Ven. Ambanpola Gnana Thusitha Thera via a video explained in detail about Ven.Gampaha Mahanama Thera formally Nayana Wasala with whom he had ordained on the same day in year 2003. – By Sunil Thenabadu

Ven. Ambanpola Gnana Thusitha Thera via a video explained in detail about Ven.Gampaha Mahanama Thera formally Nayana Wasala with whom he had ordained on the same day in year 2003. – By Sunil Thenabadu

sunil Thenabadu

In year 2003 when Nayana Wasala Wijeratne was ordained as Gampaha Mahanama it was at the same time Ambanpola Gnana Thusitha had too got ordained when both were teenagers, eighteen years old..Both had been close friends having been ordained at a famous meditating centre in Polgahawela, Thereafter the two Bhikkhus had lived in two small cottages close to each other in Kitulgahakanda area in Gonagaldeniya where the duo was engaged in Dhamma publicity work enthusiastically . During this time delivering “Bana “ sermons in the television channels were not popular. It is learnt from Ven.Ambanpola Gnana Thusitha thera that Gampaha Mahanama thera had developed a passion for ‘Bana’ preaching to become a much sought after erudite ‘Bana’ preacher.
With the establishment of the Buddhist television channel many Buddhist monks who excelled as adored Dhamma preachers  became popular among  Buddhists devotees. When the Buddhist channel became popular the other television channels too commenced to telecast Buddhist sermons including in many  radio channels too.. By this the ‘Bana’ market Gampaha Kahanama Thera rose to an unprecedented tall mandate. This made many young prelates too to get interested in ‘Bana’ preachings. This is how Ven.Gampaha Mahanama Thera rose to unprecedented recognition and fame. He was in such a demand that he even was futile to give dates as he was pre booked. because of the high demand for his sermons predominantly for his adorable stature and devout voice. Gampaha Mahanama Thera was even invited for sermons by Buddhists in many countries hence had accumulated wealth in the form of money in gigantic magnitudes. This accumulated money in unprecedented proportions was the prime motive to decline in his position which he had held in possession. Ven. Gnana Thusitha was aware that some group of Sri Lankans living in Australia had remitted to Ven Gampaha Mahanama Thera  monthly thousands to his account, after conversion of A$ to Sri Lanka rupees the amounts remitted had been huge as one A $ dollar was around over rupees two hundred Sri Lankan rupees. He had accumulated wealth for himself and the temple which of course belonged to the Sasana. Some devotees had individually and collectively donated to him wealth, in addition  had bought him a luxury car and  an apartment in the Millenium city etc principally for been vastly pacified for his preachings which were of a different diversity

It is learnt that as a co Bhikkhu Ambanpola Gnana Thusitha had advised him about the changes in his attitudes as those were fundamentally not belonged to that of a Bhikkhu  Ven Gnana Thusitha had added that Gampaha Mahanama Thera had fallen out with him for bringing to his knowledge his unfamiliar accountabilities and characteristics  Ven. Gnana Thusitha had come to know about Ven.Gampaha Mahanama’s relationships with  a women earlier too,  before coming to know of his involvement with K Sujeewa. When he wanted to disrobe his colleague co Bhikkhu  Ven.Gnana Thusitha had adored as he was not performing as a true monk hence to disrobe  was  the best option instead of tarnishing  Buddhism. It was added that it was more particularly as he was entangled with a women, Sujeewa who was about fifteen years his senior which was not at all conforming to a normal marriage having two daughters aged twenty eight and sixteen years, in the event his intention was to commence a family. .Ven. Gnana Thusitha believes Nayana Wasala may have had in his possession a huge sum amounting to millions, in addition his luxury car and the house in the Millenium city that was gifted to him. It is learnt that Nayana Wasala has had in his possession an American Visa for five years. Ven. Gnana Thusitha believes that Nayana Wasala never wanted to lose his popularity and fame as a renowned Bhikku preacher  It had revealed that he may have wanted to migrate to USA with Sujeewa and the daughters.

Though Nayana Wasala after disrobing had lived with Sujeewa and his two daughters Anjali and Rose grown ups  to the time of his tragic death he had not been seen in a single video. There had been many birthday parties, other  get togethers  celebrated at their dwelling . There had been a huge ‘Katina’ Pinkama organised by Sujjewa spending a sum of rupees fifty lakhs a photo or even a shadow of Nayana Wasala was very shrewdly omitted hence no one knew only as  a very close family member  had known that the duo was married. There is no doubt having a plan laid  by  Sujeewa and two daughters who had shrewdly edited all videos  that were made public omitting Nayana Wasala photos may for reasons only best known to the trio. About an year ago popular Sudatta had made a video with the family at their dwelling there too no mention was made of Nayana Wasala though the duo Sujeewa and he were married. When spoken about another marriage for Sujeewa the elder daughter Anjali had jested that “Amma is still eligible as she possesses all credentials for another marriage’ while  uttering that she was already  married. The entire family members appear to be a very shrewd unit not disclosing the truth. The public had come to know that after the death of Nayana Wasala only he was the husband of K Sujeewa. This was particularly as both were well known individuals as a popular Buddhist preacher and the popular vocalist.Lately Nayana Wasala had conveyed his displeasure about the decision to marry had even contemplated  to reverting back to robes..

