Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thero | |
|---|---|
 Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero presented with a publication | |
| Title | Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter of Siyam Nikaya |
| Personal | |
| Born | 18 March 1942 |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| School | Theravada |
| Lineage | Asgiriya Chapter of Siyam Nikaya |
| Occupation | 22nd Mahanayke Thera of Asgiriya Chapter ,The Venerable Chancellor of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | Kandy |
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.
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]
- ^ "New Asgiriya Mahanayake thero selected". Ada Derana (Sri Lanka). 7 April 2016.
- ^ "New Chief Prelate of the Asgiri Chapter elected". News First (Sri Lanka). 7 April 2016.
- ^ "Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera new Asgiriya Mahanayake". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 7 April 2016.
- ^ "New Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 8 April 2016.
- ^ "Asgiriya chapter issues tough statement". 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Asgiri Mahanayaka Thero Said Don't Go To Muslim Shops". 17 June 2019.
- ^ "Asgiri Prelate Calls For Stoning Of Muslims – But Remains Immune To ICCPR Act Violations". 18 June 2019.
- ^ "Sri Lanka top monk demands boycott of Muslim shops, doctor should be stoned". 19 June 2019.
- ^ "Fear in Sri Lanka as monk calls for stoning of Muslims". 23 June 2019.
- ^ ""My statement on UNP and the Muslim community misinterpreted" – Asgiriya Mahanayake". 21 June 2019.