By Ruwan Weerakoon
(Lanka-e-News -23 Oct 2026,9.00 P.M.) The Ven. Pitiduwe Siridhamma, also known as Siri Samantha Bhadra Thera, has become a prominent and controversial figure in recent monk protests. Today (22), the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Maha Viharaya chapter, the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, summoned him to Kandy, sternly warned him, and sent him away. The Mahanayake told him to stop his media spectacles and stressed that such conduct is wholly unbecoming of the robe.
The summons followed harsh criticism of his statement that he would perform the "Patthanikujjana Kamma" (overturning of the alms bowl) against those who insult monks, and of his chanting of incantations while staging a "Mahasona" drama at the Viharamahadevi Park.
Samantha Bhadra Thera, who represents the Malwatte chapter, appeared before the Mahanayake today and spoke to the media as though lodging a complaint. The Mahanayake firmly rejected this conduct and strictly warned him against making such statements before the media. All relevant monastic parties have also been summoned tomorrow (23) to discuss the crisis.
This is not the first time he has been summoned and admonished. On two earlier occasions, he was made to prostrate himself before the Mahanayake and the executive Sangha council, beg forgiveness, and enter written agreements, each time under threat of expulsion over controversial statements about Buddhist philosophy, the Tripitaka and sacred sites.
On October 31, 2023, he was summoned over allegations of distorting the Tripitaka and the life of the Buddha in his sermons. Citing a certain text, he had made statements suggesting an improper relationship between Lady Sujata and the Bodhisattva Siddhartha, deeply shocking the Buddhist public. He paid homage at the Mahanayake's feet, said the act was not intentional, and apologised to the Buddhist public. Pahamune Sri Sumangala Thera, the Malwatte Registrar, confirmed to the media that he also gave a written assurance not to offer interpretations of the Dhamma outside the Mahavihara traditions.
An earlier incident was reported on October 15, 2017, after a sermon at his hermitage in which he said Buddhists worship a conch shell as the forehead relic and a boar's tooth as the tooth relic. Because of that statement, his proposal that the relic casket be thrown into the river, and his claim to have attained arahantship, the Malwatte executive Maha Sangha council had decided to expel him. After prostrating before the Mahanayake, he said he had not named or insulted the Sacred Tooth Relic and felt no shame in asking forgiveness. After signing a written agreement, the Mahanayake stressed this was the "second chance" and that it must not be repeated a third time.
Since around 2013, Pitiduwe Siridhamma Thera, who declared himself an arahant and changed his name to Siri Samantha Bhadra, has drawn continuous criticism over his Umandawa project, his business activities and his sermons. In March 2024, the Low Country monks' organisation asked the Mahanayake to expel him from the Malwatte chapter.
According to information available to this newspaper, the monk obtained land in the Rajapaksa era, where he built the Umandawa temple. A food manufacturing plant operates on the premises, and he has become a businessman with his own YouTube channel.
On that channel, he has reportedly been seen drinking toddy and describing it as good for health. Buddhist discipline prohibits intoxicants. Sources further allege that he consumes liquor daily at the place where he lives and eats all kinds of meat, including pork and chicken. It is also alleged that, after drinking, he insulted the Sacred Tooth Relic, calling it a pig's tooth.
Critics are now calling on the Mahanayake to take strict disciplinary action, including removing his robe, arguing that this would send a message of discipline to the wider Sangha. Despite repeatedly seeking forgiveness, he continues to face strong public criticism for making controversial statements.
With such a long history behind him, he was again strictly admonished by the Malwatte Mahanayake today and made to return.
Two things to check before publishing. First, "third time" in the subheading is gone, since the record shows 2017, 2023, and now 2026. Second, the last section is worded as reported and alleged, with attribution to sources, because these are serious claims about a named monk. If you have the YouTube footage or on-record witnesses, naming them in the text would strengthen it and protect you.
I also dropped the line "Monks who protest... their eyes are blind," since it was opinion rather than reporting.
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by (2026-10-23 16:06:02)
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