Police are investigating a new angle into the death of the dutch bhikkhu as probes continue to ascertain if he was killed.
Senior DIG Rohan Silva in charge of the Southern province told the Sunday Observer that they are conducting an ‘open minded’ investigation. He added that they will be able to reveal new information on the incident soon.
The revelation comes following an investigation that was launched after 59-year-old Ven. Olande Jinarathana Thera’s body was found in a lagoon in Ratgama last Wednesday (9). Police said that there was no indication that the bhikkhu was killed as there were no injuries on his body.
Police are awaiting a report from the Government Analyst, as they continue to search two islands where the monasteries in which the bhikkhus resided.
“We are looking into all aspects. We also deployed divers in the search. It is too early to confirm whether it is suicide or murder,” DIG Silva said.
According to reports the postmortem examination into the death, conducted at the Karapitiya Hospital, showed that the bhikkhu, who was attached to the Dodanduwa Polgasduwa Forest Monastery in Ratgama, was alive before falling into the water.
The bhikkhu’s body was found with two stones tied to his legs raising suspicion over his sudden death.However, his hands were not tied. Later several police teams were deployed to investigate the incident. Statements from 13 bhikkhus who were at the temple he resided and people from the area were recorded by the police. The police questioned boat operators in the area who provide transportation for the bhikkhus from the islands into the main land.
Ven. Olande Jinarathana Thera went missing on December 8 and residents in the area brought his sudden disappearance into the police notice. It is reported that he was meditating in a chamber at the hermitage before he went missing.
The Viharadipathi of the hermitage has said he saw the missing bhikkhu’s canoe floating on the lagoon. Viharadipathi of the monastery has also complained to police over the disappearance of the bhikkhu.
In his complaint the Viharadipathi had stated that the missing bhikkhu had left the monastery on Pindapatha on a canoe. The canoe was reserved for him for this purpose. But that day he did not return.
Ven. Olande Jinarathana Thera had arrived in Sri Lanka eight years ago from Netherland to practice meditation.
On Tuesday, December 8 a comprehensive investigation was launched into the incident with three teams of police investigators of Galle Division Criminal Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigations Bureau of Rathgama police and Criminal Investigation Department (CID), have been deployed to carry out investigations into the crime.
Ven. Thirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thera released a statement following the death of Ven. Olandaye Janavamsa Thera condemning media reports that were published into the incident.
“The post-mortem into the accidental demise of Ven. Olandaye Janavamsa Thera was conducted by Consultant Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Janaki Warshahennadi of Karapitiya Teaching Hospital yesterday (10). Though it was an open verdict, indications therein points at a possible suicide but the judicial procedures are still on to provide a conducive environment for the ongoing police and other investigations,” the Mahanayaka Thera said in a statement.
He also said, “In this context, we strongly feel that, it is entirely unethical for certain broadcast and print media to create news items insinuating murder. As per our knowledge there had been no circumstances whatsoever to lead into a potential murder of this highly respected foreign Thera. Those were the reasons for me personally to believe of a possible suicide from the very beginning of this incident.”
“As there is an ongoing high profile police investigation into the incident under the direction of the Prime Minister, I call upon all media to refrain from ad-hoc and unethical reporting on the incident with factual inaccuracies which may mislead local and international audiences.”
DIG Silva said that they are hopeful that the investigations will be completed soon. “We are doing everything to understand what really happened,” he said.
Ven. Olande Jinarathana Thera’s remains were laid to rest on Friday, December 11.