Former Pohottuwa MP Gratien, wearing a robe and carrying a Naga staff, is on a new journey.

That extraordinary walk, which began near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, was a unique sight at first glance. This 'robe-wearer,' who walked wearing sunglasses and holding an elegant wooden staff carved with the image of a cobra, appeared as a leader who had embarked on a mission to awaken Sinhala Buddhists.

However, even before six hours had passed since this journey, which began towards Colombo 'demanding justice for the robe,' it turned into a serious political farce as his true identity was revealed through social media.

According to reports and confirmed by social media information, this individual is by no means a Buddhist monk. He is Gratien Keraminiyage, a former Ambalangoda Municipal Councillor who represented the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). Photos on his own social media accounts bear witness that he had previously organized various protests on behalf of the Rajapaksas.

The national organizer of his walk had stated that this was a journey open to anyone 'with Sinhala Buddhist identity and pure blood' regardless of political party affiliations. Their plan was to start from Kadugannawa Paramitha Buddhist Centre, stop in Kegalle, and proceed to Colombo. However, it is also reported that when the walk began with only about six individuals, he verbally abused journalists who questioned him about it.

Currently, this performance is being met with strong disgust and ridicule on social media. This individual, who also serves as a priest (kapuwa) at the 'Dandina Devalaya' in Ambalangoda and as the head of the national organization called 'Pahanata Thel' (Oil for the Lamp), had previously stated that a deity named Dandina, who resides in Ruwanweli Seya, visits him in dreams at night and provides him with information.

Accusations are being made on social media that he is carrying out this act with the aim of gaining similar media attention to the walk held recently to secure the release of Gnanasara Thero. Many have described this as a despicable 'political drama' carried out using the Buddhist robe with the aim of overturning the criminal cases against the Rajapaksa family.

Strong criticism is being leveled against the use of the Naga (cobra) staff, a traditional symbol crafted by local artisans using valuable wood, and the Buddhist robe for political purposes in this manner. This walk, which set out to 'awaken the sleeping Helayo (Sinhalese),' ended within a few hours under the watchful eyes of social media, exposing yet another failed political masquerade to society.