Most Venerable Ittapana Dhammalankara Mahanayake Thero has stated that only Buddhist monks have the authority to remove the robes of another monk.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on 10 October, referring to the action taken against Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero.

The Mahanayake Thero also stated that a letter had been sent to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and questioned why the Kotte Sangha Sabha had not been consulted. He further claimed that 99% of monks across the three main Buddhist Nikayas opposed the action.