Bodhidhamma - Nai Bastam Thero of Ratnapura says, 'I am not Gratien Keraminiyage.'

On October 30th last year, a remarkable walk commenced from Kandy. A monk known as 'Rathnapura Bodhidhamma,' wearing sunglasses and carrying a wooden staff carved with the image of a cobra, began this journey towards Colombo under the theme 'The Walk to Unite Sinhala Buddhists.'

However, on that day, another piece of news spread faster across social media than the walk itself. It claimed that the person engaged in this walk was not a real monk, but rather Gratian Keraminiyage, a former municipal councilor of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.

This statement, which spread on social media comparing two individuals through photographs, was later confirmed to be entirely false. When contacted by phone regarding this, Mr. Gratian Keraminiyage stated that false information had been circulated, confusing him with Bodhidhamma Thero. He also mentioned that he is currently retired from politics and is working at the Balapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha.

Observing past events makes it clear who Gratian Keraminiyage is, to the extent that such suspicion arose on social media. In 2021, he was a figure heavily ridiculed on social media due to his strange statements and activities. Towards the end of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's tenure, he launched a national movement called 'Oil for the Lamp,' claiming that Mrs. Dandina Rajapaksa, a matriarch of Mahinda Rajapaksa's lineage, had attained a divine spirit after death and resided near Ruwanwelisaya and Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. During an activity he conducted in Ambalantota, advocating for oil for lamps to transfer merit to her, an incensed crowd assaulted and chased him away, after which his social media accounts became inactive.

Based on these past events, Rathnapura Bodhidhamma Thero issued an 'official media statement' on the same day through his organization's page regarding the social media campaign launched against him. In it, he emphasized that he only learned about a person named Gratian Keraminiyage after an edited photograph of himself was published on social media.

Bodhidhamma Thero accused individuals from the National People's Power (NPP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) of being behind this smear campaign, stating that he is not affiliated with any political party. He further emphasized that he would continue his walk, carrying the cobra staff received as a donation from an individual, and would take strict legal action, including filing a written complaint with the Inspector General of Police and pursuing legal proceedings, against all account holders who spread this false propaganda on social media.

Watch the video related to this incident ›