The Batticaloa High Court yesterday (17) granted bail to Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera over a case filed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act over allegations of inciting racial hatred.

The Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court had previously issued an arrest warrant after Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera failed to appear before the court for the hearing on December 15. 

At the time, a Batticaloa Assistant Superintendent of Police informed the Magistrate that Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera was currently untraceable, after which the case was scheduled to be heard at the Batticaloa High Court yesterday.

As Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera had appeared before the High Court, indictments were filed against him, and he was released on two sureties of Rs. 100,000. 

The court also imposed an overseas travel ban on Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera, ordered him to surrender the passport to the court and also record a statement with the Batticaloa Police. 

Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera was wanted in connection with a case based on a complaint filed by Attorney‑at‑Law Dhanuka Rananjaka Kahandagamage on October 23, 2023. 

According to the complaint, Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera allegedly made aggressive remarks against the Tamil community in Batticaloa, threatening in the presence of police officers that “every Tamil person living in the South will be cut and killed.” (Newswire)

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The Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court yesterday (15) issued a warrant for the arrest of Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera, after he failed to appear for a scheduled hearing, and the Police informed the court that he was missing.

The court order was issued after he failed to appear for a case filed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act over allegations of inciting racial hatred.

When the case was taken up, the Court noted that the Batticaloa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) had been summoned to explain the failure to arrest the accused. 

However, a Batticaloa Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) appeared instead and informed the Magistrate that Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera is currently untraceable.

Given the seriousness of the charges under the ICCPR Act, the case has been scheduled to be heard at the Batticaloa High Court today (17).

Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera is wanted in connection with a case based on a complaint filed by Attorney‑at‑Law Dhanuka Rananjaka Kahandagamage on October 23, 2023. 

According to the complaint, Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera allegedly made aggressive remarks against the Tamil community in Batticaloa, threatening in the presence of police officers that “every Tamil person living in the South will be cut and killed.” (Newswire)

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The Chief Incumbent of Sri Mangalarama Viharaya in Batticaloa, Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera has been arrested by the Police today. 

It is reported that the monk was arrested based on an incident of disorderly conduct at the Uhana Police Station in Ampara.

Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera is reported to have behaved in such a manner inside the police station to protest the unsafe transportation of the children of a suspect, arrested by the Uhana Police, via a three-wheeler. (Newswire)

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