Sangha disparity after Sobhitha Thera

Sangha disparity after Sobhitha Thera

The situation that has arisen after the demise of Ven. Sobitha Thera at Naga Vihara Kotte where he resided, is certainly pathetic. A Vharadhipathi has still not been nominated to fill his position and the situation where the sangha has divided into two sections to claim ownership of Sobitha Thera's assets and have resorted to vying for it

has been heard from time to time.

Prior to this, one thera has even lodged a complaint with the police to secure a court order for the purpose of preventing a Samaru Pinkama in memory of Late Sobhitha Thera in order to stop another group coming into focus. The most recent news that was reported was the issue connected to the Benz car costing about 2 crores which was given to Late Sobhitha Thera as a gift and which he had been used on and off. Viharawasi Udugalakande Ariyarathana Thera has made a complaint to Mirihana Police saying that this vehicle is missing from the temple premises. What was mentioned in the complaint was that there is evidence to the effect that the said vehicle had been made use of for the purpose of transport of a wedding couple in Beruwala area last week. A police investigation was carried out in this respect; but the police were not able to find information from those hotel authorities about any such vehicle.

In the meantime, a certain thera in the same vihara has explained matters to the media saying that the said vehicle has been handed over by him for repairs about 7 months ago. Soratha Thera of Kelaniya who happens to reside at an asapuwa adjoining the asapuwa where the complainant thera who lodged the complaint resides is that because the garage has quoted a large sum of money for the repair, repairs have been postponed until the said amount is found. The thera concerned has told police that this is a false complaint. It was revealed from this incident that as a result of a problem between two individuals within the same temple, the police has been called upon to mediate in an unnecessary issue because of lack of communication and disparity between the two of them.