{"id":34049,"date":"2014-10-12T02:16:47","date_gmt":"2014-10-12T06:16:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=34049"},"modified":"2014-10-12T03:06:30","modified_gmt":"2014-10-12T07:06:30","slug":"bodu-bala-senas-deputy-financial-secretary-wellampitiya-sumanadharma-thera-jailed-and-bailed-for-alleged-land-transaction-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=34049","title":{"rendered":"Bodu Bala Sena’s Deputy Financial Secretary Wellampitiya Sumanadharma Thera Jailed and Bailed for Alleged Land Transaction Fraud."},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/p>\n

Camelia Nathaniel<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has once again come under the media spotlight for the alleged involvement of its Deputy Finance Secretary, Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera, in a fraudulent land transaction.<\/p>\n

The monk had allegedly been involved in a financial misappropriation of Rs 7.5 million, and he was arrested last week on a complaint made by a businessman, Mervyn Perera. It was reported that the monk had sold a plot of land in Boralesgamuwa to the businessman, claiming that he was the owner. However, investigations had revealed that the said land was not privately owned by the monk but was Sanghika property (owned by the Buddhist order of monks in common).<\/p>\n

Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera was reportedly the leader of the group of monks who had invaded the Ministry of Trade and Industry a few months ago, claiming that Ven. Watareka Vijitha Thera had been hiding inside. The monk who was arrested while hiding in a house in Peliyagoda, was handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Subsequently, after being produced in Court last week, he was released on bail.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When contacted by The Sunday Leader in this regard, the lay executive committee member and the coordinator of BBS, Dilantha Withanage, said along with him, only four members had been appointed to key posts in the organisation; they are, Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi Thera, Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, Ven. Nanda Thera and Ven. Pagnnarama Thera. \u201cHowever, there are others who had volunteered to serve on various projects that we initiate, and as they had to be given some position within the organization, such titles are given.<\/p>\n

But they are certainly not those who had been appointed to represent the BBS, and Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera was one such member. He volunteered to serve on one of our projects called the Dharmapala project, and he was appointed as the assistant treasurer for this particular project, where he would assist the financial secretary. This was not a permanent position but a designation for the project, per se, but we did not remove the designation from him when the project came to an end, and the position continued to be so, unofficially,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Withanage further stated that as laymen, it was not their practice to criticize any monk, irrespective of the nature of the offence they commit. However, as this allegation against Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera is a serious one, and as it will have a negative impact on the BBS as a whole, Ven. Gnanasara Thera had taken on the task of investigating the incident to determine if Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera had in fact committed the said offence.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis incident should not be viewed as an offence committed by the BBS as it had no involvement of the organization, whatsoever. This is a private incident and the reputation of the BBS should not be tarnished due to the actions of certain individuals. But Ven. Gnanasara Thera had decided to look into this matter due to the fact that, as a member of the BBS, the actions of Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera has a bearing on the BBS as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, Withanage reaffirmed that even though it was a private matter and despite Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera being part of the BBS, if the alleged crime had been committed, the guilty party should be punished. He said that while the BBS always protects its members, in the case of an offence committed, justice should prevail, and the BBS will not protect him if he had committed an offence. But he also said that simply because there are allegations against Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera, the BBS cannot expel him from the organisation.<\/p>\n

He added that, a committee comprising several senior monks will be appointed to conduct an investigation into the allegation, and if they find that an offence had been committed, appropriate action will be taken against Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera. Commenting further, Withanage also pointed out that most of those involved with the BBS are volunteers, and as such, they are not paid or employed by the organisation.<\/p>\n

However, he added that despite they being mere volunteers, if and when they engage in unlawful activities, it is the BBS that has to face criticism. He also said, at present, due to the stern actions taken by the BBS, there are many parties who are waiting to find fault with the organization and point fingers at them. Hence, when there are parties who are even indirectly involved with the BBS and are embroiled in such activities, the blame is automatically directed at the BBS, and it is their reputation that is dragged through the mud.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, who are involved with the BBS, make a concerted effort to minimize the possibility of any mistakes being made in order to uphold the principles of the organisation. In the case of Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera, it is a private case, and appropriate action will be taken according to the law. Perhaps this monk would have been engaged in such activities long before the BBS was even established, but the fact is that as he is part of the BBS, it brings disrepute to the organisation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

According to Withanage, the BBS anticipates such incidents in the future as well, as it is human to make mistakes. He said however, they will take all possible precautionary measures to avert such mistakes, and hopes that this will not be a blemish on the BBS, and will be addressed as a private incident.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Police Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana, told The Sunday Leader that, the police will file a case against Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera as lands under the Buddhist and Temples Ordinance cannot be sold by an individual as it is the property of the Buddhist order.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis scam came to light when the person who was to purchase the land had gone to the Land Ministry to check if the property had been registered. As the property had not been registered and there was no deed available, the buyer had become suspicious, and had informed the authorities,\u201d SSP Rohana said.<\/p>\n

Courtesy:The Sunday Leader<\/em><\/p>\n

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By Camelia Nathaniel The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has once again come under the media spotlight for the alleged involvement of its Deputy Finance Secretary, Ven. Wellampitiye Sumanadhamma Thera, in a fraudulent land transaction. The monk had allegedly been involved in a financial misappropriation of Rs 7.5 million, and he was arrested last week on …<\/p>\n

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