Mahinda Kodituwakku, the self-proclaimed “Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva”, has been remanded until 24 January, on the orders of the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.

Kodituwakku was arrested on Monday (15), on charges of allegedly committing irreligious activities that are contrary to Buddhist teachings.

On 12 January, the Court also imposed an overseas travel ban on him. 

Earlier this month (January), the President of the Buddhist Information Centre, Ven. Angulugalle Sri Jinananda Thera had filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department alleging that Kodituwakku has been misleading the Buddhist community. Jinananda Thera claimed that he was directly involved with the recently deceased preacher named Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratna, who had promoted “mass suicide” through his distorted teachings and later died by suicide. Meanwhile, Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, addressing a media briefing, claimed that this self-proclaimed “Bodhisattva” had sexually abused his own daughter before leaving his house while calling it an “Abinishkramanaya” (Great Departure).

Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings on the path to becoming Buddhas but postpone reaching nirvana to help humanity.