Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero has dropped a shocking revelation, alleging that a secret plot is underway to plant firearms and drugs in his temple to frame and imprison him, calling on the Defence Secretary and President to act immediately.
Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero, the incumbent monk of the Mangalaramaya Temple in Batticaloa, has raised grave concerns about his safety and the security of his temple. Addressing the media, the Thero revealed that despite having four Civil Defence Force officers deployed for protection, his repeated phone calls to senior officers have gone unanswered. He alleged that these same officers had promised support to rebuild buildings destroyed by wild elephants, but no action has been taken.
The Thero further claimed he had credible information that certain Civil Defence Force personnel are secretly plotting to smuggle guns and drugs into the temple premises in order to wrongfully implicate him. He urged immediate intervention from the Defence Secretary and the President’s Ministry of Defence to ensure proper protection for both himself and the temple.
Highlighting the neglect, Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero pointed out that the alms hall and retirement hall, constructed with contributions from both local and foreign donors, were destroyed during elephant attacks but have yet to be rebuilt. He criticized state departments for failing to act despite repeated appeals.
Recounting his decades of service, the monk stated that he had fought alongside the people of Batticaloa for over thirty years, safeguarding 14 temples across the region. Yet, successive governments, while promising protection, had failed to give due care to monasteries and temples in the Eastern Province. He also condemned the destruction of archaeological sites in the region, saying authorities have turned a blind eye.
Sumanarathana Thero accused the current administration of harassing monks and Sinhalese communities in the East instead of supporting the development of infrastructure and safeguarding fundamental rights. He appealed directly to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to intervene without delay, warning that if his demands are ignored, he is prepared to travel to Colombo to present his case in person once the President returns from his foreign visit.
