Kassapa Thera, six others remanded after Ruwanweli Maha Seya clash

Saturday, 14 November 2026 00:48 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Four monks, three laypersons held till 26 Nov.
Group staged fast-unto-death protest despite court orders to vacate
Court orders psychiatric evaluations, narcotics tests for all seven
Rival faction leader Rajanganaye Saddharathana reportedly suffers head injuries

The Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court has remanded Balangoda Kassapa Thera and six others until 26 November, following a clash at a protest site near the historic Ruwanweli Maha Seya.

The Magistrate also ordered that all seven suspects undergo psychiatric evaluations and medical tests to determine whether they had consumed narcotics.

The group of four Buddhist monks and three laypersons had been staging a fast-unto-death protest near the Ruwanweli Maha Seya despite previous court orders to vacate the area.

Police took the seven into custody after a confrontation on Thursday (12) between the group led by Balangoda Kassapa Thera and another faction led by Rajanganaye Saddharathana. Saddharathana reportedly sustained head injuries in the clash.