9 November, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) expresses its condolences on the death of the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero.
Ven. Sobitha Thero was a key civil society figure in the defeat of populist authoritarianism. Through his dynamic leadership and personality, the Movement for Social Justice reached out to and helped galvanize mainstream opinion against corruption and authoritarianism. CPA salutes a civil society champion, whose continued, coherent and cogent advocacy will be sorely missed, particularly at this critical juncture in the reform process.
As a respected member of the clergy and of civil society, the Ven. Sobitha Thero was able to articulate the views of those who wanted change and more recently, have been concerned about the pace and quality of the change achieved so far. He understood better than most and expressed in no uncertain terms the primary duty of civil society in a functioning democracy – that of eternal vigilance through constant pro-active stake-holdership in public affairs for governance.
May he attain Nibbana.
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