18 PERSONS INCLUDING 7 BUDDHIST MONKS SURRENDER TO COURT OVER PRAYER CENTER ATTACK
January 27, 2014 
After police identified 24 persons involved in the attack on two Christian places of worship in Hikkaduwa on January 12, 18 persons including seven Buddhist monks handed themselves over to the Galle Magistrate Court today (January 27).
The police identified the suspects who were allegedly involved in the demonstration outside Christian establishments in Hikkaduwa which spiralled out of control. The mob led by Buddhist monks entered the premises of the prayer center and destroyed property after the police failed to hold the group at bay.
The Galle Additional Magistrate Gunendra Kumara Munasinghe granted bail to the suspects who handed themselves over today, setting two personal bails of Rs.500,000 each.
The court case concerning the incident will be taken up on March 17.
Monks granted bail over attack
Seven Buddhist monks, accused of leading a mob to attack and vandalize two churches in Hikkaduwa, were granted bail by the Galle Magistrate today.
Police had identified 24 suspects, including eight monks, over the attack on the churches recently.
The suspects surrendered to the police today and they were produced before the Galle Magistrate.
The Magistrate granted bail to the monks and fixed March 17 as the next date for the hearing.
The Galle Additional Magistrate today ordered the police to arrest the suspects involved in the Hikkaduwa church attack, police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told the Colombo Gazette.
The Magistrate also instructed the police to obtain unedited video footage of the incident from the media to assist the investigations.
The police said that 26 suspects had been identified as being involved in the incident and among them are 10 monks.
The ‘Hela Bodu Pawura’ consisting of a group of Buddhist monks led the protest march against the Calvary Free church and Assembly of God (AOG) Church in Hikkaduwa and the protest eventually turned violent with the mob attacking both churches.
The ‘Hela Bodu Pawura’ however claimed that the media had distorted what actually took place during the “peaceful protest” against the worship center.
The monks had claimed the two worship centers were operating illegally in violation of a police ban and a directive from the Government. (Colombo Gazette
