The peerless Bhikkhu
Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera. The name says it
all. All over the island, there was only one name on everyone’s lips
this week. There was not a soul who did not shed a tear at the
thought that Most Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera is no more in our
midst. As I joined the thousands who came from all walks of life –
and from all parts of the island – to pay last respects to the Ven.
Sobitha Thera on Wednesday night at the Naga Viharaya in Kotte, I
realised just how much this erudite Bhikkhu has touched our hearts.
In the queue, we were all one – Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim; Buddhist,
Hindu, Muslim and Christian. In fact, every single temple, church,
mosque and kovil in the country displayed a yellow flag, signifying
his message of unity. Almost all houses and business establishments
had a yellow flag, regardless of ethnicity and religion. As in life,
he had brought the country together in his death. Everyone was
whispering the name of Ven. Sobitha in utter reverence, for no other
Buddhist monk had done so much for the Sasana and the country in
recent memory.
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