Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera granted bail

Venerable Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera, who was in remand custody on charges of allegedly keeping an elephant calf without a valid licence, was released on bail today by the Colombo Aditional Magistrate. 

Bail for the Thera was granted under special circumstances after his lawyers filed a motion seeking bail for the Thera noting that he wished to attend the funeral of the Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter, Most Venerable Galagama Sri Aththadassi Thera in Kandy. 

Ven. Dhammaloka Thera was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on March 9 at the Alan Mathiniyaramaya Temple in Polhengoda for allegedly keeping an elephant calf illegally at the temple. He was remanded till March 17 after being produced before court. 

However, he was ordered released on bail after a bail application submitted by his lawyers was taken up for consideration today. 

Ven. Dhammaloka Thera has denied the allegations against him and maintains that he was only caring for the elephant calf, after it was found abandoned at his temple in 2014 after a pagent. 

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