BBS claims Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero’s life is in danger

Hardline Buddhist organisation Bodu Bala Sena yesterday claimed that they have reason to believe that the life of their leader Galagoda Aththe Gnasasara Thero is at risk. 

The Thero has been in hiding since Police deployed four teams to arrest the controversial monk two weeks ago. 

The organisation’s spokesperson Dilantha Withanage claimed that their leader has not come forward to give a statement to the Police as instructed on 20 May as they believed there are groups similar to ISIS in Sri Lanka with plans to kill the monk.  Although Withanage said they would hold the Government responsible for the security of their leader, the organisation has not requested the Police to provide him with security, adding that they do not have confidence in the system. 

“We have seen what happened in earlier instances. Wijeweera died when he was in custody; then recently there was the incident in Kalutara where inmates were shot by men who were dressed in a Police uniform. We cannot be sure of what would happen to the Thero when he is exposed,” Withanage said.

The monk was instructed by the Police to report to the Organised Crime Division of the Sri Lanka Police to give a statement on 20 May, but has failed to do so prompting the Police to deploy teams for his arrest. Subsequently, a team of policemen attempted to arrest the monk when he was en route to a religious function in Anuradhapura, resulting in an altercation between the Police and BBS members. 

However, his lawyers have informed the Police and the Appeal Court, where a contempt of court case has been filed against Gnanasara Thero, that the monk was unable to come to the Police due to concerns over his health. 

When asked, Withanage claimed that giving health reasons was the preferred option followed by the Thero’s lawyers insisting that concerns over the monk’s security were also the main reason for him not to come to the Police. 

The organisation also alleged that they are being dealt with unfairly by law enforcement authorities, claiming that Police have taken no action against other individuals that have used hate speech. 

“We are being targeted unfairly. We have not even been given an arrest warrant. You cannot arrest anyone without an arrest warrant,” he said.  However, the Police cried foul over the allegations made by the BBS. Police spokesperson DIG Priyantha Jayakody said that the Thero was giving excuses to avoid arrest. He also said the Police did not need a warrant to arrest anyone on a cognisable offence and according to him the charges against Gnanasara Thero fall into this category. 

“If anyone wants to avoid arrest or appearing in court, the easiest reason to give is that they face threats to their life. We have received a complaint regarding the matter and we are conducting investigations,” he said.  DIG Jayakody also said that the Thero should come to the Police to give the statement required without avoiding arrest. 

“If he wants he can come with any number of lawyers and ensure that the law is followed. We will follow due process,” he said.