Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero, who is currently engaged in a fast-unto-death protest near the Ruwanweli Maha Seya in Anuradhapura, has been instructed to appear before the Investigation Unit of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) tomorrow (13) to provide a statement.
The notification is in connection with an ongoing investigation into allegations made by the Thero to the media that police officers assaulted him during the unrest that occurred at the Satyagraha held at the Viharamahadevi Park premises on October 17.
The Thero had previously been summoned to appear before Investigation Unit 02 of the Colombo Crimes Division at 10.00 a.m. yesterday (11) to provide a statement.
Although the Thero was informed of the summons through the Udamaluwa Police Station, he neither appeared before the CCD to provide the statement nor informed the authorities of his inability to attend.
Accordingly, the Udamaluwa Police have taken steps to notify the Thero to appear before the Colombo Crimes Division tomorrow (13) to provide the statement.
However, speaking to the media regarding the matter, Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero stated that he would not comply with any court order.
He further asserted that no court order could be served on him, claiming that only a Sangha Court (Sangha Adhikarana) has the authority to issue orders concerning him.
