Appeal Court to Review Petitions Over Trincomalee Buddha Statue Dispute

Writ petitions filed by Balangoda Kassapa Thero and Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Thissa Thero are scheduled for consideration by the Court of Appeal today(22). The monks seek an order to invalidate a Trincomalee Magistrate's Court ruling that led to their arrest and subsequent remand.

Trincomalee Chief Magistrate S.M.S. Samsudeen previously ordered ten individuals, including the monks, to remain in protective custody until January 28. The legal action stems from allegations regarding an unauthorised construction intended for the placement of a Buddha statue at the Trincomalee Sri Sambuddha Jayanti Bodhiraja Viharaya.

The defence team alleges that police acted with calculated intent to ensure the detention of Balangoda Kassapa Thero and the other suspects. These accusations surfaced during a press conference organised by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress yesterday, where representatives criticised the handling of the case.