Chief priest of Mangalarama Vihara continues fast against Basil's actions

Chief priest of the Mangalarama Vihara in Batticaloa, Ven. Ampitiye Sumana Thero commenced a fast unto death three days back following the alleged disrespectful comments made by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa against him and the Buddhist clergy on the whole.

The Thero commenced the fast outside the Mangalarama Vihara on the 26th.
The Thero has said that he would continue with the fats until Basil apologized to him and that Basil would responsible if any harm is caused to his life during the fast.

Ven. Sumana Thero claims that Basil was directly involved
in the plan to demolish the Mangalarama Vihara in order to put up a tourist hotel.

Basil has made personal requests from the state media institution heads and several private media institutions not to give any publicity to the monk's fast and his claims.