Balangoda Kassapa Thero defends meeting with Sarath Weerasekara

Senior Buddhist cleric Balangoda Kassapa Thero has addressed public criticism regarding his recent stay at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo and a meeting with former minister Sarath Weerasekara. The Thero explained that his stay at the hotel was necessitated by severe illness following a Satyagraha protest at Viharamahadevi Park, noting that several monks had fallen ill during their journey from Nuwara Eliya.

Addressing social media controversy regarding his attempt to conceal his identity with a shawl while leaving the hotel, the Thero stated that a devotee had offered him the shawl due to his fever. He defended the visit from Sarath Weerasekara, questioning why the encounter was treated as a matter of controversy and asserting his right to receive visitors.

Critics have raised concerns regarding the appropriateness of the venue and the perceived political implications of the meeting, suggesting that discussions with politicians may contradict the objectives of the non-violent resistance movement he has been leading.