A Thera’s transgression?

Environmentalists claim Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera committed a grave offence in keeping a baby elephant in his custody without proper approval :

By Daneshi Yatawara

(Pic: Colombo Telegraph)

The elephant calf alleged to have been illegally kept by Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera is in good health at its new shelter in Uda Walawa. The centre set up by the Department of Wildlife Conservation adjacent to the Eth Athuru Sevana is home for traumatised, ill treated or illegally owned domesticated elephants.

“The animal is in good health and the veterinarians of the Eth Athuru Sevana are taking care of the calf,” Director General Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Chandrasiri Bandara, said.

He said the calf is around five years and is with 11 elephants in the Centre.

The DWC has employed specially-trained mahouts to take care of these domesticated animals. “Most of these animals are brought to our care on court orders.

We have hired mahouts from the National Zoological garden to ensure the safety of animals. We are legally bound to protect them,” Bandara said.

The Centre is set up on a 60-acre land adjoining the Eth Athuru Sevana in Uda Walawa. “When there are disputes over ownership the animals are neglected. We take care of them until the dispute is resolved, Bandara said.

The Thera with the calf (Pic: Colombo Telegraph)

According to Bandara several elephant calves who were illegally owned have got used to live with the Eth Athuru Sevana elephants and roam together in the Uda Walawa National Park. Wildlife officials said after rehabilitation, elephant calves who have adapted to the natural environment are released to the wild.

Dhammaloka Thera was remanded till March 17 on charges of illegally keeping a two and half year-old elephant calf at the Alan Mathiniyaramaya Temple in Polhengoda.

According to Environment Lawyer Jagath Gunawardana the offence falls under section 12 of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. “No one could have a wild animal under his or her custody without approval. It is a grave offence,” he added.

The Colombo Additional Magistrate granted bail to the bhikkhu to attend the funeral of the Mahanayake Thera of the Asigiriya Chapter.

According to media reports on the court hearing, the Magistrate had agreed to bail the Thera to attend the late Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera’s funeral. The Magistrate has said he had also considered several superior court decisions and other special legal provisions before granting bail.

My arrest was illegal: Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera says his bail is also illegal

The case over the alleged possession of a young elephant illegally by Ven.Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera will be taken up for hearing in April. Commenting on the past incidents, the Thera said he informed the Minister of Wildlife Conservation in 2014 seeking his advice on this matter. “No one claimed the animal and those who left it might have thought the temple would be a safe place for the animal,” the Thera added.

Excerpts of the interview

Q: What is the current situation of the ongoing case on the alleged illegal ownership of an elephant calf?

A: The Government arrested me on illegal grounds and bailed me out which again is illegal. The case will be heard again in April. I’m preparing for the next appearance on the advice of my lawyers.

Q: Where is the elephant calf now?

A: It is in the custody of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The Thera at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court (Pix: Dushmantha Mayadunne)

Q: How was the elephant left in your temple – the Alan Methiniyaramaya in Narahenpita?

A: As I have repeatedly told the media, we found the elephant calf in the temple premises after a religious program. No one claimed ownership of the calf.

May be those who left it behind might have thought the temple would be safer for the animal. I still do not know the owner.

Having elephants in our temple is not new. As a bhikku I have seen temples raising elephants. To those who are alien to this culture it is something unusual. Therefore, we did not find it unusual to have an elephant calf in the temple.

Q: Unlike other animals possessing an elephant needs prior approval. Your views?

A: I knew the legal aspect of it. Therefore, I informed the then Minister of Wildlife in 2014. He said there was a new program launched by the Government to rectify the anomalies in elephant registration and assured he would find a solution to this.

Q: After being bailed out you started raising allegations against the Government over the death of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera as a conspiracy. What made you raise the issue at this stage? Is this politically motivated?

A: I appeal to the people not to look at it as a political issue. We are not carried away by petty political issues. We raised this issue as we had good reasons for it.

If I had a political motivation or an anger against the Government, I could have raised the issue the day I was remanded. I and a group were trying to find answers to questions raised over the death of the Thera. We suspect the unexplained death of an upright bhikkhu who questioned unethical political issues. It might have been the case with Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera too.

Q: What evidence have you got to prove ?

A: We have seven facts to prove that Sobitha Thera’s death is untimely.

Three were made known to the public at a recent media briefing.

Q: What do you hope to do with these facts?

A: We intend to take legal action against the relevant authorities.

Q: You were in active politics a few years ago and served as Member of Parliament. Later gave up politics. Is this an attempt to return to politics?

A: Definitely not. As a MP I realised politics is not suitable for bhikkhus. I took to politics and entered Parliament to create a better political culture. But it never happened, despite our strong efforts. Party politics is bad for bhikkhus.

(DY)