Killing and attempted murder at two temples

Last week the Sunday Observer reported the slaying of the chief incumbent of Sunandopananda Vihara Ven. Matigahatenne Wimalawansa Thera at Egoda Uyana, Moratuwa by two men who stabbed him to death when he returned to the temple after making a complaint to the Moratuwa police station over death threats made by squatters who occupied the temple land.

The Bhikkhu was pulled out of the car and stabbed more than 193 times while the helpless onlookers watched the gruesome killing.

The same night the bodies of the two suspects were found in the Bandaragama area with gunshot injuries. Bandaragama police have launched an investigation on the killing. Nobody has been arrested so far.

Following the Bhikkhu's killing Headquarters Inspector of the Moratuwa police station and four other officers were transferred to the Field Force Headquarters with immediate effect for their failure to prevent the crime.

The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) was called upon to investigate the steps taken by the Moratuwa police to prevent such incidents.

Following the report submitted by the CCD, four police officers have been interdicted by the IGP N.K. Illangakoon. The interdicted police officers are the Headquarters Inspector of the Moratuwa police station Chief Inspector M.R Noordeen, Acting OIC L.G. Saddaratne, Sub Inspector S.A.W. Weeraratne and Sub Inspector M. Gamini, police media spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody said.

Buddhist shrines and archaeological sites have become treasure hunter's targets, Police said. An attempted murder of a young Bhikkhu at Dharma Sri Wardhanaramaya was reported from Pamunuwa, Maharagama last Monday. The incident took place at 10.30 p.m. the Bhikkhu on hearing a noise in the temple compound, walked towards the main shrine room. Four men sprang on him and assaulted him. When the Bhikkhu fell the men had tied his hands behind his back with a rope and gagged him with clothes to prevent him from screaming. Then the men had fled the scene.

Police said that the chief incumbent of the temple was away at the time of the incident. A neighbour who heard someone groaning in the compound soon rang the temple bell to summon the people.

People who heard the sound of the bell rushed to the temple. They untied the Bhikkhu who was in an unconscious state. Then they rushed him to the Sri Jayewardenepura hospital and informed the chief incumbent of Dharamasiri Wardhanarama, Ven. Kotte Gnanarama Thera.

The OIC Maharagama police station Inspector Sujeewa Soysa and a police party visited the scene and arrested two suspects. They were produced before the Gangodawila Magistrate, who remanded them till February 20.

Police said the motive of the suspects in breaking into the temple and tying up the young Bhikkhu was not clear.

Ven. Kotte Gnanarama thera said nothing had been stolen from the temple. However, the suspects had threatened to kill the young bhikkhu, he said. Police said the suspects were probably looking for the chief incumbent to discuss some matter.