When KK goes to talk about atheists, Tissa makes a mistake (video)

A statement made by Mr. Tissa Jananayake, a popular biology teacher, has been widely discussed on social media over the past few days. The reason for this was that the controversial work 'Buddunge Rastiyaduwa' (The Buddha's Wanderings) was written by K.K.

Saman Kumara, and that he is an atheist, a video made by Mr. Jananayake circulated on social media. However, the real fact is that the author of that work is not K.K. Saman Kumara, but K.K. Srinath. With this fundamental fact being misrepresented, an accusation was leveled against him that he was spreading false information to children who come to study biology.

In the face of these strong criticisms, Mr. Tissa Jananayake clarified the incident by posting a note on his Facebook account and commenting on his YouTube channel on the 8th. He admitted that the statement was a mistake he made during a class held in March 2026, and that the author was K.K. Srinath. He stated that he had no personal problem with Mr. K.K. Saman Kumara, and that the only issue was with his ideology. He expressed regret and apologized if any harm or prejudice was caused to Mr. Saman Kumara by his statement. He further mentioned that such mistakes can happen to many people.

Mr. Jananayake also stated in his Facebook post that he has a problem with several individuals who claim to make a living by working closely with politicians who have no jobs. However, he emphasized that the relevant video was released to social media by another party without his knowledge or permission, and that he intends to take action against the responsible institution.

This is not the first time Mr. Tissa Jananayake has been embroiled in such a social media controversy. Previously, he was heavily criticized on social media for explaining to the children in his tuition class how the country would be divided through the MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) agreement using maps. Furthermore, during the days of Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen's incident, he drew significant attention due to the incorrect facts he published regarding the sterilization of women.

In this incident, K.K. Saman Kumara, also known as 'Sarapaya' (The Serpent), who was mistakenly mentioned by Mr. Jananayake, is an unconventional writer who has touched upon complex philosophical dimensions in Sinhala literature. He has authored works such as 'Sarapayekku Ha Satan Wada' (Fighting with a Serpent), 'Naga Maruala' (The Murdered Sister), and 'Neranjane Snane' (Bathing in Neranjana). Reading and understanding his creations, which traverse distinct intellectual currents like existentialism, magical realism, and postmodernism, is a challenge.

The work 'Buddunge Rastiyaduwa' (The Buddha's Wanderings), which caused a strong shock in society, is a creation of K.K. Srinath. Although its name immediately sparked religious opposition in many, according to the author, it refers to 'The Buddha's Renunciation'; that is, a journey in search of a noble purpose or truth without remaining in a fixed place. However, religious and political leaders strongly opposed some of its vocabulary and interpretations related to Prince Siddhartha's birth, claiming they were disrespectful to Buddhism and the character of the Buddha. Consequently, the work was subjected to police investigations and even legal prohibitions shortly after its publication.

The greatest tragedy highlighted by this entire incident and the debates is the narrow nature of reading and understanding within society. The broader meaning that Buddhahood is not limited to Siddhartha Gautama but is an internally, spiritually fully awakened state that anyone can experience by dispelling ignorance, has been obscured by many other ideologies. Reading someone's world before criticizing them, and understanding how they think before disagreeing, is part of intellectual honesty. This incident clearly demonstrates that public statements made without reading a work and without knowing the facts properly only lead to mere controversies in society.

Watch the video related to this incident ›