Buddhist Monk Attacked By Villagers for Womenizing Does Not Belong to Mahameunawa Monastery Network!

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The Mahamevnawa Monastery, also known as the Asapu Network, holds a significant position in Sri Lanka's Buddhist community. With its branches spanning the country and a strong presence on social media, it is a revered institution. However, its reputation has been marred by persistent misinformation and disinformation campaigns. These campaigns not only challenge the monastery's integrity but also have the potential to distort its image and teachings. This situation underscores the vulnerability of even esteemed institutions to the propagation of false information in the digital era.

Social Media Posts

Social media posts allege that a Buddhist monk belonging to the Mahameunawa monastery network was attacked by villagers for breaching monastic codes, specifically for womanising at night. The incident supposedly occurred on the roads of Baduraliya, with the monk being hospitalised by the Baduraliya Police.

Facebook | Archived

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Fact Check:

The claim's source originated from a news article published by a provisional journalist of Dinamina, a state-owned newspaper in Sri Lanka. A news article can be reached here. The newspaper report topic says a Buddhist monk from Bulathsinhala area was assaulted in Baduraliya while he was womanising at night. The Baduraliya and Bulathsinhala are adjacent geographical areas.

Location Identification: The newspaper report mentioned the temple as "Mahameuwna Viharaya" and stated the incident occurred in the Kalutara district, specifically in the Baduraliya area. Further investigation of us revealed two Buddhist places named Mahameunawa Viharaya and Mahameunawa Asapuwa within the Bulathsinhala Police division of the Kalutara district.

Web

Confirmation from Mahameunawa Network: The Mahameunawa network's official website and Facebook page confirmed that Mahameunawa Asapuwa in Bulathsinhala does not have any connection with Mahameunawa Viharaya, which is located in Galahitiya, Molkawa. The network asserted that the assaulted monk and the mentioned temple are not affiliated with them.

Archived

Verification from Local Monks and Police: Interviews conducted with various monks of temples in the Baduraliya and Bulathsinhala areas also revealed same information. While some monks were unaware of any connection between Mahameunawa Viharaya and Mahameunawa Asapuwa, others confirm that there’s no association between the two places.

Additionally, both the OICs (Officers in Charge) of Baduraliya and Bulathsinhala Police stations affirmed that the assaulted monk does not belong to the Mahameunawa Asapu network. They clarified that Mahameunawa Viharaya, also known as Galahitiya temple, is a separate entity in Galahitiya, Molakawa.

Statement from Dinamina Journalist: The journalist who initially reported the incident also confirmed that Mahameunawa Asapuwa has no connections with Mahameunawa Viharaya.

We also contacted other provincial journalists, who confirmed that those are separate religious institutions.

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Conclusion:

Based on the investigations conducted with multiple sources, including the Mahameunawa network, local monks, and police authorities, it is evident that the assaulted monk and the temple mentioned in the social media posts do not belong to the Mahameunawa Asapu network. The temple involved in the incident is identified as Mahameunawa Viharaya, located in Galahitiya, Molkawa, and commonly referred to as Galahitiya temple. Therefore, the claim circulating on social media is false, and there is no evidence supporting the alleged connection between the assaulted monk and the Mahameunawa network.