EPPAWALA POLICE CRIMES OIC INTERDICTED

In connection with the attack on some villagers during brawl

The Eppawala Police Crimes Division OIC Sub Inspector R.M. Abeywardene was interdicted on April 29 in connection with the attack on some villagers during a brawl between some monks and villagers at the Eppawala Mawathawewa Shailya Bimbarama Temple premises on Saturday.

The clash had occurred during the handing over of the temple trusteeship to Ven. Maligatenne Rathnasara Thera on a Court order. The villagers, worried by the move, demanded that the trusteeship be handed over to the Chief Incumbent Ven. Kukulegama Shantharathana Thera.this resulted in a quarrel between the monks and the villagers.

The police personnel who attempted to quell the disturbances had assaulted the villagers and a woman was injured in the melee. She was admitted to the hospital and later discharged. Police arrested three women and a man who were produced in Court and later released on a surety bail of Rs.100,000 each.

North Central Sandungahawatte DIG directed Kebithigollawa ASP Senaka Jayasinghe to conduct this inquiry and the Crimes OIC was interdicted based on the findings of this inquiry.

The police personnel who attempted to quell the disturbances had assaulted the villagers and a woman was injured in the melee. She was admitted to the hospital and later discharged.