Venerable Ulapane Sumangala Thero begins a struggle from the main esplanade of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy on behalf of Venerable Gnanasara Thero.

A new legal and social discourse has emerged following the incident of the removal of Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero's robe. This situation has further intensified with Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thero's announcement that the first step of the struggle for his freedom will commence today (10th) from the main courtyard of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.

Accordingly, a special 'Adhishthana Satyagraha' (act of determined truth) is also scheduled to be held today in front of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Meanwhile, Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thero filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal yesterday, requesting an order to invalidate the decision taken by prison authorities to remove Ven. Gnanasara Thero's robe. The Commissioner General of Prisons, Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, and Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senewi, among others, have been named as respondents in the petition.

Regarding this crisis, the Anunayake Thero of Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha, retired Senior Professor Ven. Kotapitiye Rahula Nayaka Thero, has sent a special letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The letter emphasizes that as Ven. Gnanasara Thero is a monk belonging to their Sangha Sabha, the authority to keep him in robes or remove them lies with their Sangha Sabha. Ven. Rahula Anunayake Thero points out that their side was surprised to see through the media the discussion held the day before yesterday with a group of other leading monks, without the participation of their Sangha Sabha, and they believe that the matter was not resolved appropriately during that discussion. Therefore, the letter, sent with the approval of the Mahanayake Theros, requests the President to come to the Mangala Uposathagaraya at the historic Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya with the relevant ministers and the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs before Ven. Gnanasara Thero is presented to the court again, and to provide a date and time for this meeting.

Meanwhile, the Malwathu Maha Viharaya faction has also made a statement regarding the discussion held between the representatives of the Tri-Nikaya Mahanayake Theros and the President concerning the removal of Ven. Gnanasara Thero's robe. The President acknowledged that the points raised by the Mahanayake Theros regarding imprisoned monks are reasonable. However, the President pointed out that within the existing legal framework, prison officials do not have the legal authority to prevent monks sentenced to imprisonment for more than three years from being taken outside in their robes.

As a permanent solution to this problem, the Maha Sangha (Buddhist clergy) proposed to formulate a new set of regulations, whereby, in the case of a monk sentenced to imprisonment for more than three years, the relevant Nikaya (sect) or faction would be informed, and actions would be taken solely based on the recommendations of that Nikaya. The President, who agreed to the proposal, further stated in the letter issued by the Malwathu faction that he instructed the Minister of Justice to finalize these new regulations within two weeks.