The Deeds of Gnanasara Thero Which Even Ashamed Prime Minister Ranil
A very heated discussion is currently taking place within society regarding Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, who has been sentenced to prison.
There are two factions: one that approves of the sentence given to Gnanasara Thero on the charge of contempt of court, and another that does not approve of it. In the midst of these factions, there is also a group of opportunists plotting to paste a sectarian label against the government, expecting political gain from this incident.
However, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero also does not state that he received the prison sentence because he committed contempt of court. He states that he received this prison sentence because he stood up against Muslim extremism. But that is not true.
There is a popular folk saying in this country that citizens only remember things for seven days. Arguments are currently being built up within society regarding the fate that befell Gnanasara Thero, while forgetting that illegal deed which caused him to suffer a prison sentence at present.
The incident that led to Gnanasara Thero being driven to Welikada occurred on January 15, 2016. On this day, the case regarding the disappearance of Ekneligoda was being heard at the Homagama Court. At that moment, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero stormed into the open court and obstructed the court proceedings by shouting loudly and threatening the State Counsel and the complainant, Sandya Ekneligoda. At that time, the court judge immediately issued a warrant for his arrest on four charges.
When Gnanasara Thero was arrested by the Homagama police and produced before the court, a riotous protest by a group of monks was held outside the court premises. One monk who was present threatened that he would set himself on fire if Gnanasara Thero was remanded, while a monk named Jinananda stated that twenty-five monks, including himself, would forcibly enter the prison. However, Gnanasara Thero was remanded that day, and the protesting monks had also abandoned the struggle and retreated.
On January 16, 2016, a discussion occurred in Parliament about this incident that took place inside the Homagama Court. There, the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made the following statement:
“When hearing about the incident that occurred in the Homagama Court yesterday, we feel immense shame as Buddhists. This government will not allow the creation of Buddharakkhitas and Somaramas. A group of people dressed in robes rioted today on the Homagama court premises. It should be investigated whether they are true monks. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was remanded today on an incident alleging contempt of court. Subsequently, a group of robe-wearers near the court entered the court premises and caused a disturbance.
Instructions were given to the police to provide a report on that incident. After receiving the report, it will be given to the Maha Nayaka Theros of Malwatte and Kotte. The law is the same for everyone. It is shameful for us as Buddhists when seeing these things. There is a Vinaya Pitaka (Code of Discipline). Monks should act according to that. The law must be upheld.”
Regarding that incident, the Lawyers’ Collective also held a press conference in front of the Supreme Court complex. The Lawyers’ Collective stated there that it is not possible to influence the rule of law just because one puts on a robe or a gown, and if one behaves inside the court in the way one behaves on a political stage or on the high road, it is an obstruction of the court.
The Lawyers’ Collective further emphasized that if action is not taken against such individuals, there is a possibility that political interventions could occur in cases being heard in court in the future.
It need not be mentioned separately that the illegal intervention made by Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero inside the Homagama Court is not approved by a civilized society. Even then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has accepted that the incident where a monk, who should lead society with high morals, behaves in a way that even a listed criminal does not behave inside a court should not be considered lightly.
Anyone closely examining the social interventions of Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero can understand that he acted on an absolute self-judgment regarding his activities. His expressions too went beyond the composure of a Buddhist monk. The social role possessed by a monk is to build a society complete with discipline and virtuousness.
Buddhist philosophy is a non-violent philosophy. While the transformation of the disciples of a great teacher’s philosophy, who preached that there is nothing to give up for me who has not grasped anything, into man-eaters shocks society very seriously, it is natural that the end of that shock wave creates a multitude of citizens with lost discipline. It has already been confirmed with the Gnanasara imprint.
D. Liyanarachchi ✍️
