October 26, Colombo (LNW): A protest campaign calling for the release of Venerable Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero has been temporarily suspended following indications that senior Buddhist clergy are making efforts to address the matter.
Venerable Ulapane Sumangala Thero announced the decision on the 25th while speaking to the media at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, where Buddhist monks had been conducting a continuous satyagraha.
According to Ven. Sumangala Thero, the decision to pause the protest came after information emerged that the Mahanayake Theros representing Sri Lanka’s three main Buddhist monastic chapters were intervening in an attempt to secure the release of Gnanasara Thero.
The demonstration was organised to press for the release of the Bodu Bala Sena’s general secretary, with participating monks maintaining their campaign at the Colombo park to draw attention to their demand.
Ven. Sumangala Thero explained that the latest development had prompted the organisers to suspend the campaign temporarily, as efforts by senior religious leaders offered a possible avenue for resolving the issue.
