Police arrest Buddhist monk wanted for attack on Rohingya refugees

The police yesterday arrested a Buddhist monk who was wanted in connection with last month’s attack on a group of Rohingya refugees that were under the care of a UNHCR safe house in Mount Lavinia.

Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said that a special police team  took into custody National Coordinator of the Sinha Le group Ven. Arambepola Rathanasara Thera of the Purwarama Temple in Kelaniya.

Rathnasara Thera was arrested while traveling in a bus plying from Kandy to Colombo.

The suspect allegedly took part in the Buddhist-monks led attack on the safe house and harassed a group of 31 Rohingya refugees including 17 children on 26 September. He was evading arrest since the incident and the police sought public help to arrest the monk and another suspect.

The other suspect, a former police officer, surrendered to the police on 6 October.

The police earlier arrested another prominent Buddhist monk, Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thero, and six other suspects including a woman. The Thera was granted bail on 11 October. (Colombopage)