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Two
temples attacked The IGP told The Sunday Times that the Premier had contacted him last morning following an attack on a Buddhist temple at Embilipitiya, where the chief incumbent is Ven. Omalpe Sobitha, a JHU-MP who voted for the UNF Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara and another attack on a temple in Hanguranketha. Some resident-monks at the Bodhi Raja Dharmayatanaya at Embelipitiya were also at the receiving end of death threats by a hooded-armed gang that has come to the temple early yesterday. '"We are closely monitoring the situation. We have already provided additional security to some of the temples, and if the need arises we will step up the security," the Police Chief added. According to Police, UPFA supporters were involved in both cases. A UPFA supporter has been arrested in the Embilipitiya incident and released on bail. He was identifed as a studio owner in the area. The arrested man and a group of six persons are reported to have entered the temple premises and started hoisting black flags to protest at the decision by Ven. Sobitha Thera to support the UNF candidate for the post of Speaker. When the men were challenged by monks residing there, the gang had threatened them with death and abused them verbally before fleeing. An unarmed policeman guarding the temple immediately called the Embilipitiya Police and the man was subsequently arrested. Ven. Dikwelle Gnanissara Thera of the Dharmayatanaya told The Sunday Times that the arrested man was a former monk who once resided in the same temple. He had later disrobed and opened a photo studio with the assistance of a UPFA politico in the area. The attack came in the wake of two of the JHU MPs voting for Opposition candidate W. J. M. Lokubandara during the election for the post of Speaker on Thursday after two dissident JHU monks voted in favour of the government. In Hanguranketha, supporters of a cabinet minister last morning allegedly stormed the Piyathilakapura Bauddha Madyasthanaya and threatened the chief monk. They were armed with swords. They later smashed up windows, removed the temple-bell, and took away a temple name-board. The gang had chased the monk, Ven Kolambissa Vipulatissa Thera, and threatened him with death. The monk is reportedly closely connected to the UNP. Ven Vipulatissa Thera said that he had lodged a complaint at the Hanguranketha police station and asked for additional security. A JHU spokesman said that they would be raising a privilege issue in Parliament. Meanwhile, the two Mahanayakas of the Asgriya and Malwatte Chapters condemned the unruly behaviour inside Parliament during the voting for the new Speaker and the manner in which the Buddhist monks were treated. They expressed concern when Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the new Speaker, Lokubandara, called on them yesterday when they were in Kandy to pay homage at the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The JVP in a statement issued by its MP, Nandana Gunatillake, last night denied allegations that the party was involved in the incident at Embilipitiya, as claimed by Ven Sobitha. The Ceylon Workers’ Congress in a statement condemned the incident at Embilipitiya and called the government and the President to ensure that such incidents did not recur. |
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