Daily NEWS Srilanka

An extensive dialogue has emerged over the behaviour of the pupils of Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera when he was subjected to police custody yesterday for having made statements contrary to the law saying that he

Homagama Magistrate Mr. Ranga Dissanayaka had issued orders to arrest Gnanasara Thera under the offence of contempt of court, disrupting judicial proceedings and reprimanding civil servants. Gnanasara Thera spoke out saying, "This is a eunuch-style government. Government menial officers also have got together and have sent soldiers to the chopping-block and are getting ready to betray the country to the Tigers. As long as I am in robes, I will not allow crimes of this nature! If I have insulted courts ... send me to jail!" Gananasara Thera had challenged the magistrate saying so. The thera had even gone to the extent of threatening and reprimanding Prageeth Ekneligoda's wife saying, "Your damned man is a Tiger ... you go and beg!" It has been revealed that he had taken steps to personally threaten Senior President's Counsel, Attorney-at-Law Mr. Dileep Pieris too.

Whether we are in favour or not of the Roman-Dutch Law which is in force in this country, when considering on the basis that all citizens should bow down to the existing law of the country, the thera's behaviour cannot be approved. A dialogue has by now emerged that there is some political motivation behind this behaviour. Though a strong voice was observed by the Opposition about the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda douring the Mahinda regime, nobody was interested in saying that he had connections with Tigers or to launch an investigation during that period. But during a period when the law has become active, this form of questionable protests surfacing could be taken as being directed by some form of energetic element. When in an era where safeguarding discipline of the Sasana has become a topic of discussion in the country, it is something special to notice this type of behaviour springing forth.

At the time Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera was taken into custody and was produced before Homagama Courts, a group of Buddhist monks dancing the devil in front of courts premises demanding the thera's release nevertheless has provoked an uproar. A certain monk on that occasion had kept his neck close to the prison bus preventing it in moving forward and thus engaged in his protest. Jumping over walls and getting into conflict with the police they had indulged in a meaningless act of stopping a court decision.

Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremasingha had spoken about this in parliament yesterday (26). This is what he had said: "A very unfortunate incident took place today. A certain crowd has gone near the courts and made a protest. In the process it has been revealed that a crowd adorned with robes too had been in that crowd. What the police did was act according to orders of the magistrate. Since there is a law in the country ... it is common to all. As a Buddhist I apologise and also am embarassed as to what happened at courts premises in connection with Homagama Magistrate. This government will never leave room for Somaramas or Buddharakithas to come into existence. With regard to the threat made on Mrs. Ekneligoda, courts decided to remand Gnanasara Thera. Law is equal to everybody. We should respect the law".