MALWATTE CHAPTER SUPREME COUNCIL DECISION UNCHALLENGEABLE : JUDGE
The Judge further said that when a Thera was appointed to the post of Viharadhipathi by the Supreme Committee of the Sanga Saba with the recommendations of the Malwatte Mahanayaka Thera, that decision could not be challenged by the Civil Appellant Court
The decision of the Committee of the Supreme Council of the Malwatte Chapter taken on the recommendation of the Ven. Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwatte Viharaya regarding the appointment of the Chief Incumbent of the Viharaya cannot be challenged by anyone within the jurisdiction of the North Central Provincial Appellant Court, the North Central Appellant Court Judge Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne said yesterday.
He further said this was after considering the petition submitted by the former Mihintale Rajamaha Viharadhipathi Namalwewe Rathanasara Thera regarding the restraining order given by the Anuradhapura District Judge Lakmali Hewawasam to invalidate the order to use the assets of the Mihintale Raja Maha Viharaya and collect the religious donations. The petition was taken up before the Appellant Court Judges comprising Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Gamini Edirisinghe.
The Appellant Court ordered the new Mihintale Viharadhipathi Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratne Thera to carry out, as the Viharadhipathi at Rajamahaviharaya, religious activities, organising activities of the National Poson Poya festival and allow the use of all the movable and immovable prop- erties of the temple.
It also ordered Namalwewe Rathanasara Thera to file any objections relating to this in the next session of hearing. It was ordered to hold the next hearing on June 11. Judge Bandula Karunaratne said Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratne Thera had been appointed to the post of new Viharadhipathi as there was a case against former Mihintale Rajamaha Viharadhipathi Namalwewe Rathanasara Thera regarding child abuse. Until the verdict was given in this case Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratne Thera had been appointed for the post of new Viharadhipathi.