Washington Viharaya Chief Incumbent thanks President
by Chamikara Weerasinghe, Lanka Daily News, Dec 8, 2004
Colombo, Sri Lanka -- The Chief Incumbent of Washington Buddhist Viharaya in the US and chairman of Jana Vijaya Foundation, Ven. Maharagama Dhammasiri Thera yesterday thanked President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for appointing a three-member committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera.
The Washington Viharadhipathi was speaking on behalf of Sri Vajiranana Dharmayatanaya of Maharagama, the resident temple of Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera. Ven.Dhammasiri Thera also admired the MPs of Jathika Hela Urumaya, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera and Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera for advising the President to make revisions in this regard.
"The President has indicated her responsibility as the leader of the country by ensuring protection to the community of Mahasangha as with this action," Ven. Thera told the " Daily News".
"We came to learn that this committee had been appointed for three months to submit its findings. We think that the Committee may need more time as the matter goes back as far as Russia," said Dhammasiri Thera.
The Thera also said, " we do not harbour hatred for those who were responsible either directly or indirectly for the death of Soma Thera,nor do we want to punish them. We simply expect the Government to tell the public what exactly had happened with a view to ensure protection for the Buddhist monks," the Thera said.