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| Wednesday, 19 May 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Jathika Hela Urumaya allegedly abducted MP monk IGP Indra de Silva yesterday ordered a top level investigation into the alleged abduction of one of its members, Member of Parliament Ven. Kathaluwe Rathanaseeha Thera, by the Jathika Hela Urumaya from his Temple, at Rawathawatta, Sambuddha Viharaya, on Monday night. The abducted monk was alleged to have been assaulted at his Temple by a group of four Buddhist monks, bundled into a van, and taken to Ven. Kolonnawe Sumangala Thera, who allegedly held him captive, and forced him to sign his letter of resignation from Parliament. The Dayakas of the abducted Thera, had said that several UNP and Hela Urumaya supporters threatened the Ven. Thera. The officer in charge of the Moratuwa Police was interdicted yesterday as he had failed to prevent the abduction of the Kathaluve Rathanaseeha thera as the driver of the Rathanaseeha thera had informed the Police about the incident. The national television network Rupavahini in the news bulletin last night gave details of the abduction of the Jathika Urumaya MP, the Ven. Kathaluwe Rathanaseeha Thera by another Buddhist monk of the same party in the Gampaha district have been revealed. It has been reported that the Venerable Rathanaseeha Thera has submitted a letter which was written by him under threat to remove him from the post of MP to the Speaker. The Venerable Kathaluwe Rathanaseeha Thera was abducted by an unidentified group including two Buddhist monks at Rawathawatta Sambodhi Viharaya in Moratuwa. The Police say they received information that these persons were attached to the Jathika Hela Urumaya. The Venerable Rathanaseeha Thera has taken action against the stand of the Jathika Hela Urumaya at the voting to elect a Speaker in Parliament on the 22nd of last month. The dayakas of the Venerable Thera said that several UNP and Hela Urumaya supporters had levelled threats against this Buddhist monk. A clerk said that a group of Buddhist monks had scolded the Venerable Rathnaseeha Thera. He realized that these monks were trying to abduct the priest. Four Buddhist monks forcibly took away Rathanaseeha Thera. He said that he inquired from another priest why they were trying to take away the priest. Then he assaulted him, he said. The driver of the priest said that 15 Buddhist monks were at the Temple when he visited there. They were scolding the Venerable Rathanaseeha Thera. He immediately went to the Moratuwa Police Station to lodge a complaint. He heard somebody saying "everything is O.K." and the message should be given Champika. The Moratuwa Police say that a full scale investigation is now underway regarding the incident. Five special Police teams have been deployed. The driver of Rathanaseeha Thera has lodged a complaint with the Police regarding the abduction of the Thera and the Police have failed to prevent the abduction. The OIC of the Moratuwa Police has been interdicted in connection with this incident. Meanwhile, the Venerable Rathanaseeha Thera has given a telephone call to the Venerable Unakooruwe Ariyadhaja Thera at around 6.00 p.m. today saying that he was forcibly detained by the Venerable Kolonnawe Sumangala Thera. The Venerable Ariydhaja Thera said that he received a telephone call from the Venerable Kathaluwe Rathanaseeha Thera at around 6.10 p.m. saying that he had forgotten to close the doors of the Temple. He made a request to close the doors and to keep the keys. Later, the Venerable Rathanaseeha Thera told him that he was abducted by a group of persons and they have asked him to submit a resignation letter to the Speaker. The Venerable Rathanaseeha Thera also told him that he is now staying with the Venerable Kolonnawe Sumangala Thera. Then he inquired from the Venerable Sumangala Thera what has happened to their priest. Then the Venerable Sumangala Thera said that he is totally unaware about the incident. |
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