Inside story of Soma Thero's death

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e s tics SPOTLIGHT Inside story of Soma Thero's death us es orial tlight ght rts iness iew ers shell rviews hion ives By Dilrukshi Handunnetti Christmas this year turned gloomy, with roads deserted and festive cheer subdued as the country's much loved and most controversial Buddhist monk was cremated last Wednesday amidst a rumour mill working overtime charging foul play. Instead of the gaiety associated with the season, saffron flags flew, many establishments were closed both through an outpouring of grief as well as in some instances under compulsion following the distribution of 'chits' and the entire country seemed sombre and pregnant with sadness as Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero, better known as 'Soma Hamuduruwo' was accorded a tearful goodbye by a nation struck by the shocking loss. With his sudden demise sprang conspiracy theories, questions about the validity of a ceremony held in Russia where he received a PhD for a book authored by him and possible medical negligence that led to his death. As much as his preaching was controversial, so became his death. While the Buddhist clergy, politicians, scholars, dayakayas and the simple followers of Soma Hamuduruwo questioned the cause and the possible events that led to his death, documents from the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Moscow, U.B. Wijekoon, addressed to the Secretary, Foreign Affairs Ministry, offer light to diffuse the feelings of tension and uncertainty that plague the minds of the public. The letter, written by Wijekoon on December 18, has also been copied to the secretaries of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs, and Assisting Foreign Affairs and Buddha Sasana ministers. With speculation rife, cannons were fired first by a section of the Maha Sangha who felt that there were unidentified elements that sought to silence the voice of the Maha Sangha and wipe out Buddhism from the island, and in such an anti-Buddhism mission, the first obstacle was said to be the radical priest who was famous for his people-friendly, practical sermons. It is in this backdrop that Wijekoon moved to file a report on the priest's Russian visit, a week after his passing away on foreign soil. What is significant in the document dated December 18 is the detailing of the circumstances of Soma Thero's death and annexures dated December 6 by a doctor as well as the President, Buddhist Society in Moscow, Russia providing valuable insight not only Soma Thero's death but his mindset at the time. The annexures deal with a personal visit paid to Ven. Soma Thero by the doctor and the President, Buddhist Society well before his death, and which in fact was filed six days before his death thereby
discounting any theory the document was prepared after the Thero's death. It is also revealed in the report the Thero was hospitalised for nearly seven weeks before the Sri Lankan embassy was informed of his condition by a caller from Australia. The Ambassador upon being informed had had regular contact with Soma Thero and the documents reveal the tenor of their discussions with regard to the Thero's health condition. It is also revealed in the reports that Soma Thero was not only fully satisfied with the treatment received but had insisted on continuing with it at the same hospital. According to his report, Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero had arrived in Russia on October 11, on an invitation by the International Theological University, St. Petersburg (ITU), which sought to award a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Buddhism for his popular book Buddha Stupa. The Thero's work had been recommended by Dr. Shanthi P. Jayasekera, a Sri Lankan living in St. Petersburg. "Before he landed in Moscow, it appears that he has felt a severe chest pain. In spite of this chest pain, he has decided to take the next plane to St. Petersburg which is over 750 km away from Moscow," the Ambassador's report said. It further claims that on arrival at St. Petersburg airport, the reverend monk was received by Dr. Shanthi Jayasekera and when he complained of his chest pains, the priest has been reportedly taken directly to a hospital named City Hospital No. 2 where medical treatment was provided. Wijekoon's report further claims that the priest had been transferred to a sanatorium named Rapina, where he rested and took physiotherapy exercises before he was to undergo bypass surgery. However, the Ambassador adds that the embassy was kept in the dark about the monk's visit and it was only during the last week of November that one Kosala Jayasekera from Australia informed the Ambassador that the visiting monk was ill, was undergoing treatment and was under the care of Dr. Shanthi Jayasekera. When the Ambassador contacted the Thero, he has reportedly given a description of his illness, said he was much better, undergoing exercises and that he was satisfied with the doctors and others who were taking care of him. Accordingly, Ambassador Wijekoon has wished to fly the ailing priest to Moscow after consulting the Sri Lankan community there. "When I told him of our intention, he completely refused saying that he was fully satisfied with the treatment he was getting there." Subsequently, President, Buddhist Society in Moscow, Rupasiri Perera visited the priest on November 30 and upon return, reported that the priest was normal and happy to stay in St. Petersburg and that there was no need to bother bringing him to Moscow. He in fact wrote to Kosala Jayasinghe in Australia on December 6. This report was filed by the President of the Moscow Buddhist Society six days prior to Soma Thero's death. The Ambassador has also drawn attention to the fact that Ven. Soma Thero has been awarded the degree at a simple ceremony at the sanatorium itself, an issue that had given rise to much speculation at the time as the photographed ceremony had only five persons present, furniture in disarray and no audience. It now appears from the Ambassador's report the ceremony took place at the sanitorium, which possibly explains the circumstances of the photo. The reports filed by the Embassy and doctor was later corroborated by the postmortem done in Colombo, that the thero had in fact died of a heart attack.
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Page 3 and 4: at the time as the photographed cer
Page 5 and 6: On December 8 the priest had been a
Page 7: attitude of people to his illness.
Page 11 and 12: Ambassador Wijekoon's report Rev. G
Page 13 and 14: * * * Dr. Karunanayake's report Dec

Inside story of Soma Thero's death

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