Rathana Thera Behind Bars – Monk, Politics, and a Temple-Sized Scandal

The political stage in Sri Lanka has seen many dramas, but few as bizarre as this. Former MP Athuraliye Rathana Thera, once hailed as a power-broker in saffron robes, has now been remanded until September 12th by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court.

The charge? Nothing less than the alleged abduction of a fellow monk.

Back in 2020, the Our Power of People Party (OPPP) scraped together enough votes for a single National List seat. That one seat turned into a golden ticket, sparking a tug-of-war among political monks. At the centre of the storm was Ven. Wedinigama Wimalatissa Thera, the party’s General Secretary.

According to investigators, Rathana Thera wasn’t willing to leave things to chance. He is accused of abducting Wimalatissa Thera and forcing him to sign documents that cleared the way for Rathana to enter Parliament.

For years the whispers floated around, but last week the drama boiled over. After the Colombo Crimes Division hunted through temples, meditation centres, and even housing complexes in Rajagiriya, the elusive Thera was nowhere to be found. Phones switched off, addresses empty — it was the classic case of a fugitive in robes.

The law, however, finally caught up. On August 18, the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court issued a warrant. And today, the once untouchable monk walked into court only to walk out in handcuffs, bound for remand custody.

The gossip in Colombo’s corridors is deafening. How did a Buddhist monk, once seated in Parliament, end up accused of playing kidnapper in a political soap opera? And more importantly, who else was pulling strings behind the scenes of this temple power game?

For now, Rathana Thera will meditate inside a cell until September 12. But the scandal he leaves behind is likely to echo far longer — proof once again that in Sri Lanka, politics and the pulpit often mix into the most explosive brew.