Mahanayakas want continued probes into ‘religious insults’
Posted on August 30th, 2023
BY Sahan Tennekoon and Buddhika Samaraweera Courtesy The Morning
The Asgiri Chapter of the Siam Sect wants the relevant authorities to continue the ongoing investigations into the alleged defamatory actions against Buddhism and the Buddha Sasana by various parties, despite those parties making apologies after the incidents.
Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), the Asgiri Temple Supreme Sangha Council Secretary Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera said that it is not sufficient to make apologies to the Mahanayakas (Chief Prelates) but that justice must be done for those incidents with no interruptions.
When he was queried about the recent incident where the parents of pastor Jerome Fernando apologised for the controversial remarks made by their son, Dhammananda Thera said that the particular incident was only one of a series of similar events, and that therefore, the law enforcement authorities have to continue the ongoing investigations into all of these. However, he said that they were ready to – according to Buddhist principles – forgive those who made such statements, yet that action must be taken according to the country’s law, and that no one who makes remarks violating the constitution must be forgiven by the law. Recently, the parents of Fernando called on Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera at the headquarters of the Ramanna Sect and made apologies on behalf of their son.
Fernando landed himself in hot water in May 2023, after a video of him making certain allegedly derogatory” statements on religious figures during one of his sermons was widely circulated on social media, stirring controversy in the country.
Later, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) initiated an investigation into the matter on the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. On 16 May, the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court issued an overseas travel ban on the pastor, who had left the island for Singapore two days prior. During the probe, the CID uncovered transaction records to the tune of Rs. 12.2 billion upon examining 11 bank accounts held by Fernando.