Warrant on monk

20 August 2010 11:34 am

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda


A warrant was issued today for the arrest of a Buddhist monk who was not present at the Magistrate’s Court when the case on a death fast and the obstruction of police officers was taken up for hearing.

The Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne also directed the Fort police to file charge sheets against 12 Buddhist monks who were alleged to have taken part in the fast outside the Fort Railway Station calling for the release of former Army Commander retired General Sarath Fonseka.

Counsel Sunil Watagala with Kinsley Hettiarachchi appearing for the monks asked Court that a charity box, an electric generator and three mattresses taken away by the police be released to the monks. Inspector Lalith Silogama told Court the items were not with the Fort police but may be under the custody of the Kompanna Veediya police because the monks were first taken there.

The Magistrate advised the defence counsels to direct the inquiry from a Senior Superintendent of police.   

In this case, 12 Buddhist monks who staged a fast unto death campaign opposite the Fort Railway station on April 5, urging the release of General Fonseka were arrested and later released on bail. The monks were charged as having being members of an unlawful assembly and obstructing the police officers from performing their duties.

Further Magisterial inquiry into the matter was postponed for September 24.