By Newswire Editorial

Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, who is currently engaged in a fast unto death in front of the Ruwanwelisaya in Anuradhapura, has been summoned to the Colombo District Crimes Division tomorrow (13) to provide a statement.

According to Police, the summons relates to an ongoing investigation into allegations made by the Thera that police officers assaulted him during unrest at a Satyagraha protest held at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo on October 17.

The Thera had previously been instructed to appear before Investigation Unit 02 of the Colombo District Crimes Division at 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday (11) to record a statement.

Police said the notice had been communicated to Ven. Kassapa Thera through the Udamaluwa Police Station.

However, the Thera had neither appeared before the investigation unit nor informed the authorities that he would be unable to attend.

Accordingly, the Udamaluwa Police have taken steps to issue a fresh notice directing Ven. Kassapa Thera to appear before the Colombo District Crimes Division tomorrow (13).

Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera is among the Buddhist monks currently engaged in a fast unto death near the Ruwanwelisaya in protest against the Anuradhapura Sacred City Development Project. (Newswire)