Recovery of weapons from temple:

CID asked to produce monk’s statement

Sarath Malalasekera

Colombo Additional Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara directed the CID, who is conducting investigations into the recovery of a large quantity of weapons from a Colombo Temple, to produce the statement made to the Maligawatta Police by the Buddhist Monk attached to the Temple on the next date.

The Magistrate also directed the CID to submit a comprehensive report in connection with their ongoing investigations about the suspects in remand custody.

The Magistrate made these orders after a lengthy submissions by Senior Attorney-at-Law Ajith Pathirana, who appeared for the suspects.

The Magistrate remanded the suspects including the Buddhist Monk till June 14.

Earlier the Special Task Force (STF) had arrested five suspects including a Chief Monk attached to the Temple and recovered a large quantity of weapons, cash Rs. 200,000 and several posters of Presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka.

Two T 56, 119 bullets, six Magazines, 56 SSG hand bombs, two cyanide capsules two pairs of gloves, two security lamps, two smoke grenades. one micro pistol and 41 9mm bullets, were among the recovered items from the temple.

The STF special squad also recovered several National Identity cards and rubber stamps from the same premises.

The raid was conducted by the special STF squad on the direction of STF Commandant Deputy Inspector General of Police K.M.L. Sarathchandra.

Senior Attorney-at-Law Ajith Pathirana with Attorneys Mervyn de Silva, Madura Welgama and Dhammika Ratnayake appeared for the suspects. CID Inspector Nihantha Silva appeared for the prosecution.

The case will be called again on June 14.