These 20 questions were raised on Sajith, a person who had worked closely with Soma Thero. Please note that this is not an official interview given from the Janavijaya foundation and these answers were raised and answered on friendly basis.

1.               Explain a bit yourself?

I am Sajith Sameera Hamangoda, 33 years old. Studied at Maliyadeva College Kurunegala. Now my permanent residence is at Kesbewa. My profession is IT - Software Development & Management. Currently I am working in a large private Bank in Sri Lanka as Software Development Manager. I have got more than 15 years experience in Software Development especially in Banking Products.  I am married to Manjula Kumarihamy, who is professionally Architect. We have got a son (2 Months old).

2.               What is your relationship with Soma Thero?

I don’t think I can write it just one or two lines. Basically I am a follower of Soma Hamuduruwo and listened most of his Dharmadesana. I am one of key member’s of the Janavijaya movement since its inception. We have done a lot of projects together with Soma Hamuduruwo. I participate for Soma Hamuduruwo’s activities since 1999.

3.               What is Janavijaya organization?

Please refer the web site www.janavijaya.org

4.               Is Janavijaya organization a political party?

No

5.               If not what were the things before sometime ago spread in the country, that Soma Thero was going to contest for the elections?

Soma hamuduruwo has mentioned in many places that if there are no honest leaders in this county who have a clear vision & action plan to protect this country, Nation & Religion, he would come forward do same.

He talks about the Lord Buddha’s politics not this ugly party politics, which destroyed our country. You may have to read and listen all of his Dharmadeshana & Discussion to understand this. What happened in our people listen only one sentence and jump in to conclusion?

6.               How Soma Thero has worked with the Dharmayathanaya?

Dharmayathanay was started with the leadership of most venerable Aggamahapanditha Madihe Pannaseeha Maha nayake thero and most venerable Ampitiye Rahula maha nayake theros. The Dharmayathanaya is managed by Sasana Sevake Samithiya. Ven Soma Thero is one of most senior student of the above mentioned ‘sanga peethru’s’. Therefore Soma thero too had a great commanding power & authority in the Temple.

7.               How do you see Soma Thero?

Again cannot write in one or two pages. Can write a book on this. Basically I believe Soma Hamuduruwo is a ‘bosath’ character and this life is just one step in the journey of the ‘sansare’ towards becoming the lord Buddha.  I try to see the lord Buddha’s vision through Soma Hamuduruwo.

Soma hamuduruwo did millions of things to reestablish Buddhism in this country as well as in the world (even though he was not able to complete it). That ‘pina’ itself is more than enough for him to achieve the ‘marga pala’ (Soma hamuduruwo would have achieved ‘marga pala’ before he dies)

I believe Soma Hamuduruwo would come back to us soon in order to resume his work. May be you and me would have a pina to see him again in this life.

8.               What are the things Janavijaya has done? What were the obstacles Janavijaya faced on its way?

We will publish the activities done by Janavijaya soon on Web Site. In short all the Dharmadesana & Discussion done by Soma Hamuduruwo was under the name of Janavijaya. It was called ‘Janavijaya Bana’.

The main obstacle was the Janvijaya office / Head Office. We haven’t had a place for Janavijaya administration work. That is why Soma Hamuduruwo purchased a land and wants to start the construction of the Head office building on 6^th November 2003. Unfortunately we couldn’t start it.

9.               Who is Sisira Jayasekara? What kind of person he is? Can you suspect him?

He is the editor of the Janavijaya monthly magazine. He seems very calm & quite person. He showed very loyal to the Janavijaya and respected to Ven Soma Hamuduruwo. He managed to publish the Janavijaya Magazine for nearly 2 years. He is father of two daughters. He was living in a rented house near cancer hospital.  The most difficult thing in this world is to identify people. We don’t know what inside when one smiles at your face.

As gentlemen I don’t finger point anyone without proper facts & figures. It is not the way Soma Hamuduruwo taught us. There is an official investigation is in progress. Therefore we have to wait and see the result before making any comments in this regard as the death of Soma Hamuduruwo is beyond our imaginations.  

We are still in shock of the death of Soma Hamuduruwo. The way things happened and demise of the ven Soma Thero is not acceptable to anyone. That is why all insist that there should be a proper investigation on this. May be only Soma Hamuduruwo knew what really happened. 

According to our religion no one can escape from the bad things (pauw) you committed. You have to face to the karmaya one day. If some one has planed to destroy Soma hamuduruwo, then they will not be able to live in this world, as it is a very strong ‘Papa Karma’. On the other hand they will receive ‘sapaya’ from millions of people, which you and me cannot stop.

10.           Did Soma Thero trust Sisira Jayasekara?

According to my understanding Soma Hamuduruwo never trust any one 100%. But he had to depend on some people. Why Soma hamuduruwo allow Sisira Jajasekara to continue the Janavijaya news magazine for 2 years as Editor. On top of that why soma Hamuduruwo went to Russia and stayed there under the supervision of his own brother? Maybe Soma hamuduruwo couldn’t realize what was going on? These are the unclear areas to be solved.

11.           Give an acceptable reason for Soma Thero to accept the PhD offered by the Russia. Do you have anything to say about those controversial pictures?

According to my understanding Soma Hamuduruwo never want a title in front of his name. But he was really thrilled to hear that the Book written by thero was recognized for a PhD. Tell me who doesn’t like to hear such thing? It is more than anything but the recognition. Now today entire Buddhist in this country appreciates Soma Thero because thero’s knowledge in Buddhism and specialization in presentation of Lord Buddha’s true dharmaya.

