Pressure not to include swords to the killing of the two Buddhist monks

Monday, 26 March 2012 

The President has ordered the DIG in-charge of Colombo Anura Senanayake to immediately inquire into the media reports that have been published saying the murder of the two Buddhist monks at the Kottee Rajamaha Vihara had taken place following an attempt to steal an ancient sword and correct such reports while taking appropriate action against the police officers who have made such statements.

There is currently a controversy over the issue since the story is that a government backed group was responsible for the theft of swords at the National Museum in search for King Dutugemunu’s sword and two such persons who had arrived at the Kotte Rajamaha Vihara to steal ancient swords had killed the tow monks.

The Lakbima newspaper reported on the 22nd that a suspect who is currently in police custody had made a statement saying that he along with his friend had gone to the temple to steal an ancient sword and they had to kill the two monks following the incident that ensued. The news item was published in other newspapers as well.

The President has been disturbed after news report was published saying the National Museum theft and the killing of the two monks was done by a group engaged in looking for King Dutugemunu’s sword.

Following the Presidential directive, DIG Anura Senanayake has told several media that the murder was over a financial transaction of Rs. 10 lakhs, but the suspects had been unable to collect the monies.

Angered that the Rivira newspaper had published a news report saying the murder of the two monks was due to an attempt to steal an ancient sword, the President had called the CEO of Rivira newspapers, Gairuka Perusinghe and asked him not to publish such reports after shouting at him.

The President has also called heads of several media institutions that have carried similar news reports about the killing of the two monks and had asked that the news should not be connected to the “sword incident.”