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Inside
story of Soma Thero's death
By
Dilrukshi Handunnetti
Christmas
this year turned gloomy, with roads deserted and festive cheer subdued
as the country's much loved and most controversial Buddhist monk was
cremated last Wednesday amidst a rumour mill working overtime charging
foul play.
Instead
of the gaiety associated with the season, saffron flags flew, many
establishments were closed both through an outpouring of grief as well
as in some instances under compulsion following the distribution of
'chits' and the entire country seemed sombre and pregnant with sadness
as Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero, better known as 'Soma Hamuduruwo' was
accorded a tearful goodbye by a nation struck by the shocking loss.
With
his sudden demise sprang conspiracy theories, questions about the
validity of a ceremony held in Russia where he received a PhD for a book
authored by him and possible medical negligence that led to his death.
As much as his preaching was controversial, so became his death.
While
the Buddhist clergy, politicians, scholars, dayakayas and the simple
followers of Soma Hamuduruwo questioned the cause and the possible
events that led to his death, documents from the Sri Lankan Ambassador
in Moscow, U.B. Wijekoon, addressed to the Secretary, Foreign Affairs
Ministry, offer light to
diffuse the feelings of tension and uncertainty that plague the minds of
the public.
The
letter, written by Wijekoon on December 18, has also been copied to the
secretaries of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs, and
Assisting Foreign Affairs and Buddha Sasana ministers.
With
speculation rife, cannons were fired first by a section of the Maha
Sangha who felt that there were unidentified elements that sought to
silence the voice of the Maha Sangha and wipe out Buddhism from the
island, and in such an anti-Buddhism mission, the first obstacle was
said to be the radical priest who was famous for his people-friendly,
practical sermons.
It
is in this backdrop that Wijekoon moved to file a report on the priest's
Russian visit, a week after his passing away on foreign soil. What is
significant in the document dated December 18 is the detailing of the
circumstances of Soma Thero's death and annexures dated December 6 by a
doctor as well as the President, Buddhist Society in Moscow, Russia
providing valuable insight not only Soma Thero's death but his mindset
at the time.
The
annexures deal with a personal visit paid to Ven. Soma Thero by the
doctor and the President, Buddhist Society well before his death, and
which in fact was filed six days before his death thereby discounting
any theory the document was prepared after the Thero's death.
It
is also revealed in the report the Thero was hospitalised for nearly
seven weeks before the Sri Lankan embassy was informed of his condition
by a caller from Australia.
The
Ambassador upon being informed had had regular contact with Soma Thero
and the documents reveal the tenor of their discussions with regard to
the Thero's health condition.
It
is also revealed in the reports that Soma Thero was not only fully
satisfied with the treatment received
but had insisted on continuing with it at the same hospital.
According
to his report, Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero had arrived in Russia on
October 11, on an invitation by the International Theological
University, St. Petersburg (ITU), which sought to award a Doctor of
Philosophy Degree in Buddhism for his popular book Buddha Stupa.
The
Thero's work had been recommended by Dr. Shanthi P. Jayasekera, a Sri
Lankan living in St. Petersburg.
"Before
he landed in Moscow, it appears that he has felt a severe chest pain. In
spite of this chest pain, he has decided to take the next plane to St.
Petersburg which is over 750 km away from Moscow," the Ambassador's
report said.
It
further claims that on arrival at St. Petersburg airport, the reverend
monk was received by Dr. Shanthi Jayasekera and when he complained of
his chest pains, the priest has been reportedly taken directly to a hospital named City Hospital No. 2 where
medical treatment was provided.
Wijekoon's
report further claims that the priest had been transferred to a
sanatorium named Rapina, where he rested and took physiotherapy
exercises before he was to undergo bypass surgery.
However,
the Ambassador adds that the embassy was kept in the dark about the
monk's visit and it was only during the last week of November that one
Kosala Jayasekera from Australia informed the Ambassador that the
visiting monk was ill, was undergoing treatment and was under the care
of Dr. Shanthi Jayasekera.
When
the Ambassador contacted the Thero, he has reportedly given a
description of his illness, said he was much better, undergoing
exercises and that he was satisfied with the doctors and others who were
taking care of him.
Accordingly,
Ambassador Wijekoon has wished to fly the ailing priest to Moscow after
consulting the Sri Lankan community there. "When I told him of our
intention, he completely refused saying that he was fully satisfied with
the treatment he was getting there."
Subsequently,
President, Buddhist Society in Moscow, Rupasiri Perera visited the
priest on November 30 and upon return, reported that the priest was
normal and happy to stay in St. Petersburg and that there was no need to
bother bringing him to Moscow. He in fact wrote to Kosala Jayasinghe in
Australia on December 6.
