Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero

Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thero (born 18 March 1942) is a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk who is the present Mahanayaka Thero of the Asgiriya chapter of Siam Nikaya. He was appointed as the 22nd Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter on 7 April 2016, by the Karaka Sangha Sabha of Asgiriya chapter, after the demise of Galagama Sri Aththadassi Mahanayaka Thera.[1][2][3][4] He is also the Chancellor of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka of Sri Lanka.

Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thero
Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero presented with a publication
TitleMahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter of Siyam Nikaya
Personal
Born (1942-03-18) 18 March 1942
ReligionBuddhism
NationalitySri Lankan
SchoolTheravada
LineageAsgiriya Chapter of Siyam Nikaya
Occupation22nd Mahanayke Thera of Asgiriya Chapter ,The Venerable Chancellor of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
Senior posting
Based inKandy

Gnanarathana thero is known for voicing his right-wing political proclivities in public. In 2017, he issued a statement condoning the views of the hard-line nationalist monk Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara.[5] At a public event in 2019, Gnanarathana thero endorsed the views of those who called for the stoning of a Muslim doctor accused of sterilization of Sinhala women as well as the boycotting of Muslim businesses, stating that Muslims are sterilizing Sinhalese through food sold in their shops.[6] At the same event, he endorsed the purported presidential candidacy of Chamal Rajapaksa.[7][8] The ensuing public backlash[9] forced Gnanarathana thero to deny his previous statements.[10]

See also

References
  1. "New Asgiriya Mahanayake thero selected". Ada Derana (Sri Lanka). 7 April 2016.
  2. "New Chief Prelate of the Asgiri Chapter elected". News First (Sri Lanka). 7 April 2016.
  3. "Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera new Asgiriya Mahanayake". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 7 April 2016.
  4. "New Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 8 April 2016.
  5. "Asgiriya chapter issues tough statement". 20 June 2017.
  6. "Asgiri Mahanayaka Thero Said Don't Go To Muslim Shops". 17 June 2019.
  7. "Asgiri Prelate Calls For Stoning Of Muslims – But Remains Immune To ICCPR Act Violations". 18 June 2019.
  8. "Sri Lanka top monk demands boycott of Muslim shops, doctor should be stoned". 19 June 2019.
  9. "Fear in Sri Lanka as monk calls for stoning of Muslims". 23 June 2019.
  10. ""My statement on UNP and the Muslim community misinterpreted" – Asgiriya Mahanayake". 21 June 2019.


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