-Courtesy Asian Tribune
By Ven. Maharagama Dhammasiri Thero - Washington Viharadipathi Director/ Dharmayatanaya, Maharagama
The demise of the late Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero occurred in December 2003, in Russia in a mysterious manner. It is still a mystery to the people of Sri Lanka, especially to those who associated him very closely.
The purpose of writing this is to let our readers know that we may forgive but will never forget this crime against the Buddha Sasana.
7 years have passed since this tragedy, and we continue to see those evil forces responsible for this tragedy, active again.
The special Presidential Commission appointed to inquire and investigate into this tragedy concluded in their report the following main points;
• that, Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero was duped into visiting Russia at the invitation of one Reverend S.P.J., Professor of a bogus International University of Fundamental Studies to award a Doctorate offered by Christian Fundamentalists to subsequently damage Soma Thero’s reputation and to ridicule him,
• that, Ven. Soma Thero on his way to Moscow on October 11th 2003 suffered a heart attack, and the Rev. S.P.J. who met Soma Thero at Moscow Airport took him on a further 5 hour flight to St. Petersburg, another 700 miles away without any medical attention despite Soma Thero complaining of severe chest pain, and pleading for help. The Commission also concluded that the perpetrators plotted over and above the above mentioned coup to craftily and systematically avoid administering proper medical care and treatment, to let Ven. Soma Thero face death; describing it as “Criminal Negligence” on the part of the perpetrators.
The purpose of Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero’s visit to Russia was to receive a Doctorate and Professorship from the International University of Fundamental Studies (The commission investigated and concluded there was no such recognized, legal University) in Saint Petersburg, Russia on the invitation of the Founder and rector Rev. S.P.J. We understand that Soma Thero had also been promised assistance for a health project amounting to millions of Rupees to be arranged from the USA to build a hospital in Sri Lanka.
It is quite evident that Ven. Soma Thero, a dedicated fighter against “immoral and illegal conversions of Buddhists”, a fearless critic against alcohol consumption and smoking etc. had been carefully tricked with an invitation to Russia by these two brothers (Rev. S.P.J. & S.J. having carefully concealed their background), to confer a Doctorate in Russia on a book written in Sinhala, on the initiative of Reverend’s own International University of Fundamental Studies, which they had indicated to be affiliated to the Oxford University in UK.
However after several months since his demise we received a photo copy of a “Last Will” said to have been written by Soma Thero. It had been proved to be a faked Last Will.
The other funny thing about this Last Will, before Soma Thero’s signature, “Poojaya” is denoted. No Buddhist Monk uses Poojay before signing his name. Soma Thero too never used “Poojya” when he signed a document. The normal practice is to just sign one’s name. A stupid lapse on the part of the culprits.
