Arresting Buddhist monk not easy: DIG Jayakody

21 June 2017 09:48 pm - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Police spokesman Priyantha Jayakody today admitted that the Police had failed to arrest Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera until he surrendered to Court.

Responding to a barrage of questions from the media at the weekly Cabinet news briefing, he said a Buddhist monk could not be arrested like any other citizen.

Journalist: There were four police teams deployed to arrest Gnanasara Thera but still the police failed to arrest him.

DIG Jayakody: Yes. Our attempts to arrest him were not successful.

Journalist: Was there pressure from any quarters not to arrest him?

DIG: Arresting a Buddhist monk in a temple is not an easy task.

Journalist: People ask why arrest only Gnanasara Thera when many other Tamil and Muslim extremists have made comments causing religious tension.

DIG: No We have received 21 complaints from several people making allegations against not only Gnanasara Thera but against Tamil politicians like Sivajilingam, Minister Rauff Hakeem and some doctors.

Journalist: Has action been taken against them?

DIG: We are awaiting the Attorney General's advice. Under the Criminal Procedure Code there are two categories of offences over which suspects can be arrested -- one is hate speech that might cause racial or religious hatred among communities and the other is racially or religiously motivated attacks.

Journalist: Under what law was Gnanasara Thera arrested?

DIG: On allegations involving remarks reportedly made to create racial tension.

Journalist: Have you arrested any one on allegations under the second offence?

DIG : Yes, indeed. We have arrested 15 suspects up to yesterday for attacking commercial establishments and places of religious worship. Among those arrested are 12 Sinhalese, two Muslims and one Tamil. The attacks have taken place at Maharagama, Nugegoda, Panadura and Kurunegala. A Buddhist monk and a policeman were also arrested. Some of the suspects have been produced in Court. Mosques have been targeted at Danture and Kurunegala.

Journalist: Racially and religiously motivated attacks are on the rise all over the country which is highly disturbing.

Minister Senaratne: Please don’t make these attacks a national issue. There is no such thing. A few Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslim extremists are doing this. They are only a small group. When a doctor gives family planning advice in good faith to restrict the number of children in a family, some interpret it as an action against an ethnic group. This is how it works. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)

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Comments - 20

victor Thursday, 22 June 2017 09:38 AM

Ram you are right

ceylon Thursday, 22 June 2017 08:30 PM

gnanasara dont follow buddhism.show the society his buddhist practice. via DM Android App

Pre fix Thursday, 22 June 2017 04:39 PM

Add the impotent prefix "VERERABLE or the suffix "THERO" - if not you may have to apologise like Seeni Boolay

malik Thursday, 22 June 2017 03:42 PM

Then you better go home,whats the point Police being in this country,you mean if a Monk is a criminal you cant arrest him ? JOKE OF THE DAY

Gobba Thursday, 22 June 2017 01:15 PM

gnanasara always says that LAW SHOULD BE EQUAL for everyone. BUt it is not equal for HIM.

Senewi Thursday, 22 June 2017 12:47 PM

This belongs to hate speech category.

mnsmart Thursday, 22 June 2017 11:13 AM

Awaiting the next election

CITIZEN Thursday, 22 June 2017 09:45 AM

It is a shame if you say so! Why particularly so? Law in the country is common to all. You can arrest a Supreme Court Judge who sits in judgement for a crime. If such a person is NOT exempt from the law how come a monk is? This is not because you are unable but you could not because of political interference! All this was a "high drama" played by the Police and the political authority. It is unthinkable that your Boss who was capable of "bending" the law CANNOT straighten the law!! Well, what the people want now is for your Boss to cluthch his hands with the Minister in charge of Police and go home!!!

rew Thursday, 22 June 2017 09:40 AM

Joke of the last 200 years

Sincere Thursday, 22 June 2017 09:39 AM

The international community is also watching very closely on this issue. Remember, despite of announcing with pom n pageantry, Govt got GSP only temporarily!

SriLankan Thursday, 22 June 2017 12:15 AM

Be secular and crack down on all religious extremists like Singapore. Freedom to worship not hate

victor Thursday, 22 June 2017 09:36 AM

You DIG Jayakody if you cant arrest a culprit a man with a yellow rob he may be thug or even a real monk who are wanted for court of law you bloody get out of your post without dis crazing the Police force and obstructing the other personals of the Police YOU are not fit to be a senior Police officer

Trehan Munasinghe Thursday, 22 June 2017 09:28 AM

"IF" Sri Lanka is a secular country, then everyone has equal religious freedom, bring in one law for the citizens, you can't have one for Sinhalease and another for Muslim's...Tamil's etc We are Sri Lankan's first that should be the starting point.

Snowy Thursday, 22 June 2017 09:10 AM

This is a very irresponsible statement comping from the long arm of the law. Does the Sri Lanka law allow "Cherry Picking" for wrong doers?

Farzaan Thursday, 22 June 2017 09:10 AM

This is whats called a Kangaroo court. The justice system in our country is a joke. An ordinary citizen has to wait for years to get a judgement where as others get it in a day without any waiting.....Sorry to say that we are living in a collapsed state by all means. Good bless the future children of our country.

Krish Thursday, 22 June 2017 08:38 AM

I am a Hindu. I really like Sri Lanka being a Buddhist country. BUT, be it a REAL Buddhist country which does not have hatred, animosity, dominance over others.Rules should be placed to control ALL religious, race based activities in control be it religious processions, loud speaker usage, hate speeches or religious violence. All should understand their rights stop where their nose ends.

Sunil Thursday, 22 June 2017 05:56 AM

"Please don’t make these attacks a national issue." It has already become a national issue, if not an international issue, and if the government cannot contain it even at this late stage, it will blow out of proportion.

wimal Thursday, 22 June 2017 05:44 AM

This yellow robed black ugly looking man resembles aape in the congo,this bastard must be skinned alive in the vihara maha devi park or shot alive openlyan absolute disgrace

Ram Thursday, 22 June 2017 02:47 AM

I am a Buddhist. I do not want to have two sets of laws. Religeous leaders that include Buddhist monks, Politicians and all the people must be subject to one law. It is crazy to say that it is not easy to arrest a Buddhist monk

nick Thursday, 22 June 2017 12:24 AM

y not spit the truth out it not that hard its just u guys are politically controlled via DM Android App

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Arresting Buddhist monk not easy: DIG Jayakody

Comments - 20

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