An investigation for Gammampila who fabricated the story of 'an order from above' to disrobe Ven. Gnanasara

The government has decided to launch a special investigation by the Sri Lanka Police regarding the controversial statement made by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila that the robes (cheewaraya) of Venerable Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero were removed inside the prison.

Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa revealed this yesterday (13) afternoon at the Cabinet decision briefing held at the Government Information Department. Emphasizing that the former Member of Parliament's statement is by no means a trivial matter, the Minister stated that the relevant police investigations would be carried out based on a complaint made by the prison. These investigations are expected to reveal whether such an incident actually occurred and, if so, how it happened, and Mr. Udaya Gammanpila will have to disclose all the information he saw and heard.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila had made a serious allegation, addressing a special media briefing held in Colombo on the 12th, that a 'powerful person' from another location had live-monitored the forceful removal of Venerable Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero's robes (cheewaraya) inside Welikada Prison via a mobile phone. He stated that the incident occurred due to strong pressure from the top leaders of the National People's Power (NPP).

Mr. Gammanpila stated that he visited Welikada Prison on October 08, following a request from Gnanasara Thero, and that the Thero described the incident to him there. According to his statement, a large number of prison officials attempted to make the Thero wear a jumper, and one official activated his mobile phone camera, allowing an external party to monitor this forceful process. Realizing that the officials 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 officials.

Mr. Gammanpila emphasized that the incident caused severe mental trauma to Gnanasara Thero. He stated that the Thero was deeply distressed at the moment he removed the undergarment (andanakadaya), considered the last symbol of monkhood, and held it in his hand. When officials extended their hands to receive it, the Thero, due to the shock, threw it upwards. He also revealed at the media briefing that the undergarment got caught in a fan that was operating at that moment.

Regarding the story of Gnanasara Thero's robes being removed, Minister Nalinda mentioned that immediately after receiving the letter from the Mahanayaka Theros, the President intervened and discussed the matter with representatives of the Mahanayaka Theros.

Currently, prison officials operate based on the regulations and standing orders of the Prison Ordinance compiled in 1877. The government has recognized that the implementation of these existing regulations concerning monks sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for more than three years causes some shock within society.

As an urgent solution to this situation, Mr. Jayatissa revealed that a five-member committee of state officials, chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs, has already been appointed. A special report prepared by this committee regarding the procedure to be followed when bringing religious leaders serving sentences of more than three years to court is expected to be submitted to the government within this week.

After receiving that report, new regulations incorporating the relevant committee recommendations will be gazetted and published by the Minister, with the concurrence of the Mahanayaka Theros, in accordance with the powers vested in him. The Minister clarified that the final decision regarding monks in prison wearing robes should be taken by the respective sects, and that a legal solution to the problem of wearing robes when being taken out of prison will be provided. He further emphasized that while the law is not changed for any single individual, as a responsible government, they will intervene to swiftly amend the relevant regulations because issues that did not arise at the time the law was enacted have emerged in the present.

Meanwhile, the Minister also strongly responded to attempts by some to interpret the court verdict given to Gnanasara Thero as a personal vendetta. He reminded that the judiciary makes its decisions independently, and the prison and police merely implement those orders. He further stated that if that verdict is called a personal vendetta, then one might wonder if the verdicts given during the time of the former Chief Justice were also personal.