Magistrate orders submission of expert panel report for death certificate of Ven. Sobitha Thera
Though the incident regarding the death of Rev. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera which was subject to various conflicts of opinion and gave rise to discussions on a large scale, there was no
investigation launched regarding this matter. It is however a problematic situation whether a post-mortem was not held over the body was something which was done wilfully or whether such a post-mortem was deemed unnecessary because the death took place in Singapore.Subsequent to the Thera's demise, months later Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera who became annoyed with the government in a political way made a complaint in this connection and this matter has now come before the law. The Colombo Chief Magistrate, Mr. Gihan Pilapitiya has issued orders to Director of the Colombo National Hospital, Dr. Anil Jasingha yesterday (4) to carry out an immediate investigation on the failure to conduct a post-mortem in respect of the Late Thera and to forward a report to his courts.
The Chief Magistrate had given these instructions after considering the report presented to him by the Criminal Investigation Department in association with the complaint lodged by Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera. He had further issued orders that when preparing that report, medical reports and treatment records of the Colombo National Hospital, the Central Hospital, the Neville Fernando Hospital as well as Mount Elizabeth Hospital of Singapore where Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera underwent treatment be taken into consideration.