Bikkhu killed in grenade blast

Sandasen Marasinghe

Two persons including a Buddhist monk were killed in a blast in Gampola yesterday. Police spokesman SSP I. M. Karunaratne stated that police were conducting investigations to find out if this was an incident connected to political violence.

Spokesman Karunaratne stated that the blast went off in front of Sri Bodhirajaramaya at Thambiligala in Gampola following a clash between two groups and Ven. Matara Vimalananda Thera was killed in the incident.

Six other persons received severe injuries in the blast and were admitted to the Gampola hospital.

Gampola Magistrate has ordered a postmortem on the bodies of the victims.