A powerful person watched live as Ven. Gnanasara was disrobed - A new juicy story from Gammampila

Mr. Udaya Gammanpila, leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, has leveled a serious accusation that the robes of Venerable Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero were forcibly removed inside Welikada Prison, and this act was live-streamed and observed by a 'powerful person' from another location via a mobile phone. Addressing a special press conference held today (12) in Colombo, he stated that the incident occurred due to strong pressure from high-ranking leaders of the National People's Power.

Mr. Gammanpila stated that he visited Welikada Prison on October 08 last year at the request of Gnanasara Thero, where the Thero described the incident to him. According to his statement, a large number of prison officers attempted to make the Thero wear a jumper, and during this, one officer activated the camera on his mobile phone, allowing an external party to monitor this forceful process. Realizing that the officers were under immense pressure due to the camera being active, Gnanasara Thero decided to remove his robes himself with the intention of helping the helpless officers.

Mr. Gammanpila emphasized that the incident caused severe psychological trauma to Gnanasara Thero. He stated that the Thero was deeply distressed at the moment he removed the lower robe (andanakadaya), considered the last symbol of monkhood, and held it in his hand. Due to the shock, when the officers extended their hands to receive it, the Thero threw it upwards. He also revealed at the press conference that the lower robe got caught in a fan that was operating at that moment.

Mr. Gammanpila stated that although officers had attempted to make Gnanasara Thero wear a jumper in 2010, 2016, and 2018, they had abandoned those attempts due to the Thero's resistance. However, this time, the officers acted differently due to pressure from above, according to Mr. Gammanpila. Nevertheless, he revealed that Gnanasara Thero told him, 'If imprisoning me and publicly displaying my removed robes awakens the sleeping Buddhist society to protect the Sasana, then I am ready to endure any such hardship.'

Against the backdrop of Gnanasara Thero being sentenced to nineteen years of rigorous imprisonment, to be served in six years, on charges of contempt of court, the government's response to this incident also came under severe criticism from Mr. Gammanpila. He specifically accused the President of making false statements before the Mahanayake Theros, claiming that the law is equal for all. He pointed out that according to Prison Standing Order 550, in effect since 1894, and the 1947 King v. Stephen court ruling, a prisoner should be taken out of prison in their ordinary attire. Since a monk's ordinary attire is the robe (cheewaraya), this incident constitutes a blatant violation of prison regulations.

Mr. Gammanpila also challenged the President's statement that sixty-three monks are currently serving prison sentences. He pointed out that according to the Parajika Pali of the Vinaya Pitaka, individuals convicted of crimes such as murder, rape, or theft immediately lose their monkhood. He accused the government of trying to ridicule the entire Sasana by dressing such individuals who have lost their monkhood in robes and parading them. Furthermore, he questioned whether the appointment of committees requesting two weeks to change a standing order that the Commissioner General of Prisons could change in an hour, and the government's plan to bring Gnanasara Thero to court in lay attire again on October 23rd, was a tactic to waste time.

Mr. Gammanpila also stated that the government is attempting to create a schism within the Sangha by releasing only parts of the discussion held between the President and the Mahanayake Theros to the media, instead of the entire discussion. He urged all people, regardless of race or religion, to express their opposition to this entire process and to change their social media profile pictures to a black flag. He concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the government has not yet properly felt the emerging opposition from the Buddhist community in the face of this controversial situation regarding Gnanasara Thero's robes.