This
report was filed by the President of the Moscow Buddhist Society six
days prior to Soma Thero's death.
The
Ambassador has also drawn attention to the fact that Ven. Soma Thero has
been awarded the degree at a simple ceremony at the sanatorium itself,
an issue that had given rise to much speculation
at the time as the photographed ceremony had only five persons
present, furniture in disarray and no audience.
It
now appears from the Ambassador's report the ceremony took place at the
sanitorium, which possibly explains the circumstances of the photo.
The
reports filed by the Embassy and doctor was later corroborated by the
postmortem done in Colombo, that the thero had in fact died of a heart
attack.
The
Sri Lankan Ambassador in Moscow has further stated that he has been in
touch with the priest almost daily and that he failed to attend the
degree awarding ceremony in St. Petersburg upon being invited by the
late priest himself as he (Wijekoon) was scheduled to present
credentials in Kazakhstan.
The
Ambassador confirms that the priest was not recommended surgery as he
was a severe diabetic patient and that he had suffered a severe heart
attack on December 12 and passed away around 8 a.m.
The
Sri Lankan mission chief has sent a further clarification regarding an
incision that appeared on his neck area subsequently, attached to the
report.
Wijekoon
in a fax massage has clarified the position with regard to the cut on
the late monk's neck. "Having inquired further to my e-mail sent
today, I wish to inform that the cut appearing in the neck region of the
Thero is the cut made by the pathologist to avoid blue spots appearing
on the face due to congestion venous blood. Through the cut, medical
preparations were injected into carotid arteries for the above mentioned
purpose."
However,
upon the Ambassador's initiation, Dr. K.A. Karunanayake (embassy panel
doctor) along with Rupasiri Perera had visited the Thero in St.
Petersburg on being informed in November to ascertain his condition and
to collect some money to foot the bill of his operation. Members present
at a meeting of the Buddhist Society in Moscow have promptly agreed to
contribute nearly US$ 9,000.
Ambassador
U.B. Wijekoon has attached two reports by Dr. Karunanayake and Perera
filed on December 6 (six days prior to his demise) to his own report
faxed to Colombo, which offers the opinion that Ven. Thero's was a
natural death caused by a severe heart attack.
Supporting
the Ambassador's claim that the priest died of natural causes, Dr.
Karunanayake in his report dated December 6 states: "Rev. Soma
Thero has been suffering from diabetes mellitus type 2 for the last 10
years. Before landing here in Moscow, he felt chest pains. With those
pains, he managed to fly further to St. Petersburg spending another
three hours and then only an ambulance was called and he was rushed to
the hospital."
More
pertinently, the letter written six days before the venerable monk's
death ends with Dr. Karunanayake adding, "According to Soma Thero,
he is not sure in this condition whether he can fly or not because the
last time he got the chest pains while in the air. I agree with him on
this point, as diabetic patients may feel chest pains whenever they get
into conditions of low oxygen levels."
To
foot the bill of the surgery, Rupasiri Perera of the Buddhist Society in
Moscow adds that Roubles 167,773 were handed over to Dr. Shanthi
Jayasekera in the presence of Soma Thero as there was no other person to
hand over the money to. Pertinently, Perera's letter adds that he
managed a little dhamma discussion with the priest on the morning of
December 6 at the hospital, but felt that he had some worries.
"He
does not worry about his health but worries about the attitude of others
to his illness. He gets so many calls from different countries, mainly
Sri Lanka and Australia, and 99% of them make him worry because these
people do not know the situation here and they have not got the right
information," said Perera in his letter to Jayasinghe in Australia,
obviously communicating Soma Thero's message.
Going
by the comments of the Buddhist Society president made on December 6,
six days prior to the Thero's death, it appears, Soma Thero himself was
concerned "wrong information" was spread on his illness by
interested parties, which he himself has cautioned against and wanted
stopped.
As
the President of the Buddhist Society no less wrote on December 6 to
Kosala Jayasinghe in Australia after the meeting with Soma Thero -
"ask them to only talk about positive things; ask them to encourage
Thero in this difficult situation. He trusts the doctors and the people
around him. He gets blessings and protection of the triple gem. He is
physically and mentally tired of these nonsense calls. This is my only
request to you, please help Ven. Soma Thero."
That
request unfortunately was not hee- ded, even after the venerable Thero's
death.
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Ambassador
Wijekoon's report
Rev.
