A Monk On The Rampage

Ven Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero – Chief Priest Of The Dambulla Viharaya

By Niranjala Ariyawansha

Ven Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero

Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero, the Chief Priest at the Rangiri Dambulla Viharaya was in the forefront in recent times leading a protest at Dambulla to relocate a mosque which was within the sacred Vihara land, disputed by the Muslim fraternity. The issue is yet on the boil and the government has not resolved this sensitive stand off.
Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero is no stranger to controversy and has time and again led protests against the administrative and political structure. Our reporter Niranjala Ariyawansha interviewed the Chief monk. At the conclusion of this interview Sumangala Thero warned our reporter of dire consequences if she ever stepped foot into Dambulla.

Excerpts:
SL: You were first identified with protests against the construction of the Kandalama Hotel. What was the final outcome of that protest?
Ven Inamaluwe: Read More »