Court grants bail to Buddhist monk arrested for damage to Health Ministry

Court yesterday granted bail to the convener of the Inter-University Bhikku Federation Tampitiye Sugathananda Thero, who was arrested for damaging public property.

The Colombo High Court released the Buddhist monk student leader on a cash bail of Rs. 10,000 and three surety bails of Rs. 500,000 each when the case was taken up today.

Colombo High Court Magistrate Manilal Waidyathilaka sternly reprimanded the suspect and ordered him to report to the Maradana Police on the last Sunday of every month.

Tampitiye Sugathananda Thero and the Convener of the Inter University Students Federation Lahiru Weerasekara were arrested in connection with the damage caused to the Health Ministry during a protest against the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM).

Protesting university students and student monks led by the two unions forcibly entered the Health Ministry building on 21 June and caused damage to public property amounting to Rs. 870,000. (Colombopage)