‘Horu Wenuwen Horu’ to London Thames Vihara

 Friday, 24 April 2015

In the context of representing interests of thieves, bribe-takers and drug dealers becoming a national characteristic of Sri Lanka, that trait is now getting extended to cover rapists as well. That is because, former chief incumbent of London Thames Vihara Pahalagama Somaratana, due to complete serving a prison term after being found guilty of raping a small girl, is due to be freed on May 01 and a group of ‘Horu Wenuwen Horu’ London branch is planning to get him reappointed as the chief incumbent at Thames Vihara, according to reports.

This Pahalagama Somaratana is a diehard Rajapaksa loyalist. During the period he was the chief incumbent, he misused the powers of the Sri Lankan state to such an extent that this rapist was powerful enough to send back home the Sri Lankan deputy high commissioner Sumith Nakandala a few years ago. He was aided in that by speaker Chamal Rajapaksa.

With the blessings of Rajapaksas, Pahalagama Somaratana was able to become owner of several guest houses in Gampaha district, and all the nefarious activities at these places were carried out by using the name of his own brother. This womanizer was sentenced to six years in prison over a sexual abuse of a small girl at London Buddhist Vihara around 40 years ago.

A group of patrons at the Thames Vihara is trying to reappoint him as the chief incumbent once he is freed, but the others are strongly opposing it. But, the building that houses the Vihara is a private property of Pahalagama Somaratana. Therefore, he has a legal right to be there.

During a recent visit to London, Ven. Dr. Dambara Amila Thera said, “As Buddist monks, we cannot remove our ‘Andanakadaya’ (undergarment) even when we take a bath. If we do so, we will have to put its strap around our neck. The former chief incumbent of Thames Vihara is not a Buddhist monk any longer, because he had worn only the prison clothing for nearly three years now. If he wants to be a monk, he will have to get priesthood all over again. The Adhikarana Sangha Sabha in Britain and the Mahanayake Theras of his chapter should take an immediate decision.”