Dhammaloka Thera alleges foul play in Ven. Sobhitha’s death

*Ready to give evidence before a special commission 

by Harischandra Gunaratne, Ranil Dharmasena and Chaminda Silva-March 21, 2016, 10:25 pm

Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera yesterday said that the sudden demise of Ven Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera had been due to a conspiracy. He called upon the government to appoint a special commission to investigate the death of the prelate.

Addressing a press conference at the Abhayaramaya in Narahenpita, Dhammaloka Thera said many bhikkhus were ready to come forward and give evidence before an independent commission.

Dhammaloka Thera said that Ven. Sobhitha had visited him several days before the latter’s demise and expressed displeasure at the direction the country was moving in.

He said Sobhitha Thera had been ill but never weak. A surgery performed on Sobhitha Thera had been successful and he had recovered. Therefore, there were serious doubts about his death. "When I stated that Ven. Sobitha Thera’s death was suspicious and there should be an investigation, some top members of the government sought to brush my

views aside. Instead of an investigation, they obtained statements from Mahanayakes to undermine what I said. I demand that the government hold an inquiry forthwith.

Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera and Ven Muruttettuwe Ananada Thera also addressed the media.

Meanwhile, at a separate media conference yesterday at Pitakotte, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader and Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila called upon the government to hold an impartial inquiry into the circumstances which had led to the death of Ven. Sobhitha Thera.

Gammanpila urged both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to appoint an independent commission to inquire into the death of Ven Sobhitha if there was nothing to hide.

Gammanpila said Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera also had raised serious doubts about the prelate’s death, but the government had been silent.

A number of Buddhist monks had died under mysterious circumstances in the past and the governments in power had not cared to conduct investigations, he said.

Gammanpila claimed that Ven Gangodawila Soma Thera had also died under mysterious circumstances, but no proper investigation had been conducted into the death of Ven Soma."

Gammanpila said, "Revered teacher Ven Kotagama Vachissara Thera and Ven Labuduwe Siridhamma Thera, who rose against the then UNP governments also died under mysterious circumstances."

Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekera said that there had been no investigation into the death of Ven Sobhitha Thera as there was no complaint of foul play. Some people had made various statements but none had lodged a complaint with the police upto yesterday, the police spokesman said. "If anyone lodges a complaint, the police are ready to investigate it."