Three monks taken into custody after Ruwanweli protest clash

Three Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, who were staging a fast-unto-death protest near the historic Ruwanweli Maha Seya in Anuradhapura, were taken into police custody following a tense confrontation at the protest site on Thursday (12).

The monks had launched the hunger strike in opposition to the proposed Anuradhapura Sacred City Development Plan.

The situation escalated when a group of laypersons, including Ven. Rajanganaye Saddharathana Thera, arrived at the protest site and confronted those participating in the fast. Rajanganaye Saddharathana Thera, who was recently expelled from the Buddhist order, sustained a head injury during the ensuing altercation and was admitted to hospital.

He was allegedly struck with a club by individuals at the protest site. Video footage of the incident showed several people carrying clubs and attacking one another as the confrontation escalated.

Police subsequently took Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera and the two other monks into custody in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera has also been instructed to appear before the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) on Friday (13) to provide a statement over allegations that police officers assaulted him during unrest at a Satyagraha held at Viharamahadevi Park on October 17.

The Thera had earlier been summoned to appear before CCD Investigation Unit 02 at 10 a.m. on Wednesday (11), but did not appear or inform the authorities of his inability to attend.

Accordingly, the Udamaluwa Police took steps to notify him to appear before the CCD today.

However, speaking to the media, Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera said he would not comply with any court order. He claimed that no court order could be served on him and that only a Sangha Adhikarana had the authority to issue orders concerning him.