Monk hangs self in Kandy Prison

A Buddhist monk who was detained at the Kandy Remand Prison after being arrested for possessing marijuana has committed suicide by hanging himself.

Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana says the 73-year-old monk, of a monastery in Wilgamuwa, was found dead in his prison cell on Friday morning.

The monk was arrested by Wilgamuwa Police on 19 February for possessing 500g of ganja and remanded after being produced before Naula Magistrate’s Court the following day.

The body is currently placed at the Kandy Hospital mortuary while postmortem examinations have not been completed yet, the Police Media Spokesman said in a release.