Gangodawila Soma Thero had come to Russia on an invitation of the
International Theological University, St. Petersburg (ITU) which
has decided to award a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Buddhism for
a book named Buddha Stupa authored by him on the recommendation of
Dr. Shanti P. Jayasekera, a Sri Lankan living in the city of St.
Petersburg.
Rev.
Soma Thero seems to have come to Russia alone on October 11 from
Sri Lanka. Before he landed in Moscow it appears that he has felt
a severe chest pain. In spite of this chest pain he has decided to
take the next plane to St. Petersburg which is over 750 k.m. away
from Moscow. On arrival at St. Petersburg airport Dr. Shanti
Jayasekera has received him there and when he complained about the
chest pain, Dr. Jayasekera has taken the Rev. Thero directly to a
hospital called City Hospital No. 2 in St. Petersburg where he had
been medically treated. After a few days of treatment in the
hospital, when he recovered he had been transferred to a
sanatorium called Rapina where he was resting and taking
physiotherapy exercises before he was to undergo a surgery (bypass
operation).
The
embassy was unaware and nobody cared to inform us all these
happenings until the last week of November when Kosala Jayasinghe
from Australia informed me that Rev. Soma Thero was ill and
undergoing treatment and one Dr. Shanti Jayasekera was looking
after the priest. Immediately, I contacted Dr. Jayasekera and
inquired about the condition of the Thero. He also gave the
telephone number of the Thero to whom I spoke immediately and
inquired about his health conditions. Thero gave me a description
of his illness and told me that he was much better, undergoing
exercises and that he was very satisfied with the doctors and
others who were taking care of him.
Meanwhile
I contacted the Sri Lankan community here in Moscow and decided to
bring the Thero to Moscow. When I contacted the Rev. Soma Thero
and told him of our intention of bringing him to Moscow he
completely refused saying that he was fully satisfied with the
treatment he was getting there. Then we decided to send President,
Buddhist Society in Moscow, Rupasiri Perera to visit and see the
priest. He went there on November 30. He came back and reported
that the priest was normal and happy to stay in St. Petersburg and
that we need not bother to bring him here to Moscow.
On
December 4 the ITU had awarded the degree to the Venerable Thero
with a simple ceremony at the sanatorium premises itself.
Again
on December 3 I convened a meeting of the members of the Buddhist
Society and other Sri Lankans here and decided to send Dr. K.A.
Karunanayake (embassy panel doctor) and Rupasiri Perera to St.
Petersburg and find out the health condition of the priest and
also decided to collect some money to pay for the cost of the
operation. Members present agreed to contribute nearly US$ 9,000.
I
also kept contact with the priest almost daily. Rev. Soma Thero
asked me also to participate in the degree awarding ceremony.
However I could not participate as I had to make preparations to
go to Kazakhstan to present my credentials.
However,
the presentation of credentials to Kazakhstan was postponed but I
had to go to Moldova on December 8 to present credentials there.
On
December 8 the priest had been admitted to the hospital again for
further tests and examinations before he was to undergo surgery.
It seems the doctors have not favoured immediate surgery as he was
a diabetic patient.
On
December 12 morning the Thero seems to have had a severe heart
attack and passed away at about 8 a.m. Doctors had taken him to
the intensive care unit and done their best to save his life.
December
12 was a public holiday here in Russia. I came back from Moldova
only on the night of December 12. By the time I arrived in Moscow
at about 2300 hours, the office staff in spite of it being a
holiday had come to the office and taken all preliminary steps
regarding the next arrangements.
I
decided to go to St. Petersburg and attend to the arrangements of
sending the remains to Sri Lanka. Along with me I took Dr.
Karunanayake, N. Pemmawadu (interpreter) and Hiran Karunaratne, a
Sri Lankan businessman here who was very useful for the occasion.
Meanwhile
I got instructions from Colombo to send the remains without a
postmortem and embalming. It took nearly five hours to convince
the authorities to get the body released without a postmortem and
embalming. By the time the body was released to us it was too late
in the evening. Meanwhile we were able to get some Buddhist monks
from a temple in St. Petersburg and attended to religious rites.
There were about 20 Sri Lankans to pay respects to the late Thero
gathered at the time. Most of them were students.
The
undertakers next informed us that they would be able to send the
remains to reach Sri Lanka only on Friday, December 19. We were
facing a real problem as the body was not embalmed. I contacted
the Rev. Thrikunamalaya Ananda Thero of Sri Vajiragnana
Dharmayathanaya, Maharagama and appraised him of the situation.
Subsequently, we got some instructions about the preservation of
body and accordingly it was done. On the following day we got
further instructions and that time the remains had left the
funeral parlour. Our next serious problem was getting a flight to
Sri Lanka to send the remains.