See how many qualified Hamuduruwo’s in Sri Lanka but why aren’t they popular like Soma Hamuduruwo? Tell me any responsible authority or persons in this country come forward and told that ven Gangodawila Soma Hamuduruwo should be recognized as he has got very exceptional knowledge in Buddhism? Some people asked what is the qualification ven Soma has got to accept any responsible position in this community (committees/societies/temples etc).  It may be a small University or may be a tuition institute. Soma Hamuduruwo went to receive a recognition/honor not a PhD or Dr rate or anything else.

Soma Hamuduruwo told this very clearly in front of big crowd (about 4000-5000) the last poya day (Oct.) at Maharagama Temple just before leaving the country.  “I will be leaving country to accept a PhD offered by Russian University to the booked ‘Buddha S'tupa’ written by me. At least I am happy that some one appreciates my efforts’

Another point is that the qualification issue came when Soma Hamuduruwo applying for the Australian citizenship. Soma Hamuduruwo presented all the books he wrote as proof of his qualifications. Australian government accepted them and granted the citizenship to Ven Soma. Basically do you think Soma Hamuduruwo is a fool to go and accept anything offered by anyone? There must have been more reasons in addition to what I have mentioned here.

You know very well that Soma Hamuduruwo was the unofficial ‘Sanga Nayake’ of this country. (Given the leadership to mahasanga of the country). Soma Hamuduruwo was the unofficial Minister of Buddhism (talk on behalf of Buddhist people in this country). Soma Hamuduruwo was the unofficial leader of the Sinhala Nation (He is the only person who talk about reducing/destroying of sinhala nation). These are the recognitions given by general public to ven Soma himi.

But why all these were ‘unofficial’?  This is the point I am leaving you to think. Therefore things are not that simple as you see on the surface of it.

12.           Do you have any idea about what happened? What is happening at the moment regarding the passing away of Soma Thero?

I also know the same thing what you know. We have to refer the media to learn the latest news. For your information there is an official investigation in progress. Watch TV & Read newspapers. 

13.           What do you know about Shanthi P. Jayasekara? What do you think about him?

Nothing special other than what you know. We got to know that he is brother of Sisira Jayasekara. How can I comment on a person whom I have never met or seen before?

14.           What is the background of Janavijaya Web Site? Who developed it?

Janavijaya web site was developed under the supervision of myself. I got approval from Soma Hamuduruwo & Janavijaya Foundation for it. This was launched on 25^th December 2002 at the Janavijaya Anniversary. We got the approval from Soma Hamuduruwo before deploying the final web pages. Company called iopener did the development and I paid them some money for their work. (It was my personal donation to Janavijaya)

Soma Hamuduruwo did not want to focus much on Internet until setting up a permanent place (Janavijaya Head Office). Therefore we did not update the web Side very frequently. 

15.           How was the IT knowledge of Soma Thero? Did it make any sense to Soma Thero?

Soma Hamuduruwo is not an IT Master or keen on IT. But of course he had faire knowledge on what IT can do and cannot do. As a person travel all over the world including developed countries, he must have a good knowledge in IT. If I am not mistaken Soma Hamuduruwo had involved in developing a web site for his Australia temple too. Soma Hamuduruwo had the capability in learning things very quickly. But of course Hamuduruwo was not interested in sit behind a computer and search in the web every day to find out what is happing in the world. (As you and me does)

16.           What happened to the site during the funeral?

Janavijaya web hosting company had disabled the site due to not renewing the site on time. The renewal was due on 17^th December 2003. However we managed to renew it by 1^st week of January.

17.           What do you know the site next to Janavijaya, “Daham Pahana”? Do you know the background of it?

I don’t know about this site until you tell me. What the development company says is that they got paid to develop it. However developers are willing provide all source documents (web pages) to us at any time if we are going to maintain the site.

18.           What is the status of Janavijaya organization at the moment? Are there any future plans?

There are Top-level meeting & discussion going on. There are a few proposals but nothing has been finalized yet. Anyway there would be a public announcement very soon on mass media regarding this.

19.           What is the status of Janavijaya Web site at the moment? Are there any future plans?

It is up since Jan 5th. Yes we have future plans but have to wait sometime until Janavijaya Foundation future plans are finalized.

20.           Do you have any messages?

I am happy that people like you come forward because of Soma Hamuduruwo. I was happy to answer your entire question paper. Remember these are my personal opinion and not the Janavijaya Foundation responses.

What I request everybody is that read & listen to more and more of late ven Soma Thero’s dharmaya. The main thing is practice what he taught and then will become a more wise person. Soma Hamuduruwo wanted to convert our label Buddhist to real Buddhist. When there are real Buddhist means there are intelligent people (Don’t mix-up with qualified people). So one day if Soma Hamuduruwo comes back to us, he could resume his master plan from where he stopped.

Remember he always talks about 5 principal of Buddha and he particularly said that without practicing that it is no point teaching advanced dharmaya. You and me know very well lord Buddha hasn’t taught only 5 principles. So you can imagine how many things we were to learn from Soma Hamuduruwo, which he couldn’t teach us. 

Now act according to his teaching and become more wise people. Please promise to Soma Hamuduruwo that you would practice what he has taught and then only he would decide to comeback to us. So now you know clearly what your responsibilities are? Respect to late Ven Soma Hamuduruwo by practicing what he asked you to do.

Each and every day when you observe pansil tell this also.

‘Soma Hamuduruwane, Api oba wahanse kiyapu dewal pili padinawa, Ane Apita Annukampakarala a’ith apa atharata waddinna. Apita seba Budu dahama denaganna o’ne’

 Theruwan Saranai !

  Sajith