Five arrested for throwing stones at mosque
By Premalal Wijeratne-January 2, 2014
Five youths who had pelted stones at a mosque in Ambathenna, Akurana, on New Year eve and had fled the area, were nabbed by two Buddhist monks and handed over to the senior DIG, Gamini Ellepola.
Sources said they had been performing the suvisi dance on 31st night at Welekade, Katugastota, and on the way back to their homes, had thrown stones at the mosque. The incident had led to a tense situation in the area, the police said.
Ven. Rajanganaye Soratha Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Divanavatta Purana Vihara and Ven. Batugoda Sankinnayaka Thera of the Hapugoda Vihara, who had been informed of the incident, had summoned the five suspects to the temple, and had warned them of the gravity of their actions. Subsequently, they had been taken to the senior DIG, Kandy.
Speaking to our sister newspaper, Mawbima, in this regard, Ven. Batugoda Sankinnayaka Thera said, no sooner he had heard about the attack on the mosque, he had conducted an investigation, and had summoned the youths to the temple, and had advised them against engaging in such anti-social acts, as well as how seriously such incidents are looked at. He said thereafter, he had taken them to the senior DIG Ellepola, who in turn had handed them over to the police through an ASP.
A police officer conducting investigations said that when these youths were returning after the suvisi dance recital, a youth who was close to the mosque had hurled stones at them, whereupon they had retaliated by throwing stones at the mosque. As a result of the attack, some glass panes of the mosque had been damaged.
The suspects were to be produced before the Kandy Magistrate's Court yesterday.
By Premalal Wijeratne-January 2, 2014 Five youths who had pelted stones at a mosque in Ambathenna, Akurana, on New Year eve and had fled the area, were nabbed by two Buddhist monks and handed over to the senior DIG, Gamini Ellepola.
Sources said they had been performing the suvisi dance on 31st night at Welekade, Katugastota, and on the way back to their homes, had thrown stones at the mosque. The incident had led to a tense situation in the area, the police said.
Ven. Rajanganaye Soratha Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Divanavatta Purana Vihara and Ven. Batugoda Sankinnayaka Thera of the Hapugoda Vihara, who had been informed of the incident, had summoned the five suspects to the temple, and had warned them of the gravity of their actions. Subsequently, they had been taken to the senior DIG, Kandy.
Speaking to our sister newspaper, Mawbima, in this regard, Ven. Batugoda Sankinnayaka Thera said, no sooner he had heard about the attack on the mosque, he had conducted an investigation, and had summoned the youths to the temple, and had advised them against engaging in such anti-social acts, as well as how seriously such incidents are looked at. He said thereafter, he had taken them to the senior DIG Ellepola, who in turn had handed them over to the police through an ASP.
A police officer conducting investigations said that when these youths were returning after the suvisi dance recital, a youth who was close to the mosque had hurled stones at them, whereupon they had retaliated by throwing stones at the mosque. As a result of the attack, some glass panes of the mosque had been damaged.
The suspects were to be produced before the Kandy Magistrate's Court yesterday.