As Sujeewa Nayana Wasala duo was a very popular duo  had made the killing of  ‘Club’ Wasantha Prerea not spoken of much but people commenced focusing on the death of Nayana Wasala .If this was known there would not have been such an agitation among the general public on the death of Nayana Wasala.On viewing the photo that was published in social media on the foursome namely Wasantha, his wife, Sujeewa and Nayana Wasala the Ven Ambanpola Gnana Thusitha has had not found any difficulty in identifying his former Bhikku pal Nayana Wasala though he had sported a small beard. Then the Thera had concluded to himself about his marriage to Sujeewa which was hidden from many including him. When Ven.Gnana Thusitha heard that Sujeewa was shot  he knew that Nayana Wasala too would have been there.

After hearing from the shooting Ven Gnana Thusitha had tried valiantly endeavouring to find details had called the Athurugiriya police to find any information.In the evening news they had said another person thirty  eight years old too had been killed in the shooting but his name was not disclosed. The Thera had believed that as it was hidden all these years they are also trying to hide about Nayana Wasala’s demise.The Thera had called the Homagama hospital when it was conveyed no one had claimed the body of slain Nayana Wasala.They had conveyed to the Monk that they believed the dead person to be a security personnel of Club Wasantha.At that moment the Thera had received a photo of dead Nayana Wasala from which he was certain it was his co Bhikku Nayana Wasala. Ven.Gnana Thusitha reminisced that once earlier he had made a post in his FB about Nayana Wasala not mentioning as one Mahanama Thera who had disrobed and living with K Sujeewa for which he had received good and bad comments in large numbers.Thera Gnana Thusitha had got concerned and hurt for the murder of his co Bhikkhu had made a post in his FB that one person who had disrobed had been shot dead along with the group photo before the shooting and another photo of Nayana Wasala without stating his name as Gampaha Mahanama about his demise using some prised words. After posting this the Thera had retired to bed and when he got up in the morning this post had got viral to unprecedented tall elevations to which many had got terribly agitated. When this post was shared by many FB friends who had made more comments and information via the Face Book.One senior Monk had informed Ven,Gnana Thusitha if no one accepts his body for him to accept to bring the body to his temple to conduct last rites .To oblige Ven.Gnana Thusitha had gone to the Homagama hospital to claim the body .The Police officers had asked who was he  to which the Thera had said he was a brother monk who had disrobed. The Police personnel too had seen the FB post  made by the Thera.The Police personnel too had known after the FB post that the dead person was Sujeewa’s husband. Then the Police had contacted the daughters asked to claim the body. The daughters had come with some others in vehicles after showing some legal documents had claimed the body. Although they had seen Ven Gnana Thusitha Sujeewa’s daughters had not spoken a single word with him. The hospital staff had  debarred visitors  from viewing the dead body. Ven Gnana Thusitha had not known where the burial was to take place. In the log book they had stated at the Talahena cemetery at 10.30 am perhaps the family wanted to have the funeral rites made soon as possible before it goes viral.

To find the place it was to be buried the Thera had gone to many florists in the Malabe vicinity and found the funeral undertaker who had embalmed the body.From them the Thera had found out the cemetery which was the Talahena cemetery at 10.30am.When the Thera visited the parlour it had been empty when he wondered is this the manner to respect the Monk who had mesmerized huge audiences with his superior Bana preachings in the past.The Thera as proof had taken photos of the empty funeral parlour with chairs only.The Thera had been apprehensive on this issue thinking in a few moments his remains will be buried sans any fanfare and salute for a  former Bhikku was preached to millions of devotees .The Thera had inserted another FB post with photos that the remains of Nayana Wasala who preached as Ven,Gampaha Mahanama Thera who was shot dead at the Athurugiriya Tattoo shop lies at this funeral parlour .Before burial those willing to pay last respects could visit the parlour as the burial would be made in a few hours. The mourners had arrives instantly in large numbers particularly as the deceased was  attached to the Malabe Asapuwa sometime ago when he had been known to many devotees as he had conducted many Buddhist programs for children too during his tenure .  Hence the burial could not be done early as wanted as mourners continued to flock in numbers. Ultimately after a ‘Pansa Kule’ rituals attended by five Bhikkus including Ven. Ambanpola  Gnana Thusitha Thera the body was buried in front of a large gathering of mourners who had flocked to the funeral parlour  to pay their last respects.

When devotees came to know the close association of Nayana Wasala with Ven.Ambanpola Gnana Thustha many had conveyed the suffering he had undergone when he lived with Sujeewa and family. One devotee had said it was good that Nayana Wasala died as he confronted with many hindrances faced particularly as he was a person who used to lose temper quickly. Ven,Gnana Thusitha conveyed that to preach Bana one needs only to talk to impress the audiences via a Bana marketing mafia. These details were captured by the writer from the video Ven Ambanpola Gnana Thusitha thera had with Sudaththa in a video at the Thera;s temple

Sunil Thenabadu

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