The Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas have written to the Commissioner General of Prisons expressing serious concern and surprise over the decision by the Prisons Department to produce Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera before court dressed in civilian clothing after he was imprisoned under a court order.
The letter was signed by Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, Mahanayake of the Malwathu Chapter; Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter; Most Ven. Karagoda Uyangoda Maithri Murthi Thera, Supreme Mahanayake of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya; and Most Ven. Makulawe Sri Wimala Thera, Mahanayake of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya.
In the letter, the Mahanayake Theras said that while they firmly maintain that neither the Constitution nor judicial processes should be obstructed, the removal of a Buddhist monk’s robes or the termination of his monastic status is not a matter that can be determined solely through administrative procedures or prison regulations.
They stressed that such matters fall within the religious and ecclesiastical authority of the Maha Sangha.
