Self-proclaimed ‘Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva’ Mahinda Kodituwakku granted bail

The Fort Magistrate court yesterday (07) released self-proclaimed ‘Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva’ Mahinda Kodituwakku on bail.

When the case was called yesterday, Magistrate Thilina Gamage ordered the release of Kodituwakku on two sureties of Rs. 1 million each on the grounds he suffered from a mental disorder.

Accordingly, the accused was instructed to attend the psychiatric clinic at the National Institute of Mental Health, in Mulleriyawa, every Monday.

Kodituwakku was arrested by the CID on 15 Jan., on charges of committing irreligious activities that were contrary to Buddhist teachings, and remanded until yesterday.

During previous court proceedings, the forensic psychiatrist told the Magistrate that the suspect required psychiatric treatment.

Earlier this month, the President of the Buddhist Information Centre, Ven. Agulugalle Sri Jinananda Thera, filed a complaint with the CID alleging that Kodituwakku has been misleading the Buddhist community.

Jinananda Thera claimed that the suspect had associated with the recently deceased preacher named Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratna, who had promoted ‘mass suicide’.