Seruvila Thera's mysterious death

Seruvila Thera's mysterious death

Seruwila Saranakiththi Thera, Chief Sanganayaka of both North East Provinces breathed his last yesterday (20) around 7.00 in the morning at Colombo Asiri Central Hospital.

What the doctors had said as the cause of his death was a cancer in his liver which had reached an aggravated condition. Whatever it is,

Kantalai Samitha Deva Thera resident at Colombo Seruwila Buddhist Centre had made a complaint to the Colombo Crime Investigation stating that there is suspicion that during an environment when there are several court cases pertaining to the deceased thera's property and assets and during the course of two parties going before the law claiming the body of the prelate it may be that the demise of Thera Saranakiththi Maha Nahimi perhaps could be suspected as a death which took place as a cause of some poison entering his body. Under these circumstances  a court order has been granted by the magistrate to conduct an autopsy on the body of the thera. The magistrate also ordered that the decision as to which party should be given the authority to handle the cremation procedures should be arrived at after a discussion by the police with the mediation of the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs.

The complaint that Saranakiththi Maha Nahimi turned out to be serious after a poison entered his body was made by Kantalai Samitha Deva Thera to the Colombo Crime Unit last 24th. On that instance the thera had been among the living. During the said period the thera had been a resident patient in ward 45 of the Colombo National Hospital while Kotapola Amarakiththi Thera and Kithulagala Dhammaloka Thera have both made statements to the same effect, it was reported. Accordingly, these two theras have stated that some poison had entered Saranakiththi Thera's body. In fact, Saranakiththi Thera who was in a serious condition too had told the Colombo Criminal Investigation Unit that a suspicion has emerged to the effect that some poison has entered his body. Later the thera had gone to reside at Seruwila Buddhist Centre at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo from Colombo National Hospital, last 25th. However as the health condition had aggravated once again in which instance he was admitted to the Colombo Asiri Private Hospital last 1st had passed away last morning, the Colombo Criminal Investigation Unit notified courts yesterday. Doctors of the hospital in relation to the death of the thera had said that only a cancerous state of the liver contributed towards his demise.

Permission was requested on the basis that this death was suspicious on the grounds that an issue has cropped up in relation to the property of Seruwila Mangala Maha Vihara and because two legal cases are pending at district courts in relation to it, a post-mortem to be conducted is deemed necessary. This permission was requested from courts by the Colombo Criminal Investigation Unit and the courts granted approval in that connection. Statements concerning the incident has been secured from 3 specialist doctors of Colombo National Hospital where the thera underwent treatment and further investigations are underway. The thera who passed away has been functioning as the Viharadhipathi of the historic Seruwawila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara, the Chief Sangha Nayaka of both the East and Thamankadu and even functioned as the Advisor of Sri Kalyanavansha Maha Nikaya too.