Fortunately
a charter flight was available to go to Colombo from Moscow on
December 17. We contacted the parties concerned and were able to
find accommodation on that charter flight leaving Moscow at 1820
hours on December 17 and reaching Katunayake Airport at 09:20 on
December 18.
The
remains were dispatched from Moscow on the evening of December 17
at 1820 hours by SU531, a charter flight. I also sent J. Walpita,
the husband of my secretary/stenographer - a committee member of
the Buddhist Society in Moscow - taking the personal belongings of
the late Thero.
I
also would like to bring the following factors too for further
information. The weather here is very unfavourable. There is heavy
snowing and the temperature is minus Celsius. This death took
place in St. Petersburg over 750 k.m. away from Moscow where the
weather conditions were much worse.
We
really condole over the untimely demise of a great Buddha Putra
who fearlessly preached dhamma of the Lord Buddha. However, we
feel happy that we were able to carry out our responsibilities in
spite of many difficulties and obstacles. Finally I am told that
various unfounded stories are going round the country over this
death. It is my humble opinion that this was a natural death
caused because of a severe heart attack.
U.B.
Wijekoon,
Ambassador
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Footnote:
Having
inquired further to my e-mail sent today I wish to confirm
that the cut appearing in the neck region of the Thero is
the cut made by the pathologist to avoid blue spots
appearing on the face due to congestion venous blood.
Through the cut medical preparations were injected into
carotid arteries for the above-mentioned purpose. |
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Dr.
Karunanayake's report December 6, 2003
Rev.
Soma Thero has been suffering from diabetes mellitus type 2 for
the last 10 years. When he came here about two months ago, before
landing in Moscow he felt chest pains.
With
those pains he managed to fly further to St. Petersburg spending
another three hours and then only the ambulance was called and he
was rushed to the hospital. In the cardiology clinic in St.
Petersburg doctors could place a stentor in one of the coronary
arteries and to recover blood flow where it was totally absent.
Then
his diabetic therapy was converted into insulin. Now the glucose
levels are fluctuating between 3.9-6.0 m.mole/1 litre. After
treating him in the hospital for rehabilitation therapy Thero was
sent to a sanatorium where pineso therapy moler observation of a
cardiologist and other specialists was done.
For
this period Soma Thero has improved a lot. He can walk a distance
of about 500 meters without feeling any pains in the chest. Today
he looks very cheerful.
But
as any diabetic patient he has got diabetic angiopathy. One of the
coronary arteries has stenosis with three atheroseborotic plaques
in its lumen, according to the angiographic data. So the doctors
have a dilemma whether to place three stentors in those three foci
or to perform a bypass surgery. A consillium is planned on
December 8 (Monday ) to make the right decision.
According
to Soma Thero he is not sure in this condition whether he can fly
or not because the last time he got chest pains in the air. I
agree with him on this point as diabetic patients may feel chest
pains whenever they get into conditions with low oxygen levels. As
he is in the hands of well qualified cardio surgeons now, there is
no point to be worried about.
Dr.
K.A. Karunanayake
*
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Rupasiri
Perera's letter
Dear
Kosala,
On
behalf of our Buddhist Society in front of Ven. Soma Thero I
handed over Roubles 167,773 to Dr. Shanthi Jayasekera. There was
no other way to pay this money. This is one of the main parts of
our society's contribution. We
arrived at 9:20 in the morning on December 6 and we managed to be
at the hospital at 10:40. I saw Ven. Soma Thero for the second
time and after handing over money we even had a little dhamma
discussion.
When
Shanthi Jayasekera left with his Russian colleagues I asked Thero
about his inner feelings because I had felt some worries. He does
not worry about his own health but he worries about the attitude
of people to his illness. He gets so many telephone calls from
different countries, mainly from Sri Lanka and Australia. Of this,
99% of the calls make him worry because these people do not know
the situation here and they have not got the right information.
Do
you remember that on behalf of all Buddhists in the world you
asked us to help and take care of Ven. Soma Thero? Now on behalf
of all the Buddhists of four directions I ask you to help Ven.
Soma Thero informing others not to worry Thero with unnecessary
telephone calls.
Ask
them to only talk about positive things; ask them to encourage
Thero in this difficult situation. He trusts the doctors and the
people around him. He gets blessings and protection of Triple Gem.
He is physically and mentally tired of these nonsense calls. This
is my only request to you, please help Ven. Soma Thero.
On
December 8 (Monday) the doctors will decide on the operation.
With
loving kindness,
Rupasiri |
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