Three suspects arrested for shooting Kiri Vehera Chief Incumbent

Monday, 18 June 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The police have arrested the main suspect and two others in connection with the shooting of the Chief Incumbent of the Kiri Vehera Raja Maha Vihara, Ven. Kobawaka Dhamminda Thera and another monk.

According to Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara, the main suspect named Asela Lakshman Bandara and his accomplices were arrested in Pepiliyana.

The 40-year-old main suspect has previously served as a custodian (Kapu Rala) of the Mahasen Devalaya at the temple.

The other two suspects are 24-year-old twin brothers Jayawickrema Kankanamge Nuwan Kumara and Jayawickrama Kankanamge Dhanushka Kumara.

The suspects were arrested by the Tangalle Division Crimes Investigation Unit and they will be taken to Tangalle, the Police Spokesman said.

The Chief Incumbent Ven. Kobawaka Dhammindaa Thera was shot in the courtyard of the temple when he was returning to the living quarters at around 10.15 p.m. on 12 June after worshiping the Kiri Vehera.

Ven. Dr. Veedapola Sobitha Thera of Kataragama Central College who was accompanying chief incumbent Ven. Kobawaka Dhammindaa Thera also suffered gunshot injuries.

The two monks were admitted to the Kataragama Hospital first and later transferred to the Hambantota General Hospital. Later, Kiri Vehera Nayaka Thera was flown to a private hospital in Colombo for further treatment.

Four police teams and a police Special Task Force (STF) team had been deployed for the arrest of the suspects involved in the shooting. (Colombopage)