Don't ask me about Kassapa's personal matters - Ulapane Himi

Responding to the controversial propaganda circulating on social media these days regarding Balangoda Kassapa Thero's stay at the Kingsbury Hotel, Ulapane Sumangala Thero emphasized that the relevant Thero should be questioned about the matter. Speaking at a press conference held today (26), he pointed out that the success or failure of a common struggle cannot be measured by the personal travels of individuals involved in a Satyagraha.

Sumangala Thero recalled that people from all directions gathered for the Satyagraha held at Viharamahadevi Park, and Balangoda Kassapa Thero was also one of those who stayed there with dedication for a long time. However, he pointed out that the monks involved also had to participate in other religious and personal activities such as Katina ceremonies, processions, and visiting schools, adding that there is no need to worry about each individual's personal travels, and that currently, a situation has arisen where even scenes of people going to the toilet are video recorded and shown.

A march and a Satyagraha are two different actions. Sumangala Thero's view is that a large crowd is not necessary for a Satyagraha, and it can even be carried out by one person. He strongly stated that its success is determined not by those loyal to the government or secular parties, but by himself, who organizes it. He also warned that if a written request is not received from the Mahanayaka Theros, he will continue his struggle in a planned and strategic manner as he deems fit.

He explained that these protests have three main objectives: the release of Venerable Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, the cessation of the government's Sasana (Buddhist order) program, and raising public awareness that the government is secular. Sumangala Thero rejected the accusations made by some that the struggle to free Gnanasara Thero is 'releasing criminals' and presented a controversial comparison of how prisoners were pardoned in the past.

As he pointed out, in 1977, J.R. Jayewardene granted a presidential pardon to Rohana Wijeweera as a result of a secret agreement made in prison with the then Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel. Similarly, in 1994, Tilvin Silva and hundreds of others received a general pardon. Sumangala Thero questioned how Gnanasara Thero, who only faced four cases for standing against Muslim extremism and on behalf of war heroes, could be made a criminal when those involved in acts like murder, bank robberies, police station attacks, and overthrowing governments received such pardons. He also accused the government of being a 'Kallathoni' (illegal immigrant/unauthorized) government for claiming that opposing the intelligence agencies imprisoning war heroes at the behest of the diaspora is a crime.

He also strongly criticized how the law operates in the country. He cited as examples the transfer of the judge who issued warrants for two deputy ministers and a mayor from the Mount Lavinia court, and the fact that Jerome's case, filed under the ICCPR Act, has not been called for two and a half years without the Attorney General's advice. He criticized that "Pelewatte law" (a colloquial term implying a separate law for the powerful) prevails over the law, and that the public and the Sambuddha Sasana (Buddhist order) are below the law.

Sumangala Thero vehemently rejected the government's accusation that politicians are behind this struggle. He stated that intelligence agencies failed to even correctly identify the route his march took to the Presidential Secretariat, and were instead guarding three other locations, which, he said, proves the baselessness of the government's criticisms. He further emphasized that the fourfold assembly of monks, nuns, male lay devotees, and female lay devotees, as well as any national, religious person, journalist, or professional, can join this common struggle.

Ulapane Sumangala Thero concluded his remarks by stating that his struggle has no pause or specific starting point, and emphasized that he has the strength to act against secular forces at any time, anywhere, and that he will demonstrate this in the future.