KOTTE MURDERS WERE AS A RESULT OF AN UNSUCCESSFUL ROBBERY

The murders had happened as Ven. Gunarathna Thera had wanted to have an Insurance deal with Nilame:

The double murder of two monks at the kotte Rajamaha Viharaya temple shocked the entire country and there was a huge uproar about the crime. It is reliably learnt that the Police had discovered more facts about the case.
It is reported that the murder was not pre planned but it was forced to happen as a robbery that was planned backfired. From what is learnt that the Basnayake Nilame Harsha Manju Sri had spoken to Ven. Gunarathna Thera, 61 years old about an Insurance proposal several times to which the Thera had agreed. The sum to be invested was Rs 7 lakhs from which several benefits were to be received later.
The money was to be paid on the following day. The Basnayake Nilame had visited the temple to discuss about the deal. The Thera had not brought the money to the temple thinking someone might rob them. The main suspect too had made his way to the temple and had been hiding. On his way to the temple he had bought a sharp knife from a super market to use in the event of an eventuality. This was confessed by the main suspect.
The day of the incident Harsha had asked the Thera whether the money could be paid tomorrow. Then the Thera had said the money is here and could be paid now. He had left to a place inside the temple to bring the money. At that time Harsha and the main suspect were loitering in the corridors. When the Thera was searching to bring the cash someone had come to the room and he had got excited and had proceeded to the bathroom. Then the other monk Ven.Jinasena Thera had come to the bathroom to brush his teeth which made Harsha to hide in a corner. The Thera had observed Harsha hiding and had identified him. He immediately shut his mouth and had ordered him to sit on the ‘commode’. As he was identified he had ordered the main suspect to kill him. When a noise was heard Ven. Gunarathna Thera also had come into the scene and he too was brutally stabbed confessed Harsha. They then had run away and escaped in their vehicle.
Harsha had gone and dropped the main suspect at the Pettah Bus halt for him to take a bus to go to Embilipitiya and then returned to his home at Maharagama.
The Police investigations are still proceeding.