Fernando Hospital. It was in that manner that the thera had to get himself admitted to the Central Private Hospital on October 26th or a date close to that. The medical opinion expressed after examination of the thera was that he had developed a state of serious pneumonia. In that instance specialist doctors such as Shivakumar, Prasad Katulanda, Priyankara Jayawardena and Upul Gunasekera had been involved. However since the health condition of the thera had become aggravated thereafter, medical advice had been given to admit him to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for further treatment.

It was under such circumstances that the thera was taken to Singapore during early morning hours of last 4th. It was by a special flight which transported patients who were invalid. Apart from specialist doctor Das and a nurse who had arrived from Singapore to accept the custody of the thera, Dr. Prasad Katulanda and Dr. Upul Gunasekera who treated the thera during his last stages in this country had been present. Even by that time one kidney of the thera had been beyond repair while the other kidney was in a serious state too.

On the morning of November 4th around 7.30 the thera was admitted to the intensive care unit of Singapore Mount Elizabeth Hospital where Cardiologist Specialist, world renown Dr. Shivadasan together with a team of specialists dealing with kidney problems, diabetes and the nervous system had engaged in treating the thero. A special point of interest that needs mentioning in this instance is that Cardiology Specialist known the world over, Dr. Shivadasan is a Sri Lankan who migrated in order to save his life from extremists of this country during the 83 riots. Whatever it is, though they strived to save the thero's life, it is now a reality that all their efforts were in vain.

Anyhow news received from sources of that country is that instead of having waited until the last moment if the thera was brought there, the situation may well have turned out for the better. Whatever it is, when the thera was beginning to get worse gradually in this manner the Speaker Mr. Karu Jayasuriya had made the President understand about these circumstances and the President had then responded saying that arrangements be made to save the thera wherever in the world he could be sent to and whatever expenses are incurred in such a situation, he  prepared to foot it. Though the Prime Minister too had given his consent to it, no action had been forthcoming until the thera reached a serious stage. If in that context what could have been done was, according to such circumstances, not to brush aside requesting for an investigation once more about points under suspicion, without it being rejected.

When we enquired about this, what Specialist Dr. Prasad Kaytugampala said was that the treatment was carried out without any break and that the cause for the thera's demise was that his condition of pneumonia had become too serious. Also that he totally rejects statements of underesting doctors in this country and which defame their goodwill as well.

Venerable Udukalakande Ariyaratna Thero, the Chief Student monk of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero  when questioned in this connection declined making any comment as such. What he too said was that he himself does not entertain such stories. When we contacted Jayaratna Florists who attended to the funeral procedures of the dead body of Ven. Sobitha Thero enquiring as to the nformation about the body, they too politely refused to make a comment.

But was the surgery conducted on Sobitha Thera something that inevitably had to be performed? When the doctors who carried out the operation remark that the operation was successful and that there were no side effects, how was Sobitha Thera suddenly afflicted with a condition of pneumonia? Is the news that the bed ticket reports of Sobitha Thera in the Central Hospital have been misplaced by now, true? When after a heart surgery a post operation period must be adopted under medical care, who is it that granted approval for him to be released from the hospital? Why was he removed from Central Hospital and taken to the Malabe Neville Fernando Hospital? If such a decision was taken by Sobitha Thera, was there no one who stood against that decision? What treatment was given to the thera at Malabe Neville Fernando Hospital? Who were the doctors who are responsible for it? Have any special form of treatment or medicine in that case possible? During his stay there, who is it that attended and cared for the thera? These are questions that remain in the face of society.

Information -- Sanjaya Liyanage