Trincomalee incident: Balangoda Kassapa Thero and others re-entered

Trincomalee Chief Magistrate M. Samsudeen yesterday (02) ordered that Balangoda Kassapa Thero and others, who were arrested and remanded in connection with the incident of placing a Buddha statue at the Sri Sambodhi Viharaya near the Trincomalee beach, be further remanded until Monday, February 09.

Those remanded included Balangoda Kassapa Thero and five other Buddhist monks, along with five lay devotees.

Attorney Mahesh Kotuwella, appearing for the defense, informed the court that a bail application had been submitted to the Court of Appeal on behalf of the suspects, and the relevant order was expected on February 03. The lawyer requested the court to grant permission to submit a bail application to the Magistrate's Court via a motion on the evening of the same day, as soon as that order is received.

The lawyer, commenting on the conduct of the police, stated that the Trincomalee Senior Superintendent of Police, who assaulted the Buddhist monks in this incident, should be a suspect or a witness before the law. He pointed out that despite this, the police are still filing charges and leading the case, which causes severe prejudice to the defense. The lawyer also argued that since the power to file charges under Section 182 of the Code of Criminal Procedure lies with the Magistrate, the arbitrary filing of charges by the police in a manner not mentioned in B reports or investigation reports is unacceptable.

The lawyer informed the court that although the police had previously reported facts to the court under Sections 146 and 410 of the Penal Code, as well as Section 28 (1) of the Coast Conservation Act, seven malicious charges have now been filed based on the animosity arising from the clash between the police and the Buddhist monks. Therefore, Attorney Mahesh Kotuwella, on behalf of the defense, requested that these charges be reviewed and amended according to the powers vested in the Magistrate.

During the court hearing, a large number of people, including Buddhist monks, had gathered around the court, and heavy police security was deployed in the court premises and surrounding roads.