Licence obtained under monk’s lay name causes confusion

When a Buddhist monk appeared before Mutur Magistrate Mohamed Shariff Mohamed Samsudeen in connection with a road accident, the magistrate ordered police to check with the Department of Motor Traffic on the validity of the driving licence appearing under the suspect’s lay name.

The suspect Chief Incumbent of the Pashana Pabbatha Viharaya in Mawadichenai in Kalladi Ven. Ratnapure Devananda Kitti Thera was charged with driving without a valid licence, reckless driving and knocking down a motorcyclist causing him serious injuries.

Police told court that the motorcyclist Marian Shiwamalai had received serious injuries when the motorcycle collided with the double cab driven by the suspect and that the suspect was not in possession of a driving licence coming under his present name as a Buddhist monk.

The monk’s lawyer Attorney-at-law Laxman Bandara Mullegama told court that the suspect had obtained a driving licence under his lay name, Devundaragamage Senadeera before being ordained and that the police had retained the driving licence and failed to issue a temporary licence to his client. He then produced an affidavit that stated that Ratnapure Devananda Kitti Thera and Devundaragamage Senadeera was one and the same.

The magistrate ordered police to issue a temporary licence to the Ven. Thera and postponed the case for December 10.